Railway Lighting

Abstract

The paper opens with a discussion of the general requirements of railway lighting installations, and attention is drawn to the special importance for railway purposes of reliability, robust construction to withstand adverse conditions, “and good design to secure absence of glare. Special problems are referred to in some detail, and a description is given of special devices, such as under-pit fluorescent lighting for the inspection of locomotives, methods of illuminating the interiors of box wagons in goods sheds, and a suggested method for affording background illumination in shunting yards. Reference is made to the need for low illumination in signal boxes so as to ensure reasonable” dark adaptation “for the eyes of signalmen when observing train movements through the windows, and a section deals with some of the features which may make for greater safety of stairways.

The later part of the paper covers some possible future developments in the use of fluorescent tube lighting, and in the illumination of direction signs and clocks, station name signs, both large and small, and of various train indicator devices and timetable boards. Finally, some reference is made to the effect of better lighting on the welfare and safety of the staff and the travelling public.