Railworks America

I've been thinking about this for some time now. I've been wondering why railroads such as NS have their headlights mounted on the top of the cab, and why BC Rail has two sets of ditchlights rather than just one set.
There's got to be a reason behind why.

Well the bc rail locos ive been told were ordered like that because they are offset and allow a lot more light coverage etc.

The Ditch light/Rock light combo was utilized to enhance visibility in the curvy, mountainous terrain BC Rail operated in. You will also notice that they are angled in to give crews better visibility around curves.

Here is what the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) has to say about headlights and ditch lights (auxiliary lights)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/229.125

What are the provisions for LED headlights?

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:What are the provisions for LED headlights?

I haven't seen anything specific on LED's. I personally haven't seen them used as headlights or ditch lights except for testing. I would assume as long as they meet the candle power it shouldn't matter.

AlcoFan wrote:The Ditch light/Rock light combo was utilized to enhance visibility in the curvy, mountainous terrain BC Rail operated in. You will also notice that they are angled in to give crews better visibility around curves.

Doesn't basically every class one have at least one section of track that has that kind of terrain though?

ZekTheKid wrote:

AlcoFan wrote:The Ditch light/Rock light combo was utilized to enhance visibility in the curvy, mountainous terrain BC Rail operated in. You will also notice that they are angled in to give crews better visibility around curves.

Doesn't basically every class one have at least one section of track that has that kind of terrain though?

BC Rail had the added annoyance of sheer cliffs that lead to deep lakes.

So LED headlights aren't yet in use. Required 200000 candle power seems like rather a lot and I think LED clusters don't yet meet that number. Generally, right of way here in Europe is fully fenced nowadays, so the headlight beam doesn't have to reach as far as in the USA. At least from cabview videos at night there seems to be hardly any illumination of the track, unlike in the US where there is a real projection of light.

BC Rail, does the cab inventory include life vests if there is a real chance of plunging down into a lake?

Furthermore on BC Rail, does that amount of light scare away wildlife, or is running over deer, moose and bears still a common occurrence? IIRC crews of trains that run high up in Norway's tundra are/were issued with rifles to kill any wounded animals.

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:So LED headlights aren't yet in use. .

Oh no, they are. The Siemens SC-44s and ACS64s use them. The Arkansas and Missouri also have them on their ACes. NS tried them out as well.

The general verdict is that they're great but are blinding for oncoming crews even on their 'dim' setting.

BNSFdude wrote:

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:So LED headlights aren't yet in use. .

Oh no, they are. The Siemens SC-44s and ACS64s use them. The Arkansas and Missouri also have them on their ACes. NS tried them out as well.

The general verdict is that they're great but are blinding for oncoming crews even on their 'dim' setting.

Blinding? The train I use for the first stretch of my dialy travel to work has LED headlamps, and they are bright on their bright settings but don't appear to be focussed as there is no reflector.
The special DOT requirements are only met by the projected beam of those sealed beam incandescent lamps used on the US locomotives light fixtures?

So the logical choice would be sealed beam incandescent headlights and LED ditch lights, also since they can be made smash and impact proof more easily?

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:BC Rail, does the cab inventory include life vests if there is a real chance of plunging down into a lake?

I have no clue. This is what they deal with though:

_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha wrote:Furthermore on BC Rail, does that amount of light scare away wildlife, or is running over deer, moose and bears still a common occurrence? IIRC crews of trains that run high up in Norway's tundra are/were issued with rifles to kill any wounded animals.

As for that I also have no clue.