Chicago & Northwestern E4 Hudson, lights

@Lou1985 posted:

Quick question for you Chicago & Northwestern guys. I've got a MTH Premier E4 Hudson and I'm trying to verify how the front lighting worked on the prototype. As far as I can tell the lowest clear light is the headlight,

Correct.

the one above it is a MARS light,

Also correct.

but I'm not sure about the top red light.

That would be another Mars light, but only activated when the air brakes were in emergency (the Engineer also had a manual control so that he could turn on the Red Mars Light as needed), thus an oncoming train could not pass the stopped train with the activated Red Mars light (many railroads with double track had those Red Mars lights).

When was that light illuminated? Was it an emergency light, only illuminated when the brakes were in emergency?

Yes.

Was the red light only on in reverse?

Not normally, unless the Engineer turned it on. Normally the classification lights would be turned on and mechanically moved into the "red" to rear indication.

If anyone knows I'd like to find out. I've included a picture of the front of the locomotive (my model) for reference.

Ah thanks. So the Chicago & Northwestern used the red light on the front of passenger locomotives very similar to the Union Pacific. Good to know. I'll be sure to wire it up appropriately.