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gas piping on coach roofs

Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:18 am
by andrewnummelin
I'm currently building some TVR coaches from Trevor Charlton sides and I'm uncertain about gas piping as this is not shown on the accompanying drawings. I've scanned through a few books and unsurprisingly there are few photos that show this detail. Were there different systems: can anyone enlighten me?

There's what appears to be a single pipe.
singlepipe.jpg
There's what appears to be a single pipe plus something else: what's the extra bit?
singlepipeplus.jpg
There's what appears to be a double pipe (that joins on the coach end and passes between the body and headstock). (I've seen photos of GWR stock showing two pipes but passing either side of the lamp.)
doublepipe.jpg

Re: gas piping on coach roofs

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 3:28 pm
by Wagonworks_andy
Don't know if these pictures help.
A number of 4 wheel coaches at Pontypridd with single gas pipes on the roof.
Pontypridd coaches.jpg
The other picture shows the end detail of a 4 wheel third in 1923.
TVR 4 wheel third No.138.jpg

Re: gas piping on coach roofs

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:28 am
by andrewnummelin
Wagonworks_andy wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 3:28 pm Don't know if these pictures help.
A number of 4 wheel coaches at Pontypridd with single gas pipes on the roof.
Pontypridd coaches.jpg
The other picture shows the end detail of a 4 wheel third in 1923.
TVR 4 wheel third No.138.jpg
Thanks Andy, indeed useful.

Anyone any idea what the little round things are on the end of no. 138?
round things.jpg

Re: gas piping on coach roofs

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:49 am
by Nick_T_Smith
2 pipes of usually different diameters usually means that there was a pilot light, normally lit, with each gas mantle so the light could be turned fully on and off by operating a lever - either for the whole coach or for individual lamps.
A Single pipe generally means a lamplighter has to light the lamps - though it was possible to have pilots off a common pipe.
Early gaslights predate mantles

Nick

Re: gas piping on coach roofs

Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 7:22 am
by andrewnummelin
Nick_T_Smith wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:49 am 2 pipes of usually different diameters usually means that there was a pilot light, normally lit, with each gas mantle so the light could be turned fully on and off by operating a lever - either for the whole coach or for individual lamps.
A Single pipe generally means a lamplighter has to light the lamps - though it was possible to have pilots off a common pipe.
Early gaslights predate mantles

Nick
Thanks for the explanation.