Just wondering if anyone watched this, and if so what type of lamp was used to light the railway carriage. It was demonstrated that the lamps were serviced from the outside of the train by standing on the roof. Each lamp, one per compartment, lifted out for cleaning and filling, and was dropped into place such that the glass bowl protruded down into the carriage. But what sort of lamp ? The oil reservoir seemed to be above the light source, perhaps suggesting an early type of "donut" or "lifebuoy" pressure lamp. On the other hand a cheap and simple wick lamp seems more likely, but I wonder how it worked with the oil apparently above the flame ? Cant see how it could give much light, downward light obstructed by the burner, and upward light largely lost in the housing. Or perhaps it was not oil at all, but simply a draught resisting and tamper proof housing for one or several candles. The lamp was not shown lit, so might be a not very accurate battery powered or non functional mock up.
That globe makes me think: "Big jar o' pickled onions"! On the more serious side, this thing can only work on batteries, I don't see how one can get a constant flow of air to feed the lantern when on the move. The lantern will eigther be blown out or sucked out. Looks like a rather stupid system to me too. Who/what was supposed to be transported on that train? I might as well be totally wrong..... 8) Best regards, Wim
It was a passenger train, individual compartments without corridor, so the only easy access to each lamp was external. Said to be about 1870 to 1880, though I take such dates with large pinch of salt, remembering that railway vehicles were often kept for many decades whilst being modified and re-built so many times that dates became a bit meaningless. As regards the lamps, it has occurred to me that they might be carbide lamps ? water and carbide reservoirs above the flame and the acetylene jet in the middle of the large glass dome. Prior to the electric age, carbide lighting was very popular.
Railway carriage lighting changed from candles, to oil lamps (pressurised or not I have not discovered), gas, and finally electric. Haven't seen the clip as shown, so can't comment on that. With pressure lamps designed to be used in storms, I don't see any problems with them being used in the roof of a railway carriage on the move. These lamps were for the benefit of passengers. There was considerable danger to the safety of passengers from assault and robbery when trains entered tunnels, and candle, oil, and gas lighting were only practicable in use after dark, hence the rapid(?) change to electric lighting operated by a guard. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gansg/1-hist/hist-d.htm http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/R/RAI/railway-39.html Use the 'magnifying' glass to read the following account. The digitised 'translation' in the left column is appalling: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9165680 Interesting series, but I find the team can be somewhat patronising at times in a somewhat naive manner, I find the guides more interesting than the guided. Almost looks to appeal to the younger person - that is, those not welded to X boxes, ipods, and pokemon hunting.
So how would you pressurise the tank or prick the vapouriser when needed? I'd guess they were gravity-type lamps. Next time I'm at Locomotion at Shildon, I'll make it my business to find out. You'd be right to do that. Those same three presenters (can't stand any of 'em, particularly her) did the Victorian and Edwardian farm programmes. In one, they were shown using a Bialaddin 320 when they were attending a lime-kiln at night. http://0flo.com/index.php?posts/1216 I rest my case, m'lud...
I remember the medieval (?) farm program. Couldn't help but laugh after they'd built a socking great hanging piece outside to hang in the hall, then found it so big it wouldn't go through the door! Pair of monkeys. Masters at stating the obvious, and being surprised at it. Ruth Goodman . . .
These lamps were used in rail Horse Vans long after there use for lighting carriages finished,thats why so many have survived They were wick lamps which ran on Rape oil, gravity fed.I've included some images to give an idea how they worked. Al
... One railway lamp I've not seen before... ..Have you had one lit at all Mr. Al ?... ..Auntie Olive made the best pickled onions for miles, she'd get quite a few in there... pb
... Because they are prats... I wouldn't want to be stuck in one of those compartments with any of'em ...I caught the end of one programme where they were descending under gravity with a full load of slates, ...all you could here was one of em moaning the slates had made his bottom sore..
No I haven't Mr Pod. Incidentally the program forgot to mention the part that canals played in the transport system in between the stage coach and railways. Al
..Thank you good sir .Yes, as you say the canals were a key part to the Industrial Revolution here... ...and they didn't mention it?..... how like them... pb
Quite so - very BBC. Patronising, child like, and lacking vital history. The top hatted Navvy camp foreman mentioned the Navigators and the origins of the name, and they didn't bat an eye. Script writers - or ignorance? They waste time talking tosh in the station buffet instead of getting stuck in, then leave their guide book on the table! Which suddenly re-appears in their hands whilst walking to the carriage. More entertaining spotting the deliberate mistakes!!
One wonders what kind of job the commercial channels would have made of it, then. Not shown it at all probably, preferring instead something like Big Brother or Naked Attraction - prurient and completely mindless thus revenue-generating... To be fair to them, though, it is a series about the development of the railways rather than the canals (which has been covered extensively in other programmes) or even transport in general - the clue's in the title...
True, though steam was also used on the 'cut': http://www.steamershistorical.co.uk/steamers_bridgewater_tugs.htm http://www.steamershistorical.co.uk/steamers_president_images.htm PRESIDENT is back in steam - but I digress!
... Saw President a few summers ago... at the IWA campaign gathering here at Chester... Great stuff pb
@Pod Bros, please check your keyboard. Looks like the dot (.) isn't working well. It repeats itself. It makes reading somewhat harder.
Thanks Wim, I think that view is shared by many, sorry if it has made reading difficult, maybe this is better? Not better for me as all the words are too close, sorry I should have realised it would have affected the translation factor Best wishes, pb
