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Loxon mantles for an Aladdin lamp. Instead of a wick, these lamps had a mantle, a small, meshed fabric bag. When the lamp was on, it became permeated with gas fumes and then cast a bright and even light, much brighter than a single wick. Good light was important to conductors, who had to pore over considerable amounts of paperwork in the caboose while the train was in motion. (Railway Heritage Association, photo by Tom MacDonald).