Marker Lamps on Cars #s 71 & 72

[Mike Aufderheide]

On the attached photo of a streamlined parlor-observation car it shows traditional marker lamps mounted on the end, but also built in lamps.  Does anyone know what the built in lamps were for?  I would think that you would use them for markers and wouldn't need traditional lamps.

Thanks,

Mike Aufderheide

[Steve Dolzall]

That's and interesting question. Sister car #72 did not have the roof mounted marker lights when built.  Later on the 70 series cars received the bullet shapped side markers like were installed on 58 & 59. From in service photos, it appears traditional rear marker lights were used on 71 until the later side rear marker lights were installed. Perhaps there was somekind of height from rail issue with the roof mounted markers that required use of the corner mounted rear markers. Just a guess.

Steve

[Mike Albert]

Just a thought here, but when a train was in the clear at a meeting point weren't the markers turned so the opposing train would know the inferior train was clear of the main track.  That couldn't be done with the rear facing marker lights.  Ron or Rick could probably give little more info on this.

Mike

[Ron Marquardt]

Please refer to attached Rule 19, page 18, and Rule 9, page 11, from the Monon Operating Rule Book, effective September 1, 1952, governing Signals And Their Use.  / Ron

[Mike Aufderheide]

Thanks Ron,

So since those lights couldn't show to the side and front they needed the older ones?  It looks like the kind added to the other cars solved this by having a lens for each direction.  Now, to find little HO scale versions.

Regards,

Mike Aufderheide

[Chad Boas]

Mike,
Presision Scale #33306 is fairly close.
Chad

[Mike Aufderheide]

Thanks Chad!  Saved me a lot of looking.