Loco headlights

On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 21:03:38 UTC, snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (CClark1130) wrote: 2000

On Espee passenger engines received acetylene burning headlights by

1906. The engines got carbon arc headlights about 10 years later, usually battery powered. By 1928 they were replaced by incandescent bulbs driven by turbogenerators.

How did they generate the acetylene? Steam over calcium carbide (?) crystals?

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"

I don't know about Espee engines, but Baldwin imports here had a small acetylene generator on the running board. It used water and calcium carbide to produce the gas(!). Likewise the steam dummies imported for the Sydney tramway.

My library includes a reprint of the 1906 Locomotive Dictionary. Of all of the several dozen photos of recent locos, only one shows a dynamo (on a Plant System ten-wheeler). Similarly, of the several plans, only one shows a dynamo (a Rock Island Atlantic). In both cases, the dynamo is immediately behind the headlight / ahead of the stack on the top of the smokebox, as if it's only purpose it to supply headlight. All of the other locomotives illustrated have oil (or perhaps acetylene) headlights either of the rectangular box with chimney style like a CalScale #305, or the large cylindrical shape with chimney like a CalScale #204. In the accessory section at the back of the Dictionary, six headlights are shown in detail. Three GE electric headlights are shown. All are arc lamps and all had a small circular chimney on top to vent the arc. The GEs are cylindrical in shape like a CalScale #207 (but on a triangular tin base like that on the #204). A "Dressel", a "Star", and a Pennsy standard oil headlight are also shown. The Dressel is the #204 style while the Star and PRR are the #305 style. A GE and a Pyle-National dynamo are also illustrated. I would conclude that by 1906, the parts manufacturers were pushing the new electric technology, but the conservative RR managements were tending to stay with the proven oil headlights. GQ

Thanks for the info. I also model around 1900 and had the same questions as the original poster. I'd gotten similar responses to yours in the past, but nowhere near the level of detail (and part numbers!) that you gave. Much appreciated.

Thanks for all the great info. Church Clark

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 10:57:06 UTC, Mark Newton wrote: 2000

Espee used the same system.

Thanks! But a caution. I referred to the CalScale items as a way to describe shapes only. The CalScale #305 seems to be a model of an earlier and much larger rectangular light from the Civil War era. The rectangular headlights in the 1906 photos are no taller than the #204 headlight. The

1906 Loco Dictionary parts illustration of the "Star" with a 23" reflector seems to be an earlier etching used to fill out the book (the picture still shows Victorian style gold lining and floral decoration around the edges of the headlight casing which I don't would still have been the practice by 1906). The Penny rectangular oil headlight illustrated seems to be more current to 1906 with a 16" reflector - my late design cast aluminum Pyle National electric headlight from an N&W Y has a 14" reflector. GQ

Sounds a bit cumbersome. My old reliable carbide lamp that I use when the power is out has a chamber for the carbide, and water is dripped into that chamber from a water container above it. There's a needle valve to control the water flow. The small miner's type lamps I've seen also drip the water onto the carbide.

I think you're correct as to the common carbide miner's lamps. It doesn't matter HOW the carbide and water are combined, acetylene gas is the result.

The bigger units, as used in welding plants were (at least often) just a big water tank (perhaps 50 gallons) and an automated hopper system to drop carbide into it. A few of these are still around, though compressed gas in cylinder form is far more popular today ... and a LOT more portable. The high pressure cylinder technology wasn't well developed until the mid 20th century. The old acetylene generators were pretty common up through W.W.II.

Actually, though, the acetylene is not JUST stored as a compressed gas like most others. While it is under moderate pressure, it's actually in solution in acetone. Raw acetylene under pressure is quite unstable and potentially explosive. Putting it in the acetone makes it much better behaved.

Dan Mitchell ==========

snipped-for-privacy@mtholyoke.edu wrote:

I'm curious about that, as I had a gas cylinder the other day that looked exact;y lie all the others I get, except it's first test date was in 1918...

Jeff Sc. Antique, Ga.

Compressed gas technology was around in the late 19th century. You can see photos of such welding cylinders in use in W.W.I. Still, they were used mostly for portable purposes until much later. I suppose it took a while to determine that acetylene is UNSTABLE in compressed form. This may have lead to some unfortunate experiences, until a proper way to store (in solution in Acetone) it was developed.

The acetylene generators were still in common use until the 1940's in fixed locations, like welding shops. The welders hoses just connected to common plumbing lines, much like compressed air. These were relatively low pressure systems, to avoid the instability problems of acetylene. They didn't have tanks at the job sites. After W.W.II the acetylene generators were gradually replaced with 'farms' of compressed gas bottles all manifolded together serving the central distribution systems.

But a few of the generators still survive. It's not uncommon to find one buried in the back of a welding shop. Probably not used anymore, but just setting there. They look somewhat like a big milk can, or perhaps a stange stove. I've seen a few, even in the last ten years. From threads on the metalworking newsgroup, a few are still in use.

Dan Mitchell ==========

not.fishplate wrote:

AKA a fish bomb. Use a can with calcium carbide in it, put holes in it and drop it in 30' of water. When the gas pressure hits about 2 atmospheres...boom!

"You gonna talk, or you gonna fish?"

Jay CNS&M North Shore Line - "First and fastest"