Probably. They wanted to let the trainmen walking on top of the cars know that they were approaching the bridge that the photographer was standing on.
Well, it IS Southern Pacific. I'm surprised there isn't a cluster of five or six lights on there and on the front, too. Doug
Possibly a helper engine with no turning options at the summit, Had to back down the mountain sometimes at night. MEC helpers on the Mountain Division had to back 15 miles from Crawford Station, NH to Bartlett. MEC was too cheap for backup lights. Figured moose knew enough to stay out of the way. I have a video (B&M/MEC Mountain Division) of MEC helpers, often doubled, backing down Crawford Notch.
Well, considering this was a T&NO locomotive, there were few if any mountain summits in Texas or Louisiana. One or two way out in West Texas but I don't recall any helper districts out there. I am thinking possibly a dedicated work train service like pushing a wreck crane or pile driver where they had to shine the light over it while they backed up to the work site, whatever it may be.
CRANDIC moving some coal empties out to the Iowa Interstate interchange tracks. February 24, 2021 Most people get drunk, others want sex but as for me, I go Railfanning.
On February 26, 1936, 85 years ago today, this image was captured at the engine service facility in Dallas. The ALCo-built MKT 727 is ready for service and will be headed out soon. This image captures the locomotive almost midway through its career. The pilot has been changed to the standard sheet metal version, a Pyle National 14000 series headlight is in place, the Katy’s standard sand dome is in place and the check valves had been moved to the side. In a later shopping it will have the builder’s plate removed, get a power reverse, upper firebox jacket and the beautiful tender porcelain herald applied. Negative from an unknown photographer is in the Bruce Blalock collection.
Originally CN 1064, delivered as an A1A-A1A unit. In 1989 it was one of 24 GMD-1s remanufactured with B-B Flexicoil trucks and 645 power assemblies, then numbered into the 1400-1423 series. The first three, 1400-1402 were former 1900-series GMD-1s that were already built with B-B trucks, but had their steam generators removed from their short hoods (which now housed a toilet). It's amazing that these units, now 60+ years old, still are earning their keep.
