Enginehouse Lighting, early 1900s

[usairman737]

What was the likely interior lighting, if any, for an early 1900's enginehouse, or any relatively large enclosed space?  It would seem the "third shift" folks would need a source of workplace lighting pre-electricity.  I don't remember seeing any lighting at Como, and it would be dark in there, especially in the winter.  

[Jeff Young]

There was a photograph of engines in the roundhouse which shows some engine lights on the back wall.  Anyone remember where I saw it?

[Jeff Young]

Found it:

http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Electric-power-in-Como-tp6885p6899.html

Note that these appear to be lighting the turntable from the outside of the engine house.  I don't know if they did the same on the inside or used something more like passenger car oil lamps....

Cheers,
Jeff.

[ComoDepot]

It can be dark in there at anytime of the year.

I do not know, there is nothing I have seen that shows interior lights. I assume it would be the same as any other large space, some form of oil lamps.

Also do not know how many shifts they worked. I assume, it could have varied, but for whatever reason that there was one main shift.

[usairman737]

I've decided to try three of the Evan Designs orange self-flickering LEDs hung from the center beam rafter.  The effect looks interesting, especially in light (sic) of nothing definite from the prototype.  Even a warm LED looks too modern.  I'll add  plastic "chimneys" around the LEDs.

[Robert McFarland]

There have been several pictures taken of the inside of the Como Roundhouse  from that era that have shown up either on this forum or in books.These were of the machine shop part.Figuring you need a lot of light to work on a lathe,the lighting should be noticeable in the photograph.

[Todd Hackett]

Robert McFarland wrote

There have been several pictures taken of the inside of the Como Roundhouse e shop part...the lighting should be noticeable in the photograph.

Are these the photos you're thinking of? If so, I don't see any evidence of light, except the camera flash and light coming from the windows in the doors, and from around the doors.

[Robert McFarland]

What are those two bright spots above the guy that's facing the cameras left shoulder?Or the two behind the group in the second picture?

[Robert McFarland]

There was mention of electric lighting in the roundhouse powered by a small generator-when was that installed?

[ComoDepot]

Top photo looks like the camera is pointed diagonally across from the area by the entrance door and the curved light is coing in from the doors to bays 4/5, well somewhere in that area.

The bottom photo looks like light coming more squarely in from the windows.

Windows in the doors seem to have changed a lot over the years.

Generator was late, I would think 20 or more years after these photos were taken.

[Rich Townsend]

The list of furnishings and equipment in the valuation notes might shed some light ;) on the subject. If it lists, for example, oil lamps that might be evidence that those existed earlier as well. I do not have a copy of the notes, but someone in this group might have them.

[Robert McFarland]

In the second photo up in the rafters I see something that might be lanterns.

[Todd Hackett]

Robert McFarland wrote

In the second photo up in the rafters I see something that might be lanterns.

I think you're seeing the polished surfaces of the drive wheels for the belts reflecting light from the windows.

[Robert McFarland]

You're right,Todd those are the pulleys for the drive belts.Also I misinterpreted what looked like a "light fixture " was actually sunlight filtering around the top of the roundhouse door.

[usairman737]

Look, a lighted DSP&P enginehouse!!!!  It must be I'm getting desperate.

[Todd Hackett]

Remember that the Alpine Tunnel engine house burned. Maybe the light inside is from the fire that destroyed the roof.

[usairman737]

How about the hypothesis  that one of the oil lamps was kicked over by a cow, and that started the enginehouse fire that destroyed the roof?  Or has that been used before?

[Jeff Ramsey]

<quote author="Todd Hackett">

Robert McFarland wrote

There have been several pictures taken of the inside of the Como Roundhouse e shop part...the lighting should be noticeable in the photograph.

Are these the photos you're thinking of? If so, I don't see any evidence of light, except the camera flash and light coming from the windows in the doors, and from around the doors.

January 7, 1900. Facing the back wall of the machine shop. The stove in George Champion's 1905 image that Todd posted is different but still in the same location. I have also seen a interior image of the blacksmith shop but the owner is unwilling to share a digital copy with all of us.

[Robert McFarland]

Were there any photos taken of the stationary steam boilers?