Much experimental work was undertaken in the determination of suitable lighting standards for emergency conditions in railway yards and at passenger stations in order to ascertain the most effective methods, and the hooding of electric signal lights and the provision of other precautionary lighting equipment was carried out during the early summer months. Measures were taken to obscure the glare from locomotive fireboxes, by arranging removable hooding over the footplate, linking the engine cab with the tender.
Source: wiktionary