SignalTraffic Forums

by **mcha9797** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:36 pm

Can anyone help me identify what type/brand of signal this is, and how old it may be?

It belonged to my late Grandfather who retired from the Burlington Northern Railroad in the early 70's. My sister has had it the last several years, but after her visit and seeing my signal collection, she is passing it on to me. :grin:

According to my mother this signal was acquired by her father while working, she just can't remember what year. I guess you could call it NOS, it never saw service.

Thanks in advance for your help, :hello:

I think it's pretty cool. :2Cool:

by **vaughn** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:43 pm

I think these would be placed in the back of the caboose but I could be wrong.
You'd have to send it over here for me to verify age :Wink2:

by **coyttl** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 1:44 pm

It's a switch lantern.
Likely, Adlake, thought it will say on the top of the lantern.
Should have a rectangle hole in the bottom, where it mounted to the switch pole. Would have a burner (kerosene) in it, to light the roundels up, and your specific lantern never came with targets.

As for age - really difficult to tell, as they're still made today.

by **mcha9797** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 4:43 pm

coyttl wrote:It's a switch lantern.
Likely, Adlake, thought it will say on the top of the lantern.
Should have a rectangle hole in the bottom, where it mounted to the switch pole. Would have a burner (kerosene) in it, to light the roundels up, and your specific lantern never came with targets.

As for age - really difficult to tell, as they're still made today.

Thanks for the info, I won't have it till we all meet in Kansas City for Thanksgiving. My sister took it to Colorado years ago while visiting my parents house and going thru some of my Grandfather's keepsakes.

You mentioned that they still make these, my best guess on the age of this one would be sometime in the 60's, maybe earlier. He retired in the early 70's, and had this lantern for some time before that. Someone here may be able to put a more precise date on it??

I'm just happy to be able to add this to my collection since it was my Grandfather's. :grin:

by **coyttl** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:29 pm

mcha9797 wrote:Thanks for the info, I won't have it till we all meet in Kansas City for Thanksgiving. My sister took it to Colorado years ago while visiting my parents house and going thru some of my Grandfather's keepsakes.

You mentioned that they still make these, my best guess on the age of this one would be sometime in the 60's, maybe earlier. He retired in the early 70's, and had this lantern for some time before that. Someone here may be able to put a more precise date on it??

I'm just happy to be able to add this to my collection since it was my Grandfather's.

Yup, Adlake makes historical railroad items. I believe this is your lantern. But without seeing more pictures, can't be sure, of course.

Unless the railroad stamped a date in it - which is unlikely - you won't get a better date off of it, unfortunately. Sometimes railroads stamped their codes into the bodies, and sometimes they didn't. (Example, I have a Penn one, that I cleaned up as shown here, and mine does not have a Penn stamp on it. Though lanterns do exist with Penn stamped on it. Go figure.)

--Mike.

by **mcha9797** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:37 pm

So I can buy target's for this light???

by **coyttl** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:27 pm

mcha9797 wrote:So I can buy target's for this light???

Contact Adlake, they may sell the targets seperately.
Or, check eBay. :thumbsup:

Wait, however - because you will need to know the size of your lenses before you go buying some.

by **returntosender** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:42 pm

Email Adlake and find out what size targets came on that lamp, Or what sizes they offer,
But like someone else said wait until you know what size your lenses are.

by **coyttl** on Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:03 pm

returntosender wrote:Email Adlake and find out what size targets came on that lamp, Or what sizes they offer,
But like someone else said wait until you know what size your lenses are.

Those came in two sizes - 4 1/2 and 5 3/4 - 4.5 in lenses are older - they were upgraded to 5 3/8 for better visibility - and no, I don't know when. :)

by **mcha9797** on Thu Sep 26, 2013 6:51 pm

I'm a bit hesitant to alter it's current condition, but I like the looks of the targets on these signals. I guess the decision will be made when I get it home in November. :yes:

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