Is this a caboose lantern?

It could be a Track Turnout Switch lantern.

White lense for straight route, red for diverging route.

I think switch lanterns are more common on the used market, and easier to find (or steal).

Caboose lantern are more sexy IMHO.

Some confusion here:

1) First you state the railroad is "Marked CNL&TP", which I have not heard of. Then further down you show the photo of the "Railroad name", i.e. "CNO&TP", which is the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific, part of the Southern Railway system (between Cincinnati and Chattanooga, TN.).

2) You indicate that it has two lenses, one red and one amber, which could very possibly be a caboose marker lamp (not a 'lantern').

totrainyard posted:

It could be a Track Turnout Switch lantern.

White lense for straight route, red for diverging route.

I think switch lanterns are more common on the used market, and easier to find (or steal).

Caboose lantern are more sexy IMHO.

A switch lamp has 4 lenses, it has to be seen from both directions.

I agree with Hot Water, it's likely a caboose marker, and very early one at that.  Some railroads used an amber lens instead of green.

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

totrainyard posted:

It could be a Track Turnout Switch lantern.

White lense for straight route, red for diverging route.

I think switch lanterns are more common on the used market, and easier to find (or steal).

Caboose lantern are more sexy IMHO.

A switch lamp has 4 lenses, it has to be seen from both directions.

I agree with Hot Water, it's likely a caboose marker, and very early one at that.  Some railroads used an amber lens instead of green.

Rusty

Right. Red to the rear and amber to the side. Not uncommon in the steam days of railroading, especially in the very early 1900s.

Hot Water posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

totrainyard posted:

It could be a Track Turnout Switch lantern.

White lense for straight route, red for diverging route.

I think switch lanterns are more common on the used market, and easier to find (or steal).

Caboose lantern are more sexy IMHO.

A switch lamp has 4 lenses, it has to be seen from both directions.

I agree with Hot Water, it's likely a caboose marker, and very early one at that.  Some railroads used an amber lens instead of green.

Rusty

Right. Red to the rear and amber to the side. Not uncommon in the steam days of railroading, especially in the very early 1900s.

Also, some roads, especially those in the Northeast with multiple main tracks, required that the markers be turned to display amber to the rear when clear of main tracks in sidings or when moving  against the current of traffic in territory with three or more main tracks. Requirements often got very detailed depending on the railroad, number of mains and their respective operating rules.    

Those are not the original nor correct lenses. I believe this is a train order lamp which would have been mounted at a station. The train order signal looks like a double sided semaphore. That would mean that this lamp should have had two smooth face clear lenses.

Hot Water posted:

Some confusion here:

1) First you state the railroad is "Marked CNL&TP", which I have not heard of. Then further down you show the photo of the "Railroad name", i.e. "CNO&TP", which is the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific, part of the Southern Railway system (between Cincinnati and Chattanooga, TN.).

Guessing he just hit the wrong key with the "L" being under the "O" on the keyboard? 

It would be very helpful if there were more full pictures showing all sides of the lamp.

I have something similar...mine might be a caboose lantern.  My dad painted it Chevy orange a long time ago.  It is missing the top, but I still like it lots.  Sitting up on a high shelf in my den was/is very dusty...   

Andy,
Yours is a marker light.

Thanks Jim!...I never knew what it actually was used for.

I remember when my dad brought it home.  We hung it and actually lit it many times.  I believe it was black when he first got it.  I got it from him a few years before he passed away....The chevy orange isn't my favorite, but he liked it so I haven't been able to bring myself to repaint it.

A caboose marker might have a bracket sticking out one side that fits in a slotted fixture on the side of the caboose or passenger car.   It has to have something to hang it on the caboose.     A switch lantern would not have this bracket.

Bill's lamp appears to have two lenses, one on each side of the lamp. Also on the right side of the lamp is a tubular portion that sticks out from the body of the lamp. The mounting bracket slid into the tubular reciver, positioning it between the two arms of the train order signal. This is a train order lamp.

Here are more pictures of the Armspear lantern.

A piece of flat bar would fit well.

I believe it's a caboose light guys.

Well, after seeing those latest photos, I'll change my opinion. I do NOT believe that it is a Marker Lamp, caboose or otherwise.

Armspear made some really cool looking caboose marker lamps.

They look nothing like that one. 

Interesting discussion. I'll go with Joe on this one. 2 lenses make sense for train order application. Most caboose markers I've seen have 3 lenses and a bracket. 

Chris

LVHR

It is a train order lamp. Here is a picture of an Adlake model.

http://manifestauctions.com/pa...n-order-signal-lamp/