Seeing you in the engine cab reminded me of my dad who was a railroad freight engineer for 43 years, working right up to his last day. He was a special guy who really loved his job.

Hard to believe switch lamps were once common as flies AND nobody bothered them! They'd be lucky to survive thru the day now.

@ 13:36... that old ramapo switch is just as classic as the switch lanterns... good stuff

I rode freights for a bit when I was 13 and remember seeing these kerosene switch lamps. I clearly remember walking up to one and seeing the flame iinside. Very cool that this is preserved in your RR.

What could be more incredible for a train fanatic, Than to have Your Very OWN Railroad !

That cab ride reminded me of our local hump yard back in the 1970's. A pair of tired and battered ex PRR switchers kicking cars over the gravity hump. If the right crew/Yardmaster was working you could get a brief ride there too. Enjoyed the video for sure!

@monstersofthemidway7125

3 жыл бұрын

My dad was a railroad engineer. For the last several years of his life he worked the hump on a few switcher engines. He often said he had the best job in the world. Also, I agree with you about the crew & especially the yard master. Those good old days were really special.

I remember seeing kerosene switch lamps when riding Western Maryland Railway Fall excursions out of Baltimore back in the 1960s and '70s. Most of the track switches in yards from Baltimore to Cumberland had them. It was neat to see the flickering light through the colorful lamp lenses in the evening on the return trip. The WM kept them up until the Chessie System absorbtion of the RR. Chessie replaced them with metal targets the same as the B&O RR had at the time. The WM also used battery operated lamps, mainly found along the "Dutch Line" on main line switches and main line siding derails. Part of old railroading I greatly miss. Nice to see a rail line keeping the old lamps in actual use, even if only for special occasions.

Wow! What a great video. I have a few of these lanterns I'm starting to fix up. Nothing elaborate mind you. Thanks for the added information about them like the lenses.

what a really great Video, as an Ex Railroad Man I throughly enjoyed what a nice bunch of Guys.

It would be good to see some footage of these Railroad Switch Lanterns at night

@ggurks

6 жыл бұрын

thought the very same

@TexasRailfan2008

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah

I really enjoyed watching that. I have collected a few railroad lamps and lanterns but its great to see them used as they were intended. Thanks also for explaining the "blue" or "lunar white" signal lens. Was amazed to see how it looked when lit. Thanks very much for sharing this!

Very nice !

What a great video! I just got one of these switch lamps and finding this video of them "in the field" was awesome. Vintage videos of them in use seem to be very rare.

If you put the lighter inside your coat it will stay warm and provide flame when you need it.

Yes, they were common and it was always someones job to maintain them, change lenses, refill founts and replace wicks in all kinds of weather. I am curious where they got all those lanterns and they look like new. Nice video. Thank you for sharing

@alcopower5710

4 жыл бұрын

rfederle .....I’d like to know where they got them as well

@TexasRailfan2008

4 жыл бұрын

Same!

@TheDrummer51

2 жыл бұрын

@@TexasRailfan2008 I think that Adlade company still makes them.

@TexasRailfan2008

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDrummer51 no, they stopped making them long ago

Who doesn't love the smell of kerosene in the morning?

I love this more than I can describe. The bit where the lamps are being first put on feels like a celebration. I should send you the small pyrex air director chimneys that fit on the inside burners, I see they are missing

Such an enjoyable video that I come back to watch from time to time ⭐️

That was pretty freakin' KOOL!!!!

Those are really nice switch lanterns & very cool that the lanterns sit on the railroad switches!🙂 Yes I scored a C.N.R. switch lantern that joined my lantern collection & a beautiful one too with red & blue fresnel lenses.👍 Yes I use mine as I sit outside relaxing on the little deck!🙂🙂

I just received the HLPM lantern as a Christmas gift from a family member. Very interesting. It would seem to be used for caboose.

Excellent video Alex.

EXCELLENT VIDEO! Thanks for sharing!!!! :D

nice retro stuff :)

Great video

Neet to see them in use. also never seen the inside chimney, mine is missing.

I really enjoyed this Thanks

Interesting video!

You have the coolest job.

awesome. very cool.

I like this

A work force that's well

We the electric type on conrail, a small bulb inside powered by a big car type battery that was buried part way in the ground, the rr ripped all of them and replaced them with those banner targets, heck today they could power a entire yard with led,s in them with a very small transformer. also i never seen the lunar type the guy showed, not on conrail.

few things more useful to carry on your person than a well maintained reliable lighter, i don't smoke but i carry a zippo on me with a lazy flame butane insert

@ThornappleRiverRailSeries

6 жыл бұрын

I think a Zippo would have a hard time getting into the lantern itself...otherwise for sure quality lighters for the win.

@SuperAWaC

6 жыл бұрын

in this instance yeah i agree

Wish I could get some lamps like these.

@ThornappleRiverRailSeries

6 жыл бұрын

They're widely available online and at swap meets. Many common ones can be head for less than $100 each. There are of course super-rare super-clean super-expensive ones, but it isn't a hobby that is expensive by default.

@SOU6900

6 жыл бұрын

Thornapple River Rail Series As true as that is my budget is just too tight. I'm lucky just to have the two railroad lanterns that I got.

@SOU6900

6 жыл бұрын

Thornapple River Rail Series Also I prefer block signals but I've got a hard time trying to find ones like I'm looking for.

@b3j8

5 жыл бұрын

@@SOU6900 If you want block signals pull out your checkbook unless lucky enough to be on hand when one is being changed out. Then you MIGHT get one cheap.

Saw them the other day with a lumber car

If I lived around there I'd tag him with "Nice" Rice !!

I'm vindicated! I'm not the only guy who can't operate those lighters!

Should add... mine is a Hiram Piper, made in Canada under lic. from Adlake I am told.

Great video! You machined those brackets, Eric? I've got 3 in my collection now...acquiring a couple more this weekend. Want to use them on special occasions at my railroad but need to figger out brackets.

It was criminal to film this and not show them at night..

Where can one purchase these switch lanterns?

@ThornappleRiverRailSeries

6 жыл бұрын

Ebay, swap meets, etc

@brothernick7964

6 жыл бұрын

Thx

How about putting in some white LEDs, powered with a solar cell and a battery?

@ThornappleRiverRailSeries

5 жыл бұрын

Lighting the switches is now considered unnecessary.

@ericrice2304

4 жыл бұрын

You could do that but not with white. You would have to come up with a LED that matches as close as possible to the color of the flame. The lenses are only designed to work properly with the color of the flame centered a certain distance from the lens.

is his suburban for sale? lol

@ThornappleRiverRailSeries

6 жыл бұрын

It's his baby so I don't think so!

@TheMysteriousRock

6 жыл бұрын

Walking on thin ice with that comment .

Why change them?

@ThornappleRiverRailSeries

6 жыл бұрын

In this case, just for fun!

*Cheap, China-made dollar store lighters rarely ever work.*

@TexasRailfan2008

4 жыл бұрын

HardlineAthiest yeah