All:
At the very great risk of putting my foot in my mouth (or worse, the opposite end) read on:
1. See the current issue of National Geographic for an excellent article on Night Sky and why it is important to keep light where we need it, and not let it stray upwards.
2. That said, someone provided a fine link to the bijillions of manufactures of multiple bijillions (okay maybe only bijillions as most are knock-offs of one another) of different light styles. Thanks for posting, as you can see how difficult it can be to make a selection.
3. It seems the priority is both safety and security in the yard. Having de-trained from some awfully late moonlight trains, I can personally attest to how dark it can get in the yard, particularly on the side of the car away from the light.
4. I have no idea when electricity hit Chama, but am willing to bet it was there by circa 1923-25 when the FM coaling tower was installed. I believe this is the time that the Friends are targeting for interpretation, so might be a consideration when choosing a fixture.
5. Aside from the last Salida depot, the D&RGW was never a student of high style architecture and design. The railroad did not have a habit of devoting any more than necessary in the NG, either (except maybe for the Shavano and San Juan in 1939)
6. A quick study of historic photos in the Dorman books indicates a proliferation of standard industrial fixtures: radial waves and spun lids with a bit of a shield to keep the light down.
7. When considering locations, seems like there are a lot of buildings around the yard, and I am spying lots of lights attached to these buildings. Locating the lights on the buildings is a twofer: that is probably where lights were once located, and where the power is too, making long runs to poles unnecessary. I guess I would start with building and structure locations first (which has the benefit of highlighting the structures at night) and work the dark areas from there. I see lights over doors to buildings (roundhouse) where people work (sand house and coal tipple) and where someone is home (the depot bay). If you lit all these places up for starters, I am sure there are some places in the yard, or between tracks that need to be added, but it would probably increase the overall level of light in the yard a fair bit (remembering that something like 1-5 footcandles is all we ask for in parking lots these nights).
8. Chama is Chama, not Point of Rocks, MD. No fancy gas light or acorn replicas along brick paver platforms. This was the west, and dirt and cinders are the way of the day (aside from what is necessary to comply with ADA)
Respectfully submitted to further the conversation, not iterate it.
Keith
