Double lens rail lamp

[Deltic1]

Hi all,
Recently I saw a BR headlamp for sale with two clear lens's opposite each other, with the bit (sorry don't know the name) for placing onto a lamp bracket on the side. I was wondering what it would have been used for, possibly on brake vans?
Thanks!

 

[John Webb]

Hi all,
Recently I saw a BR headlamp for sale with two clear lens's opposite each other, with the bit (sorry don't know the name) for placing onto a lamp bracket on the side. I was wondering what it would have been used for, possibly on brake vans?
Thanks!

It sounds like a side lamp for a brake van. There should be provision for inserting a red slide behind one of the lenses to give a red rear lamp; in various circumstances the red filter was removed to prevent trains on adjacent lines thinking the goods train was on their line. The white light shining forwards enabled the engine crew to see that the guard's van was still attached and therefore their train was still in one piece.

 

[Deltic1]

It sounds like a side lamp for a brake van. There should be provision for inserting a red slide behind one of the lenses to give a red rear lamp; in various circumstances the red filter was removed to prevent trains on adjacent lines thinking the goods train was on their line. The white light shining forwards enabled the engine crew to see that the guard's van was still attached and therefore their train was still in one piece.

Brilliant, thank you!

 

[DelW]

It sounds like a side lamp for a brake van. There should be provision for inserting a red slide behind one of the lenses to give a red rear lamp; in various circumstances the red filter was removed to prevent trains on adjacent lines thinking the goods train was on their line. The white light shining forwards enabled the engine crew to see that the guard's van was still attached and therefore their train was still in one piece.

If there isn't a provision for a red lens, might it be a steam locomotive gauge lamp? I have such an item, and as I understand it, it would have been mounted above the firebox door using the bracket, and in between the water gauges, so that the light shone sideways onto the gauge glasses and not back into the engine crew's eyes (the side opposite the bracket being solid).

Such lamps are reasonably common on memorabilia stalls at railway fairs etc.

 

[John Webb]

If the lamp has the clip to go on a bracket on both sides, then it's a guard's van lamp. If the clip is only on one side, I'd go along with DelW's suggestion.