Well my Google Foo failed me today.

Fella at work drug in 2 old railroad lights he bought on Ebay. I think
they may have been to tell whether the track switch was thrown. I don't
think they originally had a light inside, but I am rigging a single bulb
socket in them for electrification. The glass lenses he was given/sold
are NOT the right size and it will be cluster xxx to use them. The OD
of the lens holder is 5 1/4", 5" might work.

I have entered all kinds of things in Google and get lots of eyeglasses.
Trailer and car sites show round lenses, but I've not found any that
tell me sizes. Glass would be best. Each light needs 4 lenses - 2 red
and 2 green (the colors are a guess, but that is what he was given). I
suggested a modification to the sheet metal to use the lenses he has,
but he doesn't want to modify the original Atchison Topeka and SF units.

If anyone has any sources or info it would be appreciated.
--


___________________________________

Keep the whole world singing . . .
Dan G
remove the seven

On 12/19/13, 5:45 PM, DanG wrote:
Well my Google Foo failed me today.

Fella at work drug in 2 old railroad lights he bought on Ebay. I think
they may have been to tell whether the track switch was thrown. I don't
think they originally had a light inside, but I am rigging a single bulb
socket in them for electrification. The glass lenses he was given/sold
are NOT the right size and it will be cluster xxx to use them. The OD
of the lens holder is 5 1/4", 5" might work.

I have entered all kinds of things in Google and get lots of eyeglasses.
Trailer and car sites show round lenses, but I've not found any that
tell me sizes. Glass would be best. Each light needs 4 lenses - 2 red
and 2 green (the colors are a guess, but that is what he was given). I
suggested a modification to the sheet metal to use the lenses he has,
but he doesn't want to modify the original Atchison Topeka and SF units.

If anyone has any sources or info it would be appreciated.

First, I know little if anything about trains and/or railroad signaling
equipment.

However, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out they use
'Fresnel' type lenses for a lot of that stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens

Not much, I know, but might be an additional search term to try.

Good Luck!

Erik

On 12/19/13, 5:45 PM, DanG wrote:
Well my Google Foo failed me today.

Fella at work drug in 2 old railroad lights he bought on Ebay. I think
they may have been to tell whether the track switch was thrown. I don't
think they originally had a light inside, but I am rigging a single bulb
socket in them for electrification. The glass lenses he was given/sold
are NOT the right size and it will be cluster xxx to use them. The OD
of the lens holder is 5 1/4", 5" might work.

I have entered all kinds of things in Google and get lots of eyeglasses.
Trailer and car sites show round lenses, but I've not found any that
tell me sizes. Glass would be best. Each light needs 4 lenses - 2 red
and 2 green (the colors are a guess, but that is what he was given). I
suggested a modification to the sheet metal to use the lenses he has,
but he doesn't want to modify the original Atchison Topeka and SF units.

If anyone has any sources or info it would be appreciated.

Oh... meant to mention in my last post.

The country is peppered with railroad museums... 5 or 6 years ago I went
with a friend to a big one out at Perris CA.

They had buildings full of old parts/components of every description...
complete with scores of friendly volunteers and train buffs who would
answer questions and talk train all day if you let them.

Maybe find a local one, visit or write... I'm reasonably sure someone
could at one of them could get you going.

Now that I think about it, the Perris museum had a section devoted to
signals and the like... but I didn't go look.

Again good luck!

Erik

DanG wrote:
Well my Google Foo failed me today.

Fella at work drug in 2 old railroad lights he bought on Ebay. I think
they may have been to tell whether the track switch was thrown. I don't
think they originally had a light inside, but I am rigging a single bulb
socket in them for electrification. The glass lenses he was given/sold
are NOT the right size and it will be cluster xxx to use them. The OD
of the lens holder is 5 1/4", 5" might work.

I have entered all kinds of things in Google and get lots of eyeglasses.
Trailer and car sites show round lenses, but I've not found any that tell
me sizes. Glass would be best. Each light needs 4 lenses - 2 red and 2
green (the colors are a guess, but that is what he was given). I
suggested a modification to the sheet metal to use the lenses he has, but
he doesn't want to modify the original Atchison Topeka and SF units.

If anyone has any sources or info it would be appreciated.

First google hit was to ebay. First lens at ebay is a 5 1/6" Red fresnel.
Lots of other round railroad lenses were shown. For those that don't give
sizes, just query the seller.

This site also looks interesting:

http://www.generalsignals.com/railro...nal_lenses.htm

I quote:
"
Wayside Signals

General Signals maintains the most complete line of wayside signal lenses
in the country. Inner and outer doublets are made of lexan, glass, and
plexiglas. All standard sizes are available including dwarf, inverted color
lights, and semaphore lenses."


My Google search phrase was very elaborate:

Lenses for railroad lights

"DanG" wrote in message
...
Well my Google Foo failed me today.

Fella at work drug in 2 old railroad lights he bought on Ebay. I think
they may have been to tell whether the track switch was thrown. I don't
think they originally had a light inside, but I am rigging a single bulb
socket in them for electrification. The glass lenses he was given/sold
are NOT the right size and it will be cluster xxx to use them. The OD
of the lens holder is 5 1/4", 5" might work.

I have entered all kinds of things in Google and get lots of eyeglasses.
Trailer and car sites show round lenses, but I've not found any that tell
me sizes. Glass would be best. Each light needs 4 lenses - 2 red and 2
green (the colors are a guess, but that is what he was given). I
suggested a modification to the sheet metal to use the lenses he has, but
he doesn't want to modify the original Atchison Topeka and SF units.

If anyone has any sources or info it would be appreciated.

Dunno, but if he's interested in one of those track switching thingies. I
have one I'm willing to part with. Extremely heavy item, I've been using
for a lawn decoration.

On 12/19/2013 10:01 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
DanG wrote:
Well my Google Foo failed me today.

Fella at work drug in 2 old railroad lights he bought on Ebay. I think
they may have been to tell whether the track switch was thrown. I don't
think they originally had a light inside, but I am rigging a single bulb
socket in them for electrification. The glass lenses he was given/sold
are NOT the right size and it will be cluster xxx to use them. The OD
of the lens holder is 5 1/4", 5" might work.

I have entered all kinds of things in Google and get lots of eyeglasses.
Trailer and car sites show round lenses, but I've not found any that tell
me sizes. Glass would be best. Each light needs 4 lenses - 2 red and 2
green (the colors are a guess, but that is what he was given). I
suggested a modification to the sheet metal to use the lenses he has, but
he doesn't want to modify the original Atchison Topeka and SF units.

If anyone has any sources or info it would be appreciated.

First google hit was to ebay. First lens at ebay is a 5 1/6" Red fresnel.
Lots of other round railroad lenses were shown. For those that don't give
sizes, just query the seller.

This site also looks interesting:

http://www.generalsignals.com/railro...nal_lenses.htm

I quote:
"
Wayside Signals

General Signals maintains the most complete line of wayside signal lenses
in the country. Inner and outer doublets are made of lexan, glass, and
plexiglas. All standard sizes are available including dwarf, inverted color
lights, and semaphore lenses."


My Google search phrase was very elaborate:

Lenses for railroad lights



Thanks for the General Signal reference. I will send them a picture and
query.

--


___________________________________

Keep the whole world singing . . .
Dan G
remove the seven