Lionel makes their centipede tenders with marker lights while MTH makes their centitpede tenders without marker lights. Photos and videos I have of Union Pacific steam show some centipede tenders with marker lights and some without. Does anyone know the history of marker lights on Union Pacific centipede tenders? Were they removed over time from an as built configuration? Why were they removed??
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Which "Centipede Tenders" are you referring to?
Checking William W. Kratville's book "The Mighty 800", the photos plainly show that the rear of the FEF-2 and FEF-3 tenders, the centipede tenders, were equipped with the mounting brackets and appropriate receptacles for the "plug in electric" rear marker lamps. However, the UP rarely, if ever used those "plug in markers", since the big pedestal type tenders on the 4-8-4s, 4-6-6-4s, and 4-8-8-4s were all equipped with a center mounted red, rear facing electric light, controlled from the cab. Thus no need for a person to go back and hang the electric marker lamps, and plug them in.
MTH is correct in NOT having marker lamps on the rear of their UP "big three" steam locomotive models, i.e. the 4-8-4s, 4-6-6-4s, and 4-8-8-4s.
Plus, the only reasons any locomotive need display markers on the tender were if it was pushing at the end of a train or moving light on the main. Even then, it seems most crews just stuck a red flag in the knuckle.
I'd rather the model train builders would leave tender markers off.
Rusty
Thanks, Hot Water. I was hoping you would respond to my inquiry as I consider you THE authority on steam in this forum. I refer you to Kratville's The Challenger Locomotives, p. 99 showing a photo of 3975's tender with two rear marker lamps. The photo shows the tender is black so it is probably a builder's photo (also shows front and side views without the tender attached to the engine). Page 118 shows the rear of 3999's tender without marker lamps. All the other photos in Kratville showing markers appear to be on new locomotives being inspected at Omaha before being put into service. So I guess you could say tender marker lamps were prototypical "as delivered" but not "in service" for the Challengers.
So I guess you could say tender marker lamps were prototypical "as delivered" but not "in service" for the Challengers.
That is correct. The SP did the same thing with their steam locomotives, specifically the GS-4 Daylight 4-8-4s. Builder photos plainly show the electric marker lamps mounted AND plugged into their respective electric receptacles. However, try to find photos of ANY SP Daylight locomotives in service with the electric markers mounted on the rear of the tender. VERY RARE indeed. Just like the UP "big three" locomotives.
In some cases those electric marker lamps may have been stowed in tender side lockers, for use as needed.
No! They would would "show" red to the rear IF the locomotive was running light, or being used to push a train on the rear end. Thus, the red lens of each marker would be showing to the rear.
Generally speaking, the railroads didn't do many things "just for show", back in those days.
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