Here is one way the caboose crew was able to have electiicity while enroute. I am not sure just how reliable it was.
My understanding of the matter was that those generators supplied batteries for lighting of the caboose and the marker lights. Heat came from a stove (coal in the old days, Kerosene or propane now I think). Because the caboose was (hopefully) moving more than it sat, at least in use, and the generator created an excess of power, charging the batteries even when use, I think it worked quite well. I'd be curious to know the voltage of the batteries. I'll bet they are the the same as the locomotive batteries, so probably 32 volt.
I found this one in the Railroad Museum in Galveston, TX. This is the first one I have seen with so many parts still there, even though not all. I forgot about the possibility this rig might be for charging batteries. Makes sense.
I once had an O Scale UP brass caboose with the tiny pulleys and belts. Looked great when running slowly In the few places where cabooses are still used, do they still have those generators?
Most, if not of all the pre-HEP passenger cars had the same type of system, i.e. batteries supplying house power, and a wheel-powered generator for re-charging them. Although in the case of the passenger cars, the generator was mounted onto the frame nearer to the middle of the car, with the belt coming from a pulley on the inside axle of one of the trucks. I think the batteries also may have handled the air conditioning unit, although that could have been powered by a small diesel engine .... don't remember.
That's a great shot, Peirce! I notice they have removed the sheetmetal firewall from the car's wall behind the stove, and on the right side where the closet is. And the ash pan has been removed from under the footplate. I guess this one is in a Museum. There was a set of hooks, or a thin box to store the little shovel, hook and ash brush, that are not in sight either. The wood box or coal skuttle is probably on the other side of that closet wall on the right side of the stove. We had a wood keg with water and gunny sacks soaking in it on the opposit side of the car, for "just in case". The lid was one of the "seats" for visitors. Also, there was a little wire "fence" around the stove top to prevent coffee and pans from getting jerked off on the floor when the coupler slack ran out, or in. We have one of these stoves in our Garden Room. It is a nice old conversation piece. Thanks for the photo with the old "foot warmer" in its rightful place, Peirce!
I have a feeling this is not the original stove; and you are right, this is in a caboose at the Danbury Railway Museum. The caboose is an original New Haven unit. Thanks for the additional information about interior details. This will be helpful for completing the restoration.
