In preparation for Kato’s upcoming release of the 20th Century Ltd, I am preparing my Kato Alco PA/B units for installation of ESU LokSound decoders. However, what I do not know is how the NYC had the headlamp in the lead unit configured. Was it just a solid headlamp? Rule 17? Did it oscillate (Mars or Gyra)? I have seen some photos of what look like marker lights on the forward edge of the number boards, but am not sure there is enough material, in N scale, to try to put them on, even with 0402 SMD LEDs.
The Kato set will be representative of around 1950. While not announced, speculation says there will be some new E units to go with the TwCLtd. So, let’s assume around then. I already have these Alcos, and there are plenty of photos of the TwCLtd with the PAs.
Does this photo help at all? [It's from http://www.toytrains1.com/images/trains/nyc_42.jpg] I find lots of photos of NYC Es, but not the PAs. I also watched the Green Frog NYC videos on YouTube and there were no PAs I could see. Great videos tho!
Not really, but thanks for trying. Shows the headlamp, but not what it does. Also, the links don’t work.
Well, I was hoping one of the several Central fans would pop up by now and save me a case of foot in the mouth. I may just be ignorant in all matters but Santa Fe, but I've never seen a pic of a NYC engine with more than one headlight opening. I've never heard of a fixed headlight and a MARS oscillator in the same opening, and I've never heard of a locomotive with a MARS and no fixed headlight. So, I'd say it's either a fixed headlight or a fixed pair of early sealed beams.
I'm not at all knowledgeable on NYC matters, but lending some support to your thoughts are the NYC's FA-1s. They do appear multiple times in the Green Frog videos on YouTube and in photos and they're as you describe. In fact, I see a fixed headlight and twin sealed beam examples on the Central's FAs. The NYC owned only 8 Ea PA-1s and 6 Ea PA-2s (along with 4 Ea PB-1s) and they were scrapped in '61. Those small quantities and their short life might explain why we can't find a lot of pictures.
Photos show the PAs with single sealed beam headlights as delivered. By the early 1950s the NYC was converting all their road power to twin sealed beam headlights. The PAs were among those so equipped. These installations did NOT include gyrating lights, either white or red. In fact, the only NYC motive power equipped with gyrating headlights (at least until the Aerotrain and Xplorer) were two FM C-Liners that were delivered new with them. Those lights were soon removed.