Railworks America

As you see from the above I am now working on the ATSF passenger pack.
The question is - How are the upper lights animated. From the pictures I have the light assembly could be in various positions / \ l or -- . from this it appears that the whole assembly revolves, or does it swing back and forth along the longitudinal axis? I presumb the red light comes on in an emergency situation. For example when emergency brakes are applied.

This Limey needs help!!!

Dick.

The upper light is a Mars type that rotates in a figure-8 pattern.

Thanks Marc that is helpful. The next question is. Does the whole light assembly move or just the lenses?

Dick

IN the original Mars light, there was a single large lightbulb mounted stationary inside an oscillating large parabolic reflector that filled the whole circumference behind the shielding frontal glass cover of the upper headlight casing, which rim protrudes from the nose.

Later, with the advance of smaller so called sealed beam high intensity headlight lamps, Santa Fe apparently fitted a modified two lamp headlight housing in place of the single large lightbulb and its large parabolic reflector. Now this whole headlight housing oscillates inside the upper headlight casing.

I suppose nowadays, the effect is created electronically by alternating two of those sealed beam headlight lamps.

Here is a video with a likewise installation on SP 4449.

In daylight the effect is not so noticeable but around 2:48 you can see the inner headlights actually oscillating inside the housing.

It was said the oscillating beam lulled engineers into sleep on those long mid-Western prairie runs of UP, C&NW, ATSF etc.

Thanks both. It is said that a picture paints a thousand words. A moving picture, now that is a library!!!

KCJones wrote:

SF-Pas01.jpg

As you see from the above I am now working on the ATSF passenger pack.
The question is - How are the upper lights animated. From the pictures I have the light assembly could be in various positions / \ l or -- . from this it appears that the whole assembly revolves, or does it swing back and forth along the longitudinal axis? I presumb the red light comes on in an emergency situation. For example when emergency brakes are applied.

This Limey needs help!!!

Dick.

Some roads would light the red as a warning light if the nose of the loco was on the back of a train. eg: a reversed pusher.

Here is a short video of my efforts to reproduce a Mars light. How close is it? or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydA5B9Dd_j8&feature=youtu.be

Pretty darn good in my book.
Buzz

According to Trains magazine, the upper red light is stationary and comes on when the train is stopped in emergency to warn oncoming trains of possible cars/workers on the line in double track territory. The white light under it is oscillating.

Buzz seconded! Perhaps the lamp housing should also "wiggle" a bit instead of moving side to side only, but that means you probably have to work with sinuses and cosinuses, i.e. trigoniometry to get that semi-circular oscillation. Wether the extra effort is worth it depends on how the light beam itself is animated. It already seems pretty convincing the way it is.
I would use a slightly narrower and longer beam for the Mars light, as it was not meant to illuminate the track and ground ahead of the train.

I believe the Mars light beam was supposed to light slightly upwards also on its arc of oscillation. That way it would illuminate fog, hanging mist layers and low clouds in foul weather.
Remember, those Mars lights are from the heyday of US streamlined passenger travel, when trains like the Zephyrs, Cities, Chiefs, Rockets etc, were doing a 100 miles an hour or more over vast stretches of track. Given the fact that they ran over steam era infrastructure, any advance warning of motorists and pedestrians on grade crossings was most welcome.

WOW. That is close!

If you can disable the animation when the red light is on, that should nail it.

I always hate to admit that I was around when these were around, however they did light up the ground when they were fairly close.

Buzz

Thanks for the input guys. The light housing does "wobble" a bit. the axis is at the back of the housing so at the top of the 8 (on its side remember) it is angled up slightly and at the bottom slightly down by the same amount.
I have managed to get the following effects.
1)With the headlights on the mars can be switched to red or white oscillating, using the "L" and "Shift L" keys.
2)With the headlights on or off full brakes (emergency) gives a constant red
3) If, in 2 above, the "L" and "Shift L" keys are on the red light will oscillate.
I am still experimenting with the lua file!!!!!

The lights used are the basic headlight and the beacon from my E9. they can be tweaked.

Dick

You will never be able to prevent user stupidity. No doubt in real cabs the power to the Mars motor could be switched back on likewise, making the emergency light oscillate.

Disabling the "L" key or Mars light motor's psuedo-controller whilst emergency brakes are applied should probably do the trick, as you will want to use a custom input mapper.
What kind of emergency brake? By moving the brake handle or pressing the "STOP" button or dumping the air throught the in-cab emergency switch?
Do they act on the same controller? End of scenario or failure also brings the train into emergency "STOP". Would be nice if the red light came on to protect the passengers.

Some of our resident bin and lua hackers will surely be able to help you.

Here is a video of the latest changes.
The red light no longer oscillates and overrides the mars light. The video shows an emergency brake application. I have also modified the light beams.
The emergency light is also independently switchable.
Your comments are useful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tlNNqnqOiw&feature=youtu.be

Dick