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Posted

I'm trying to build a set of coaches for the hogwarts express, and I'm curious as to the placement of marker lights on UK trains. I'm pretty sure a "excursion" move like Olton Hall and the corridor coaches would have something like a white box with a red light above a red reflector somewhere on the end of the equipment, because I've found a few pictures of such on UK freight equipment. But I would like to know if and where they would place this on passenger equipment IF they do. We have the same piece of equipment here in the US but we only use it for local moves.

Posted (edited)

I had to research this for OpenTTD (transport game) recently.  White tail lamp with red aspect is the most common case. 

https://catalogues.rssb.co.uk/rgs/standards/GMRT2483 Iss 1.pdf

There are various designs.

http://farnhammrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/TailLamps-2.pdf

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/why-use-tail-lamps-when-working-tail-lights-are-available.119310/

Edited by andythenorth
Posted (edited)

All UK trains must display a red light on the rear. A traditional paraffin tail lamp looks like this but could be painted white, red or black. Usually only one would be carried, though two would be carried on the Royal Train and on slip coaches:

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/F3EBNE/mark-1-railway-carriage-tail-light-F3EBNE.jpg

A modern, battery tail light (which flashes to save power) was introduced in the '80s. Some do have red reflectors:

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_10_2012/post-9382-0-52245300-1349223715.jpg

Because unfitted freight trains had a habit of separating, goods brake vans used to carry side lamps as well which showed a red light to the rear and a white light ahead so that the driver could look back and check that the train was complete. Again, they could be painted white, red or black depending on the company:

https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images4/360/0515/17/br-railway-brake-van-side-lamp_360_e156df5e727ba92b61252b2789d037cf.jpg

When in a loop or on a slow line adjacent to a main line, the guard would remove one of the filters so that two red and one white light would be seen by any overtaking trains, so that they didn't confuse it for a signal:

https://www.oliviastrains.com/wp-content/files_mf/1480973632Brake1Goods2.jpg

Modern freight trains are fully fitted so only carry a single modern battery lamp. 

A shunting locomotive must display a white AND a red light at each end.

Edited by Kalahari134

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