Cab illumination

shil · Post by **shil** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 2:18 pm

Greetings to all.
Being relatively new to the subject of British steam locomotive practice and LNER in particular, I have much to learn.
British steam locos have always been characterised by exceptionally clean lines. Absent, among other appliances, are turbo-generators. Can anyone out there please tell me how the engine crew's instruments were illuminated (if at all) during night running? Gauges, particularly the water glasses, would still have to be visible.

Gene

lielestosbrat · Post by **lielestosbrat** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:00 pm

I'm not entirely sure on LNER methods, but I do know the British Railways Standard 9f locos had a bracket to hang an oil lamp next to the water guage glasses. Looking at a photo of a Thompson B1 it looks like that may have a bracket in the middle of the 2 water gauge glasses.

Rob

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:39 pm

Not familiar with LNER either, but Duke of Gloucester has lighting in the dials, aparently, and if the cab lights aren't on it looks superb, although when I was in, it was day!

Post by **richard** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:09 pm

Electric lighting was a late development on UK steam locomotives - it makes sense that at least some of the Standards were fitted with it.

Checking the RCTS books, the slightly earlier (LNER design, technically BR built!) Peppercorn A1s had electric lighting. A "Stone's turbo generator" was located on the right hand side running plate and was partly hidden by the smoke deflector.

Richard

shil · Post by **shil** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 3:25 pm

Thank you, Rob, Mark, and Richard, for the information.

Richard, apparently I'm looking for turbo-generators in the wrong places!

So much to learn, so little time.

Gene

karlrestall · Post by **karlrestall** » Mon May 14, 2007 3:52 pm

x568wcn wrote:Not familiar with LNER either, but Duke of Gloucester has lighting in the dials, aparently, and if the cab lights aren't on it looks superb, although when I was in, it was day!

I may be missing something but I can't see a AWS warning indicator. I thought all mainline engines had to have this fitted, or am I mistaken

Regards

Karl

x568wcn · Post by **x568wcn** » Mon May 14, 2007 10:12 pm

Give me a clue, I know a fire box.

karlrestall · Post by **karlrestall** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:25 am

The AWS is the sunflower signal aspect in this picture

that seems to be missing in DoG.

Regards

Karl

52A · Post by **52A** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:48 am

The AWS reset button is there (looks like one from a diesel) just to the right of the gentleman's right hand and the AWS bell is above his head. The sunflower must be hidden somewhere.

52A · Post by **52A** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:29 am

Further to my last.....in the picture of the indicator on the other loco you can see the reset handle bottom right of the indicator/reset unit next to the vacuum brake duplex gauge. If the reset on 71000 is from a diesel it would follow that the indicator is from a diesel as well, this may be what is just visible below the rest button, it certainley looks like the top corner of an indicator unit.