UK "Pen Pals"

[nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org]

With regard to headlights, I should have mentioned that although
British steam locomotives didn't have headlights, they did have lamps
placed around the smokebox front and on the buffer beam. These were
not lit until dark. On most lines, the pattern made by these lamps
indicated the type of train (express passenger, slow passenger, fitted
freight, unfitted freight - fitted refers to fitted with continuous
brakes, and so on). However on the Southern Railway, and the
succeeding Southern Region of British Railways, the pattern indicated
the route of the train - and during daylight the lamps were usually
replaced with prominent white discs.

Frank Hung