Re: [CBQ] Cab lighting

["Patrick Egan" <padraice38@gmail.com>]

How about let's start with tungsten filament light bulbs were not available until the 1920s, and Carbon filaments would not survive the vibration of a steam engine. The common electric headlight before the 1920s would be an arc light, which was somewhat fussy to start, and which had two brightneses, on and off. When you got it going, you didn't turn it off. Headlights had a doorway that swung over the front of the headlight for use when the light had to be dimmed, like for a station or an oncoming train. Other would be whale oil or some manner of petroleum, probably kerosene. Whale oil was pricey, but gave a white light. Kerosene was used in cabooses for years, and probably in locomotive cabs. for reading gauges and water glasses.

Automobiles used acetylene for headlights until the 1920s, but I never heard of a railroad use. Pintsch gas was used in railroad passenger cars until electric came about.

Pat Egan

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