Pete Skellon

I prepared the following when researching the LNW twin-lens loco headlamps which may be of interest: The LNWR twin-lens locomotive headlamp (also referred to as a ‘buffer lamp’) showed two aspects, one red, one clear. A green shade was provided to change the clear, or white, light to green, and a blank shade was also provided to blank off either of the aspects if desired. An LNWR notice of November 1873 gave the basic headlamp codes on the LNWR as white lights for passenger trains and green lights for goods trains. In both cases two lights – one over each buffer – denoted an express train, and a single light – placed over the left-side buffer – denoted a stopping train. The General Appendix for 1883 indicated that an additional green light at the base of the chimney had to be carried if the train was running on a ‘slow’ line. For light engines, a red tail light was supplemented by a green light when running on ‘slow’ lines and, according to an LNWR Company minute of 1882, the green light was placed above the red. These positions were reversed from 1886 when the green light was to be placed below the red. Trains running over other Company’s lines had to use their codes, and a description of these codes is complex and not relevant here. The twin-lens headlamp was thus capable of being used for either goods or passenger trains, both as a train headlamp, or as tail lamp for light engines. A Company minute of March 1898 discontinued the use of green lights for both head and tail lamps, because of confusion with green signal lamps. This was reiterated in Circular 3085 for the 23rd January 1903 which stated ‘…only white lights carried to indicate the description of train…’ This circular provided the codes for all classes of trains in accordance with the new country-wide standard initiated by the Railway Clearing House, which came into operation eight days later on 1st February. The headlamp codes also required an additional lamp position on the locomotive at the centre of the buffer beam between the buffer lamps. Without any other evidence it is assumed that the headlamp’s blank shade was used to blank off the red aspect which would, when placed in some positions on the engine or tender, produce a confusing red aspect to signalmen. Certainly by 1908 these shades were being misused by some, for an LNWR Notice to Enginemen of March that year instructed drivers to ensure that they were being used according to instructions. A single-lens headlamp was introduced about 1912. This lamp had a clear lens and was provided with a red and a blank slide. A note was included on its manufacturing drawing to the effect that the early burner (same cistern as the twin-lens variety but with a single reflector) is non-standard after 9/5/13.

Further to Steve Allsop's full reply, perhaps the attached photo is of interest. This shows the inside of the smokebox of 1054, prepared specifically for this photo to be captured and before the engine went into traffic in 2011. The smokebox shell is one single plate. Pete