Headlight - Backup light conventions

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

For most of the steam era, they ran the headlight and/or backup light 
only when it was dark. And, yes, it was directional. They turned on the 
backup light when backing up. This was generally only when switching in 
the yard, or when coupling up to the train. I suppose there may have 
been some cases when they backed up "on the road" (such as a pusher 
backing down the hill), but this was something I never had opportunity 
to observe. I did see a lot of backing up when the were switching the 
head end at the Bluefield passenger station.   Jim Nichols

nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org wrote:


> Veterans of the late Steam Era:

>

> Obviously the headlight was usually on while a steamer was 'on the road',

> but what about while in the yard or on line side switching duties? 

> When was

> the backup (or tender) light used? Only during extended backup 

> movements??

>

> Also, when the backup light WAS used, was the headlight turned off, left

> on, or dimmed?

>

>

> Wish I could have heard, smelled and saw even SOME of the things you

> experienced.

>

> Thanks,

> Dave Willis (1962 generation)

> N&W Steam lives on in Indiana.

>

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