Re: arc headlights and dynamos

Posted by John Greenly on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/arc-headlights-and-dynamos-tp15165p15174.html

Here's an operational question about headlights.  Who in the train crew was responsible for taking care of the headlights?  Both kerosene and arc lamps needed a lot of upkeep- cleaning, refilling, adjusting and replacing parts.  The carbon electrodes for arc lamps, in particular, were delicate, easily fractured, and needed a good protected place to be stored.  The caboose, maybe??

I don't recall ever seeing a photo of someone working on a headlight, nor have I read an account of this.  I'd be interested to know more.   It might also help determine what kind of lamp these held at different times.  
 
Also,  I've read in multiple places that train crews didn't like arc lights because they were so bright that they blinded oncoming crews at meets, and could blind their own crew with backscatter in fog, cloud or snow, the way high beams do on car headlights.   Arc lights couldn't be dimmed electrically, and so they commonly had shutters or shades that could block or reduce the light to deal with these problems.  I've imagined that the cloth shades mounted on the C&S lights were used for this purpose, but again, I've never come across a description of operation of these lights.

any operational info here??

John