The Bigbee Line Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 If you are a fine scale modeller you can model the various early types of BETL. There were many kinds before the type in use today. At one time oil tail lamps went to main works for repair. At Ashford there was a Grampus full in the West Yard, I think for Crewe. Then suddenly they were all gone. Likewise the Lamp Rooms and their ubiquitous drum of paraffin. The good old days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Scott Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Probably safer without the drum of parafin. As a lad in the 50s Dad would often take me and my big brother around the London stations. We would nearly always go through Charring Cross. On P1 was a trolley covered with lamps. Turnrounds were so quick sometimes there was hardly time to swap ends with the lamp so a freshly trimmed lamp would be taken from the trolley. Oil lamps were used on EMUs even EPB stock untill late 60s when the use of red blinds was allowed on EP stock. The trolley was soaked in parafin and there was a can for topping up the lamps. Together with a dozen or so lit lamps this was quite a fire hazzard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted September 19, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 19, 2014 Can someone confirm whether there was a restriction on the use of oil tail lights on the back of oil trains? I'm thinking the 100 ton TEA wagons in 1983 TIA Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Can someone confirm whether there was a restriction on the use of oil tail lights on the back of oil trains? I'm thinking the 100 ton TEA wagons in 1983 TIA Andi Some Class A tanks had studded lamp brackets on them to prevent the use of oil tail lamps on them! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 It’s a shame that the UK has not followed the acronym of the USA (or have they , in certain locations)? FREDs = Flashing Rear End Devices. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 It’s a shame that the UK has not followed the acronym of the USA (or have they , in certain locations)? FREDs = Flashing Rear End Devices. Best, Pete. The BR one is BETL battery electric tail lamp! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devonbelle Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 As to the end of oil tail lamps, Darrel is on the money - IIRC January 1991 saw an instruction in the BR Weekly Operating Notice as to their use ceasing - certainly mid to late 80s saw increased use of battery electric devices. I clearly remember my first full year on BR - 1985 - there were trials on the daily Stoke Gifford - Bridgwater trip - where different types of battery electric tail lamps appeared - including some with a retro reflective circular area atop a yellow box )like roadwork lamps. The train crucially had dangerous goods on the back - caustic soda. Certainly block oil trains had battery lamps - early to mid 80s. I recollect seeing a Severnside Haverton Hill chemical train (bogie tanks) had oil tail lamps in 1985 but need stress they were on the brake van at the back. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 ISTR the flashing element came about as a result of a rear-end collision between a failed train and an assisting train (not loco). The driver losing sight of the static tail lamp aspect in the loom of a red signal aspect on an adjacent line? I've read the accident report in Red for Danger or Danger Signals. ISTR it happened on the WR and involved a Class 50 ?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 The odd thing is with a single tail light it is harder to judge how far away it is (ask Lord Cochrane). With two or more lights it is far easier to judge distances particularly if you know how far apart they are. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted September 21, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 21, 2014 It’s a shame that the UK has not followed the acronym of the USA (or have they , in certain locations)? FREDs = Flashing Rear End Devices. Best, Pete. If I went round with a Flashing Rear End Device I'd probably get locked up........................ Coat, getting. Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 The odd thing is with a single tail light it is harder to judge how far away it is Best, Pete. Ah - I think that was the issue in the accident I mentioned above Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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