They're beautiful... but what is the original colour? Mine looked like it was cream but is that original?
Colin I have no idea about original colour. All the ones I have seen over the years have been bare steel caked in grime. I am minded to think they were unpainted and just wiped with an oily rag. Sure someone must have an unused example somewhere that could give a definitive answer.
The central one of the three in the brochure above is silver, exactly like mine was when I got it, albeit pretty rusty. The other one I have with round glass windows has very flaky paint but it seems to be original and it's cream coloured.
These railway signal lamps USED to be available very cheaply indeed from government surplus dealers, once BR started moving away from oil lit signals. Apart from the intended use, they were useful heat sources for garden cold frames, most other oil burners had too great a heat output for a cold frame. Also made good non-electric night lights for children or invalids. They were intended to burn for 8 or 9 days between fillings, i.e. weekly filling plus a margin. When used to light railway signals, it was common practice for the "lamp man" to carry a fresh lamp, cleaned and filled up to the signal, NOT to extinguish, fill, and re-light the lamp already in use. The spare lamp could be affixed to the trouser belt so as to leave both hands free for climbing the ladder. As has already been said, the lamp in the signal gave a coloured signal to the train driver, perhaps less well known is that most signals also have a small white light in the reverse direction, this was in order that the signalman could confirm that the lamp was actually lit.
Here is a link to a webcam on the preserved West Somerset Railway.. If viewed in daylight the signals may be seen, or the lights therein if viewed a night. Nearest the camera is a "stop" signal, showing a red light, at low level is a shunting signal, and further away is a signal for trains proceeding towards the camera, this shows a white light to confirm to the signalman that the lamp is lit. wsr.org.uk :: Blue Anchor Webcam
Thanks for the info. The same source that I got the lamps from has loads more that they are very happy to give me, so it seems like I'll have plenty of railway lamp fettling to do!
Full restoration to working order should be feasible, if desired. The glass is ordinary window glass, not the special heat proof glass used for pressure lanterns or larger wick lamps. Fairly thin glass is needed, you should be able to obtain this from a picture framing shop rather than a glaziers. If the wick winder is stuck or seized, you can often free this by soaking the burner in petrol. OUTDOORS ONLY, GREAT RISK OF FIRE. Ensure that all traces of petrol are removed before lighting. If the burner is beyond fettling, replacement NOS burners are available, from the "base camp" or from "Kibworth DIY" who have an ebay shop.
That's handy to know because at least one of my railway lamps has parts missing and so will the others quite possibly. As soon as I have more I'll post a few more 'before' images.
@Broadgauge Thanks for the info on the semaphore lamps and also the live station cam, it was interesting to see it at night and then again in the day.. also better than a lot of tv
@broadgage Now why did I never think of that? I have two box lanterns both needing glass and now have an idea where to get it. Thanks and regards Jeremy
Some of these signal lamps have two small horizontal lines engraved or etched onto the glass. When the lamp is correctly used and adjusted, the brightest part of the flame should be between these two lines. Correct positioning of the flame was most important so as to give a good clear signal to the train driver. Even a slight misalignment would greatly impair visibility. Such misalignment could result from fitting a different oil reservoir or a different burner to that intended. This was crucial for signals on a main line that need to be reliably sighted from a distance, standards could be relaxed a bit for shunting signals, buffer stop lights, and the lights on level crossing gates that are only sighted over short distances.
Another use of those lines would be to get the correct fuel consumption.. 8-9 days could become 4-5 if the flame is misadjusted? That would be bad if the lamp man only visits once a week...
If the wick was turned up so high that the lamp would burn for less than 7 days, then it would smoke noticeably and the need for adjustment be clear. It was usual to clean, fill, light, and adjust the lamp at ground level, often in a small hut built for the purpose and marked "lamps" In the event that the light went out unexpectedly, then trains should be stopped or cautioned at the previous signal and the driver advised. The signalman or station porter would be expected to change the lamp in such circumstances.
I went into a curio 2nd hand and bazaar establishment at Southport Merseyside ..He was using one of these Railway square Lamps as a door stop ..as I walked in ... mmm there was £60 price tag on it .. a little devil on my shoulder said .. " You'll be sorry " ... painted up in Green ... mmm ... highly collectable but ...
