Classification lights

[johnmckenzie]

The answers to these questions might be a little bit obvious to you but as a Brit I don't know the answers myself.

The DTM SD45s have classification lights - which I believe fell out of use at some point in the 70s. However, what is the correct way to use them? Also, when are strobe lights used?

Thanks!

[ATSF3814]

After some digging, I found this on classification lights:

Classification signals - colored flags by day, lights by night - were once used throughout North American railroading.

U.S. railroads used a single light and outer lens, with colored lenses in between that could be changed as needed. Canadian roads used three separate lights; on diesels these were often located near the numberboards on the front of locomotives.

The purpose of classification lights was to help identify the train on which they were displayed. The three colors and their meanings were as follows:

White. Indicated an "extra" train not shown in the timetable. For much of railroad history, train-movement authority was granted by timetables. If a train was listed in the timetable, it had the authority to operate according to its printed schedule. Deviations from the timetable, such as a train running late, were handled with train orders from the dispatcher. Under this "timetable-and-train-order" system, it was important that trains kept as close to schedule as possible, and that any special trains not shown in the timetable be clearly identified as such with a white light. Many freight trains operated as extras, and thus carried a white classification signal.

Green. Indicated that, while the train displaying the lights was a regularly scheduled one, a second section was following behind it. This was done, for example, when ridership demand exceeded the capacity of a single passenger train. If there were too many passengers for a single section of, say, New York Central's 20th Century Limited, a second section was operated, and, if needed, a third, fourth, fifth, and even sixth. The engine of each section except the last would display green lights. While each section was a separate entity, the timetable's "train 25" would not be considered to have passed a given point until the last section of the train had gone by. For operational convenience, special trains that otherwise might have carried white "extra" signals were sometimes operated as advance or second sections of regular, but unrelated, trains.

Red. Indicated the end of a train. A train, be it a single engine, a group of engines, or an engine(s) with cars, must have a marker on the rear end. In the (relatively rare) situations when the last element in a train would be a locomotive, the red lights would be lit.

As for strobe lights, I believe they were just used to help make the locomotive more visible. But I could be wrong.

[mapitts]

Some American railroads also used a red light on the front of the locomotive. Illinois Central is a good example. The red light came on if the train had gone into emergency brake applications. Good to know in double track territory.

[PapaXpress]

The new SP SD45 has the red e-light.

[FourEightFour]

Just want to make some clarifications about Rules 19,20,22:

Classification signals - colored flags by day, lights by night - were once used throughout North American railroading.

At night an engine would have to display both lights and flags.

Red. Indicated the end of a train. A train, be it a single engine, a group of engines, or an engine(s) with cars, must have a marker on the rear end. In the (relatively rare) situations when the last element in a train would be a locomotive, the red lights would be lit.[/i]

During daytime, the markers would be unlit. If the last car or tender rear did not have marker brackets, a red or green flag would be used during daytime. At night there would always be a red light displayed at the rear. Some railroads used green flags in the daytime right up until the 1940's.

If an engine is backing, the markers or red/green flags would be displayed on the front pilot per rule 19.

Also it is good to know that if there is a case with multiple engines on the same train (doubleheading, mid train helpers, pusher, ect.) every single engine must display the proper Classification signal.


Every railroad rule book can be different, so your mileage may vary. But this is a general consensus of Markers, Class lights, and their use.

[CSX2057]

The new SP SD45 has the red e-light.

What does this E Brake button do?


***** removed *****

[BNSFdude]

When you go into emergency, the nose or tail red gyralight will start spinning and turn on.

[thecanadianrail]

CN still uses on a lot of the newer locomotives red lights for EOT operations, although they aren't called class lights but on the SD70M-2 (8800 series) and ES44DC (2200 series) has the eot lights in the same or similar areas where class lights would be placed.