Danger Ahead: Communicating by Lantern on the Railway

Working on the railroad required a lot of communication between workers, but the trains and equipment are rather loud, which makes talking or shouting an impractical form of communication. During the day flags would work, but at night kerosene lanterns were the best means of communication. In the 1800's each railway had their own set of signaling systems, but by the 20th century the railways standardized the communication system. In the Spencerport Depot & Canal Museum we have one of those lanterns that was used on the New York Central Railroad.

This lantern was manufactured by the R.E. Dietz company, which was founded in 1840 by Robert E. Dietz when he was 22 years old. The company was located in Brooklyn NY. It is a lighting products manufacturing company best known for their lantern production. 

The Dietz Vesta lantern was a popular brakeman's lantern known for its tubular ventilation system and light and portable design. Notice the notch in the handle, that made the lanterns easier to grip and hold onto when they were being held out of the moving train or when they were being swung around for signaling.

There are five different lantern colors, each has its own meaning. Workers also made signals with the lantern to communicate different commands. 

Here is what the different colors of signal lanterns mean:

White: A lantern with a “white” (clear or frosted glass) globe is a signal that all is well and it is safe for an oncoming train to proceed.

Red: A red globe is a signal to stop, because there is danger ahead. 

Yellow/ Amber: Is a warning A yellow globe means to proceed, but slowly, ready to stop if necessary. 

Blue: Used for worker protection, this color is always “true” blue, cobalt, and it means “STOP.” A blue lantern (or other blue signal) means that the engine or car it is placed on must not be moved for any reason, often because people are working on or around it. A blue signal may be placed down the track as a warning that a stationary car is stopped ahead; and that car may not be moved. The only people authorized to move blue signals are the worker(s) who placed them.

Green: Is a warning signaling a train to proceed slowly with caution. A green lantern may also be displayed on a wreck derrick to signal the engineer of a wreck train.

Meanings taken from: https://www.rubylane.com/blog/categories/vintage-collectibles/american-railroad-lantern-globe-colors-and-their-meanings/

There were also hand signals that communicated important information. Here are a few: 

Swinging the lantern low across the track side to side means STOP!

Holding the lantern out at an arms length when the train is moving means SLOW DOWN!

Holding the lantern an arms length above your head when the train is stopped means GO! RELEASE BRAKES!

Want to learn more signals? Check out some Here!

 It is amazing the amount of information that can be communicated using just lanterns.