Bardic Lamps

[BestWestern]

Bardic lamps are available in 3 or 4 aspect. The 4 aspect ones have red, green, white and yellow and are mainly used by signallers.

https://footplateequipment.co.uk/lamps/br-bardic-lamp-nearly-new.html

Indeed. I was more questioning the display of a steady yellow all night at two sets of opposing traffic lights! I've never come across that in my highway code!

 

[Llanigraham]

Bardic lamps are available in 3 or 4 aspect. The 4 aspect ones have red, green, white and yellow and are mainly used by signallers.

https://footplateequipment.co.uk/lamps/br-bardic-lamp-nearly-new.html

The Bardic in my (old) Box was only 3 aspect, since yellow is no longer used.

 

[Llanigraham]

Indeed. I was more questioning the display of a steady yellow all night at two sets of opposing traffic lights! I've never come across that in my highway code!

Because it isn't there.
It suggests that the "workmen" were doing something "dodgy" and certainly not official.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Indeed. I was more questioning the display of a steady yellow all night at two sets of opposing traffic lights! I've never come across that in my highway code!

Because it isn't there.
It suggests that the "workmen" were doing something "dodgy" and certainly not official.

The steady yellow phase was only used at night to mimic a conelite or a Dorman Traffilamp of which the builder didn't have, so instead used his bardics as they were flexible. Even I questioned it as to why they were being used as cheapo signals during the daytime, the reply was because of the cost of hiring the proper equiptment.

 

[Mojo]

Workmen use Stop / Go rotating signs at roadworks when they aren’t using temporary traffic signals. If this story is true, I struggle to envisage how any road vehicle operator would even recognise that a workman shining a bardic lamp is some kind of human traffic light and react accordingly.

 

[AndyPJG]

Because it isn't there.
It suggests that the "workmen" were doing something "dodgy" and certainly not official.

Wonder where they had their horses tied up?

 

[Harpers Tate]

I believe all Bardics actually had the yellow filter, but its use on the red/white/green only versions, common on the Railway, was mechanically prevented by means of a different knob on the outside and a screw stop internally.

 

[Llanigraham]

I believe all Bardics actually had the yellow filter, but its use on the red/white/green only versions, common on the Railway, was mechanically prevented by means of a different knob on the outside and a screw stop internally.

Mine has only 3 colours on the filter, red, clear and green, but the one I converted for the Corris had the four but was as described above.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

There was a bardic that had a switch top rather than the rotational one - and they only flipped the red or green cover over the lens. Those had no yellow at all. The standard issue though always had the three aspects (plain light was to use as a torch). I would suggest that any heritage railways out there who want them get in touch with their local TOC stores as there is a cost in disposing of old bardics. If disposed of properly the lens, rubber, bulb, battery and carcass all need to be separated and disposed of in differing bins. Heritage railways can gain lamps and TOC stores can save on waste disposal costs.

 

[Lord Unstone]

Hello....new member here...I am involved with a workshop group restoring a 1916 Hunslett loco. My son in law gave me a Bardic lamp.... and I have a new battery on order... and need to devise a new control know to rotate the filters. However, I cannot see how you actually turn the lamp on and off. Anybody help please?

 

[Harpers Tate]

The same knob used to twist the filter lifts and drops - lift = on; drop = off.

 

[Lord Unstone]

Aah, brill...thanks! A bit of inventing now needed. Cheers

 

[IKB]

If anyone from a registered heritage railway or some other charity wants an old bardic lamp, please send me a PM with details on what you want it for and the organisation you represent, and I will see what I can do (no promises though, and you’ll have to collect it from me).

Easier than that, they're on eBay for £10. Some used, others 'new'. The modified battery insert also for sale.

See here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEST-QUA...626100?hash=item33e2561bb4:g:7LoAAOSwr~lYs95T

 

[furnessvale]

The best use for a Bardic lamp was to carry it in your hand when walking home in the small hours through less than salubrious areas. Very handy if you came across ne'er do wells!

 

[BestWestern]

The best use for a Bardic lamp was to carry it in your hand when walking home in the small hours through less than salubrious areas. Very handy if you came across ne'er do wells!

Or indeed to carry it for the same purposes but when walking through one's train!

Come to think of it, could it be that the humble bardic is the origin of the term to "lamp" somebody?!

 

[Elecman]

They were very useful lump hammers

 

[philthetube]

underground staff are issued with four aspect unipart ones.

 

[infobleep]

Surely if it's a heritage syram railway then they would want an paraffin lamp?

 

[Steptoe]

Surely if it's a heritage syram railway then they would want an paraffin lamp?

Amusingly, I've just woken up from a nightmare where I was operating two manual gated crossings a couple of hundred yards apart and couldn't quite make to the second so had to display a red on my torch (which presumably was a Bardic though that detail was a bit fuzzy!)

I know your question was posed in jest but I'm quite happy with my paraffin lamps being in a semi-static position on top of my gates rather than swinging in my hand if I have to move quickly!

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Workmen use Stop / Go rotating signs at roadworks when they aren’t using temporary traffic signals. If this story is true, I struggle to envisage how any road vehicle operator would even recognise that a workman shining a bardic lamp is some kind of human traffic light and react accordingly.

The builder had barriers and signs (including when red light shows wait here) up because of the work they were doing which was pulling down a wall and buidling a garage however because of the gear being used on the job one lane had to be closed, but since the builder had no signals apart from his Bardic lamps, he simply used them as signals.

This isn't the first time they've done a lash up job either, as I rememer them taking an old van round to his house which had the headlights painted red.

 

[BestWestern]

This isn't the first time they've done a lash up job either, as I rememer them taking an old van round to his house which had the headlights painted red.

Eh?! Not even going to ask!

 

[broadgage]

The original batteries to fit Bardic lamps are still readily available, on fleabay and from any good industrial battery supplier. Search for "AD28 BATTERY" Expect to pay about £5 for one, cheaper if buying several.
AFAIK they are now only made by ever ready, in the past several firms made this type of battery.

I would consider use of the original battery type of to be preferable to an adaptor for D cells, fewer connections and therefore fewer potential points of failure.

I stand by the above as being accurate WHEN WRITTEN which was well over a year ago.
At present AD28 batteries are hard to find. Not certain if production has ceased, or if this is a temporary shortage.