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MARS R-250 LIGHT

The Mars R-250 Light was a "figure 8" light unit having a vertically mounted motor with a gearbox below. On each side of the gearbox is a linkage to provide horizontal or vertical translation to the light bulb support to produce a "figure 8" pattern. This unit used a 32 VDC 250 Watt bulb with a reflector. The lens listed for it was red, however, clear could also be obtained. The 8444 Union Pacific used this red lens bulb-reflector combination.

The No. 779 Nickel Plate Berkshire (see No. 759 below) originally used the bulb-reflector combination with a Clear lens. This Berkshire was eventually fitted with the mechanism (SB-R-250) that would accommodate a sealed-beam bulb (PAR-56 30V 200W). The surviving NKP Berkshires have this Mars Light version (if not removed).

No. X-844 a/k/a 8444 UP Class FEF-3 4-8-4 with red lens

No. 261 Milwaukee Road Class S-3 4-8-4 with red lens
photo by: Ken Kraemer

MARS SB-R-250 LIGHT

The CLEAR "lens" option is listed under the SB-R-250 model in the catalog literature.

The surviving NKP Berkshires use this model with a clear lens (if not removed).

The NKP Berkshires

NKP S-2 class (NKP 755 at Conneaut, OH, NKP 757 at Strasburg, NKP 759 at Steamtown, NKP 763 at Roanoke, VA, and NKP 765 at Fort Wayne) were all built 1944 without Mars Light. The S-3 class (770-779) were built in 1949 without them but the 779 had one added (the first one on a NKP Berkshire) immediately when it was sent to the Chicago RR Fair in 1949. They liked it well enough that they added to all of the Berkshire fleet during 1950-1951

I told Wayne that in the Pennsylvania RR Museum Library there are photos of the 757. One - dated 1944 showed the locomotive without the Mars. Another - dated 1947 - showed it with the Mars light. No Mars light was on it on date acquired.

The file photo dated 1947 would absolutely be wrongly dated. The 757 is displayed without one. It was probably stolen before it came to the PA RR Museum in 1966. It was stored in Bellevue, Ohio, pending disposition 1962-1966.. The 765 hasn't had one on in 15 years. We have it, stored - motor reportedly broken. Most of us don't like the appearance. Besides, the 765 spent half her life without one and four of the six remaining ones still have Mars lights.

I have no idea where 757's Mars light is. It is probably floating around Bellevue, Ohio, or since sold to another collector.

The 765's Mars light ran on 32-volt direct current, original. We ran it the same way with original 32v DC bulbs the times we have used it. The 14" lens is clear like all the NKP Berks and Hudsons, and a couple of Mikados.

None of the NKP 80 Berkshires or the W&LE 32 Berkshires were built with Mars lights. The Bracket and Mars light were added to brand new 779 in 1949 for the Chicago Railroad Fair. (The W&LE merged into NKP in 1949). The entire fleet of 112 Berkshires got them in 1950-51 and ran with them on until the end of steam in 1958.

The Berkshires built for the NKP were class S (1934), S-1 (1942-43), S-2 (1944) and S-3 (1949). When the NKP acquired the Wheeling and Lake Erie and their 32 very similar Berkshires in the 1949 merger, they classed them all as S-4. They were W&LE 6400 series and renumbered to 800 series by the NKP. They ran almost as long as the 700's, being retired in 1956-57-58.

The photos below are of NKP 2-8-4 779 on DISPLAY at Lima, Ohio, taken this week (3/2001). I'm sure the Mars Light will stay on indefinitely.

Wayne York - Secretary of Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (FWRHS)