Thanks for the reply, Jonathan. Yes, I am certainly aware that the
smaller and older Q power usually had their headlights mounted on top
of the smokebox. I just never realized that a few pacifics had this
arrangement until I saw the Perry photos. My real interest is why the
headlights were raised to the top of smokebox position on a few
locomotives . As I noted, #2857 is shown earlier in 1929 with the
headlight in the standard position. I am pretty sure that no shop
general foreman would have arbitrarily raised the headlight. There was
labor, expense and probably some material involved. There must have
been a reason and I thought maybe someone on the list might know.
Illumination in front of the locomotive, as you suggest, might be the
justification. Maybe there was a specific operating circumstance such
as when Pennsy reversed the generator and headlight positions on K-4s
locomotives in later years for maintenance and safety reasons.
Possibly, these two (or more) locomotives were involved in a special
operating circumstance.
Bill Barber
On Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at 03:51 AM, BRHSlist@yahoogroups.com
wrote:
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 15:29:00 -0800
From: jonathanharris@e...
Subject: Re: Locomotive Headlight Positions
Bill --
Top-mounted headlights were not that rare on the Q's steamers. They
were
very common (dare I say 'standard'?) on moguls, ten-wheelers, the first
prairies (R-1s, R-2s) and most classes of six-wheel switcher. They also
appeared on quite a few Atlantics, Americans, consolidations (not just
the
Lines West D-4s), and some other classes. Obviously, these were all
relatively small engines, so perhaps maximizing visability was a
motive for
placing (or keeping) lamps as high as possible. It also appears that
the
top-of-the-smokebox position was an early or intermediate feature
(photos
show lots of 'box' headlights and cuckoo clocks up there). Some of
these
headlights later were relocated to the upper front face; repositioning
in
the other direction seems to have been more rare, but it did happen,
as in
the case of those western consolidations you cite.
The above is based on a quick perusal of photos available to me (Otto
Perry, various Burlington Bulletins, Corbin & Kerka). I hope someone
more
knowledgeable can tell you (us) the full story.
Jonathan
|