Marker lights for a caboose

[ICG/SOU]

I barely remember seeing cabooses when I was young and don't have any immediate sources to make my own, so I'm here for help.

Did all railroads (post 1960s) use a single flashing red light for a marker? Did any of them use solid red lights?

What is the purpose of the light mounts on some of the Athearn Blue Box bay window kits? Did it have a red and green light? Was this common, or just SP?

I'd like to add marker lights for my cabooses (not the lamps that hung out on the sides, but something on the rear). I've seen a couple of pictures, but don't know enough about placement and type.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Outback]

End of train lighting is mandated by what is called UCOR (Uniform Code of Operating Rules) or, in Canada - CROR (Canadian Rail Operating Rules). I don't have my copy of UCOR accessable right now but Section 19 of CROR states: "Marker(s) - One marker, or Two markers when so equipped, lighted and/or reflectorised, will display red to the rear of every train by day and by night to mark the end of the train."

As to how this was accomplished, flashing or non, and the placement of the lights; I think most railways did their own thing in this regard w/ no two being exactly the same. Though there may be some standardisation by caboose manufacturer I would suppose.

Additionally, some railways also had green lights together with the required red on cabooses. Why exactly this is may be different for each company doing so, but I would presume they served one or both of the following purposes - to signal the front of the train when running in reverse, or, to indicate a second part or special train as per front end classification lights on locomotives. Maybe someone else here can clarify this from actual operating rules somewhere.

On my freelance line we run red lights at each corner of each caboose facing rearward as well as a red reflective square near the couplar or attached to the vestibule somewhere plainly visable. An example is shown below in the photo...

Also seen in this photo of our Track Geometry Car's butt is a rear double headlight and rotating beacon on the roof, and ditch lights and a horn at the rear of the vestibule. These are for safety and reverse running visability and protection.

Below is one of our historical cabooses showing the old style marker lamps mounted to the end corners.

Additionally, all our corporately own revenue equipment (box cars, hoppers, gons, flats, &c) also carry the red reflective squares at each end in the event that they are being run at the end of a train. Just a curiosity of our company... we have a few! Running cabeese in the 2000's is one of them too.

 

[SRN]

Rio Grande had a single red light on each end of the caboose. The lamp facing toward the rear would be illuminated. It was steady, not flashing.