Seeing you in the engine cab reminded me of my dad who was a railroad freight engineer for 43 years, working right up to his last day. He was a special guy who really loved his job.
@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont That was true for the kerosene variety. But the electric ones in use by the 1950's would not have needed attention unless reported out by a passing train crew.
I rode freights for a bit when I was 13 and remember seeing these kerosene switch lamps. I clearly remember walking up to one and seeing the flame iinside. Very cool that this is preserved in your RR.
That cab ride reminded me of our local hump yard back in the 1970's. A pair of tired and battered ex PRR switchers kicking cars over the gravity hump. If the right crew/Yardmaster was working you could get a brief ride there too. Enjoyed the video for sure!
My dad was a railroad engineer. For the last several years of his life he worked the hump on a few switcher engines. He often said he had the best job in the world. Also, I agree with you about the crew & especially the yard master. Those good old days were really special.
I really enjoyed watching that. I have collected a few railroad lamps and lanterns but its great to see them used as they were intended. Thanks also for explaining the "blue" or "lunar white" signal lens. Was amazed to see how it looked when lit. Thanks very much for sharing this!
I remember seeing kerosene switch lamps when riding Western Maryland Railway Fall excursions out of Baltimore back in the 1960s and '70s. Most of the track switches in yards from Baltimore to Cumberland had them. It was neat to see the flickering light through the colorful lamp lenses in the evening on the return trip. The WM kept them up until the Chessie System absorbtion of the RR. Chessie replaced them with metal targets the same as the B&O RR had at the time. The WM also used battery operated lamps, mainly found along the "Dutch Line" on main line switches and main line siding derails. Part of old railroading I greatly miss. Nice to see a rail line keeping the old lamps in actual use, even if only for special occasions.
What a great video! I just got one of these switch lamps and finding this video of them "in the field" was awesome. Vintage videos of them in use seem to be very rare.
I love this more than I can describe. The bit where the lamps are being first put on feels like a celebration. I should send you the small pyrex air director chimneys that fit on the inside burners, I see they are missing
Those are really nice switch lanterns & very cool that the lanterns sit on the railroad switches!🙂 Yes I scored a C.N.R. switch lantern that joined my lantern collection & a beautiful one too with red & blue fresnel lenses.👍 Yes I use mine as I sit outside relaxing on the little deck!🙂🙂
Yes, they were common and it was always someones job to maintain them, change lenses, refill founts and replace wicks in all kinds of weather. I am curious where they got all those lanterns and they look like new. Nice video. Thank you for sharing
The B&O Yard at Fairmont, WV had a lot of switch lamps along the leads into the mid-1980s. Being yard lamps, they were green and yellow. By the time I was old enough to notice, all of the main track switches were equipped with metal banners. The yard lamps were gone by 1986. They also required a trackman to keep them filled and lit.
They're widely available online and at swap meets. Many common ones can be head for less than $100 each. There are of course super-rare super-clean super-expensive ones, but it isn't a hobby that is expensive by default.
@@SOU6900 If you want block signals pull out your checkbook unless lucky enough to be on hand when one is being changed out. Then you MIGHT get one cheap.
We the electric type on conrail, a small bulb inside powered by a big car type battery that was buried part way in the ground, the rr ripped all of them and replaced them with those banner targets, heck today they could power a entire yard with led,s in them with a very small transformer. also i never seen the lunar type the guy showed, not on conrail.
Great video! You machined those brackets, Eric? I've got 3 in my collection now...acquiring a couple more this weekend. Want to use them on special occasions at my railroad but need to figger out brackets.
few things more useful to carry on your person than a well maintained reliable lighter, i don't smoke but i carry a zippo on me with a lazy flame butane insert
You could do that but not with white. You would have to come up with a LED that matches as close as possible to the color of the flame. The lenses are only designed to work properly with the color of the flame centered a certain distance from the lens.
Seeing you in the engine cab reminded me of my dad who was a railroad freight engineer for 43 years, working right up to his last day. He was a special guy who really loved his job.
Hard to believe switch lamps were once common as flies AND nobody bothered them! They'd be lucky to survive thru the day now.
I doubt they left them unattended for very long.
@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont That was true for the kerosene variety. But the electric ones in use by the 1950's would not have needed attention unless reported out by a passing train crew.
I rode freights for a bit when I was 13 and remember seeing these kerosene switch lamps. I clearly remember walking up to one and seeing the flame iinside. Very cool that this is preserved in your RR.
@ 13:36... that old ramapo switch is just as classic as the switch lanterns... good stuff
What could be more incredible for a train fanatic, Than to have Your Very OWN Railroad !
That cab ride reminded me of our local hump yard back in the 1970's. A pair of tired and battered ex PRR switchers kicking cars over the gravity hump. If the right crew/Yardmaster was working you could get a brief ride there too. Enjoyed the video for sure!
My dad was a railroad engineer. For the last several years of his life he worked the hump on a few switcher engines. He often said he had the best job in the world. Also, I agree with you about the crew & especially the yard master. Those good old days were really special.
I really enjoyed watching that. I have collected a few railroad lamps and lanterns but its great to see them used as they were intended. Thanks also for explaining the "blue" or "lunar white" signal lens. Was amazed to see how it looked when lit. Thanks very much for sharing this!
I just received the HLPM lantern as a Christmas gift from a family member. Very interesting. It would seem to be used for caboose.
Such an enjoyable video that I come back to watch from time to time ⭐️
what a really great Video, as an Ex Railroad Man I throughly enjoyed what a nice bunch of Guys.
I remember seeing kerosene switch lamps when riding Western Maryland Railway Fall excursions out of Baltimore back in the 1960s and '70s. Most of the track switches in yards from Baltimore to Cumberland had them. It was neat to see the flickering light through the colorful lamp lenses in the evening on the return trip. The WM kept them up until the Chessie System absorbtion of the RR. Chessie replaced them with metal targets the same as the B&O RR had at the time. The WM also used battery operated lamps, mainly found along the "Dutch Line" on main line switches and main line siding derails. Part of old railroading I greatly miss. Nice to see a rail line keeping the old lamps in actual use, even if only for special occasions.
What a great video! I just got one of these switch lamps and finding this video of them "in the field" was awesome. Vintage videos of them in use seem to be very rare.
Very nice !
Excellent video Alex.
Great video
I love this more than I can describe. The bit where the lamps are being first put on feels like a celebration. I should send you the small pyrex air director chimneys that fit on the inside burners, I see they are missing
Those are really nice switch lanterns & very cool that the lanterns sit on the railroad switches!🙂 Yes I scored a C.N.R. switch lantern that joined my lantern collection & a beautiful one too with red & blue fresnel lenses.👍 Yes I use mine as I sit outside relaxing on the little deck!🙂🙂
Yes, they were common and it was always someones job to maintain them, change lenses, refill founts and replace wicks in all kinds of weather. I am curious where they got all those lanterns and they look like new. Nice video. Thank you for sharing
rfederle .....I’d like to know where they got them as well
Same!
@@TexasRailfan2008 I think that Adlade company still makes them.
@@TheDrummer51 no, they stopped making them long ago
That was pretty freakin' KOOL!!!!
The B&O Yard at Fairmont, WV had a lot of switch lamps along the leads into the mid-1980s. Being yard lamps, they were green and yellow. By the time I was old enough to notice, all of the main track switches were equipped with metal banners. The yard lamps were gone by 1986. They also required a trackman to keep them filled and lit.
It would be good to see some footage of these Railroad Switch Lanterns at night
thought the very same
Yeah
If you put the lighter inside your coat it will stay warm and provide flame when you need it.
nice retro stuff :)
EXCELLENT VIDEO! Thanks for sharing!!!! :D
Neet to see them in use. also never seen the inside chimney, mine is missing.
You have the coolest job.
Who doesn't love the smell of kerosene in the morning?
Interesting video!
I really enjoyed this Thanks
Wish I could get some lamps like these.
They're widely available online and at swap meets. Many common ones can be head for less than $100 each. There are of course super-rare super-clean super-expensive ones, but it isn't a hobby that is expensive by default.
Thornapple River Rail Series As true as that is my budget is just too tight. I'm lucky just to have the two railroad lanterns that I got.
Thornapple River Rail Series Also I prefer block signals but I've got a hard time trying to find ones like I'm looking for.
@@SOU6900 If you want block signals pull out your checkbook unless lucky enough to be on hand when one is being changed out. Then you MIGHT get one cheap.
A work force that's well
awesome. very cool.
We the electric type on conrail, a small bulb inside powered by a big car type battery that was buried part way in the ground, the rr ripped all of them and replaced them with those banner targets, heck today they could power a entire yard with led,s in them with a very small transformer. also i never seen the lunar type the guy showed, not on conrail.
I like this
Great video! You machined those brackets, Eric? I've got 3 in my collection now...acquiring a couple more this weekend. Want to use them on special occasions at my railroad but need to figger out brackets.
Saw them the other day with a lumber car
few things more useful to carry on your person than a well maintained reliable lighter, i don't smoke but i carry a zippo on me with a lazy flame butane insert
I think a Zippo would have a hard time getting into the lantern itself...otherwise for sure quality lighters for the win.
in this instance yeah i agree
If I lived around there I'd tag him with "Nice" Rice !!
I'm vindicated! I'm not the only guy who can't operate those lighters!
Should add... mine is a Hiram Piper, made in Canada under lic. from Adlake I am told.
How about putting in some white LEDs, powered with a solar cell and a battery?
Lighting the switches is now considered unnecessary.
You could do that but not with white. You would have to come up with a LED that matches as close as possible to the color of the flame. The lenses are only designed to work properly with the color of the flame centered a certain distance from the lens.
It was criminal to film this and not show them at night..
Where can one purchase these switch lanterns?
Ebay, swap meets, etc
Thx
is his suburban for sale? lol
It's his baby so I don't think so!
Walking on thin ice with that comment .
Why change them?
In this case, just for fun!
*Cheap, China-made dollar store lighters rarely ever work.*
HardlineAthiest yeah