GL5 Forum

Hello again,

There is an other question to what I don't find any answers.

Why did locomotives before WW II often have no lights at all?
Did those drivers have so much confidence in where they went? Or did they not stop anyway other than in the stations they were heading for.

Who can help me out?

Best regards

Frits

Hi Frits.

Engines didn't have head lights since the crews didn't reallly need to see directly where they were going. With an excellent route knowledge, the sound of the engine, and following the signals, they would know instinctively where they were.

Head lights are now mandatory, other than for shunting engines.

OK, Jonny,

but... what if there was something unusual (dangerous) on the track, like a cow, a lost wagon or a fallen rock?

They just hid it and hoped for the best. Lamps where not too expensive in those days. In all surrounding countries, locomotives had always lights at night and some even during daytime.

Obvious it worked without too many problems.

Frits

Frits wrote:but... what if there was something unusual (dangerous) on the track, like a cow, a lost wagon or a fallen rock?

When they started building railways, the then government (Having lost one of its members to a well known Liverpool & Manchester Railway loco), got a little touchy about public saftey around railways. All Railway Companys were made responsable for the upkeep of all railway boundries (Fencing), to insure that no member of the public, nor stray animal should become foul of the Railways, essentially, keep them out of the way of the trains. As for lost wagons, up untill the advent of the continuous brake on all freight trains, it was mandatory for all freight trains to be tailed by a brake van. Together with Block working of the railways, it was most unlikely that a wagon could be left on a section of track alone. And finally, in area's known to have frequent rock falls, trip wires were placed along the length of such sections. In the event of a rock fall, the trip wire would either work a warning device at the nearest controlling Signal Box, or operate warnings signals directly (I've certainly seen photo's of the later arrangment, but unfortunately can't remember where from).

Hope this helps.

Jonny.