Inside the Headlight???

MV lens with the warm white light should give you the effect you you want.

Reflectors inside steam locomotive headlights are silvered.  The light color is totally dependent on the light bulb and as bulbs were uncoated incandescent, yellowish-white is usually the color.  However, ambient light conditions can shift the color either to the white or yellow slightly.

Rusty

Hi Bob, you might already have your answers. I have asked an expert who builds the prototypes for Key Models.  As soon as I have his reply I wil post it.

Don

Real steam locomotive headlight reflectors were manufactured by the "GoldenGlow Headlight Co.". The reflectors were made with uranium, or "yellowcake" mixed with silicon.  That is why all steam locomotive headlights that use 32 volt incandescent  bulbs (NOT modern era twin sealed beam bulbs) have that "yellow hue" appearance from a distance.

Thanks folks, very informative

I take it the backup light would have the same coating?

(now, where to find some yellowcake )

Hi Bob, you did get your answer. Here is Gary response and what light he uses.

The Santa Fe used a headlight called a "Golden Glow" headlight. It had a reflector which was literally golden in color. Back in the early to mid 1900s, they did not yet have really high reflective surfaces which are usually glass backed by aluminum evaporated onto it. That gives a pretty white light. Most steam engines had a more yellowish cast to their headlights, accentuated by the yellowish cast of the incandescent bulbs. I use cast or turned brass reflectors with actual incandescent bulbs to get the best reproduction of those headlights on my models. First generation diesels were much like the steamers. Later diesels became much whiter.

Yeah, I've been looking for an LED that would give me that older incandescent look for a long time. All I've tried come out too white or bright yellow. Have some inspection bulbs on a steam loco I'd like to replace with LED's just for longevity, but they are proving difficult to locate. 

Butch

Thanks folks!

I did one this morning.  After drilling/painting the outside/mounting the light I inserted the LED.  Turning the power on gave me a nice golden glow, I did not paint the inside of the brass light housing, which I feel helped get that golden color.

Butch, two sources of LEDs are Dallee Electronics and Evans LEDS. Both have web sites.

Richmond Controls offers "golden white" LEDs for older locos and "sunny white"  LEDs for modern. Also have a web site.

You can buy amber or yellow LED's, as well as various color temperature "warm white" LED's.  It's possible to replicate almost any shade you desire.  I buy them in bulk for a few cents each in quantity.

Interesting about the Golden Glow reflector. If I was doing this on a brass headlight casting I would first polish the brass then nickel plate it. Not a perfect match but I am out of stock of yellowcake.

Then use an incandescent bulb at a reduced voltage to exaggerate the orange tinge.

Pete