Model Railroader – September 2019

September 2019 49

streetlights illuminate, and room lights
glow. On railroads, headlights are
required at all times. During the day
they’re warning devices. At night, they’re
critical for crew visibility and a visible
warning a train is coming.
With smaller grain-of-wheat size
bulbs and surface-mount LEDs, model-
ers now can also add auxiliary lighting
to locomotives ❸. These add interest,
especially as the darkness sets in. Step
lights, instrument panel lights in the cab,
ground lights above the trucks on the
cab end of the locomotive, and various
warning lights will also add visual inter-
est to your nighttime scene. Passenger
trains and cabooses also are great candi-
dates for interior lighting.
Appropriate lighting will also help to
accent towns and buildings along the
route, as well as shop facilities and yard
offices. This is a case where a little can go
a long way. Even major yard facilities
will have limited lighting. Critical areas
are those most likely to have personnel
on the ground, such as yard leads, crew
change points, and office locations ❹.
Pole- or tower-mounted lights are a
must for these locations ❺. I’ve found
it’s effective to use different types and
colors of bulbs and LEDs to simulate the
variety found on the prototype ❻.
Within buildings, the time-tested
method of light block walls applies.
Black photo paper or dark cardboard
dividers keep walls from glowing. Open
doors or windows can provide extra light
as well as interest for operators and visi-
tors. Exterior lighting on buildings is
also a good way to illuminate a scene.

Lighting for operators

Onondaga Yard on my HO scale
model railroad has a full-time yardmas-
ter to handle constant classification of
cars 24 hours a day. A roll-out table is lit
by several LEDs wired in parallel with
the yard lighting. As the room lights fade
out, the Yardmaster flips an on-off
switch, wired in series, and the yard and
office lights illuminate (❼, next page).
What about operations? It’s hard
enough to read reporting marks when
the lights are on. Again, the prototype
lends guidance. One of the primary tools
for conductors and ground men on the
railroad is the lantern. Since the 1960s
these have been streamlined from the
days of kerosene or oil lamps to battery-
powered lanterns.
Members of your operating crew can
use a small handheld flashlight or LED
keychain light. This makes it easier to

❸ Prototypical lighting. Illuminated ground lights and number boxes add to the

realism of locomotives during nighttime operation.

❹ A little goes a long way. Most yard facilities have limited lighting. Yard leads,

offices, and crew change locations are key places to add lights.

❺ Lighting the way. Engine terminals look dramatic at night. Lights on towers

shine down on power sitting outside the enginehouse on Dave’s layout.

❻ Variety is key. Dave uses different types and colors of bulbs and LEDs to

simulate the different prototype lights.

See Dave’s Onondaga Cutoff track plan at http://www.ModelRailroader.com.