Eastern Railroad Discussion > Headlight Position, Does it Matter?

For the railfan, seeing locomotives off in the distance by spotting those 3 lights are always a nice sight. For athestics some of us prefer a certain headlight position over others. But for the crews running these engines do headlight positions make a big difference? Why the shift in ditchlights above the anticlimber? Thanks.

Posted from Android

I don't notice a difference regarding position. I just like them bright and aimed correctly.

For me, I don't like being on the centered head light ones because then if you step out on the front and the engineer forgot to turn the lights off you can easily burn yourself from the heat coming off the light.

Posted from Android

Ohiorailfan Wrote:
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> For me, I don't like being on the centered head
> light ones because then if you step out on the
> front and the engineer forgot to turn the lights
> off you can easily burn yourself from the heat
> coming off the light.
>
> Posted from Android

Wonder if/when LED's will be used?

LEDs are great for sight spotting especially in daylight, but i'm not sure an LED can beat out a sealed beam headlight for lighting a good distance in front of the locomotive ...

Even if nose lights are turned off before you step out there still dangerous.

Posted from Android

I prefer them on the nose because I get too much glare with them above the cab.

Posted from Android

Santa Fe lwered the headlight from on top of the cab to the nose as a safety suggestion from engineers running in the fog on the Valley Division due to less glare on the lower position.

Out_Of_Service Wrote:
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> LEDs are great for sight spotting especially in
> daylight, but i'm not sure an LED can beat out a
> sealed beam headlight for lighting a good distance
> in front of the locomotive ...

If designed/focussed correctly an LED light should be just as good, if not better.

I liked the way Conrail had the Headlight independant from the Ditchlights. At times during heavy snow you could run with mainly just the ditchlights and dim the headlights not to blind yourself. Get to a crossing then you can put the headlight back on bright. Had few runs with nose mounted headlights and that would do the same. 

exhaustED Wrote:
>
> Wonder if/when LED's will be used?

NS is trying them out. A yard job at Bellevue.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/15 09:57 by im_trainman.

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Amtrak's new ACS64s have LED headlights.
Haven't seen them at night but they seem plenty bright in daylight.

rfprr

 

exhaustED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ohiorailfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > For me, I don't like being on the centered head
> > light ones because then if you step out on the
> > front and the engineer forgot to turn the
> lights
> > off you can easily burn yourself from the heat
> > coming off the light.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Wonder if/when LED's will be used?

There's a problem with LED lighting...does anyone know what it is?

> There's a problem with LED lighting...does anyone
> know what it is?
If you're gonna say the heat from incandescent bulbs keeps snow and ice away, you were thinking right, but the LED bulb manufacturers have already come up with a solution. They use IR. 

• Blizzard Buster technology melts ice and snow to keep locomotive headlights unobstructed
• Meets Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements

Here's a link to the spec sheet for one producer of these headlights.  Make no mistake, these will become standard.  LED bulbs for everything else already are.

http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlight-model-8770s-locomotive/

And to keep this thread on track, I Prefer a headlight on the above the cab *when deflected and aimed correctly*... Now, this hardly ever happens these days with the meticulous care that they tend to their locomotives with...SO, Anymore I'll take one in the nose and not ask them to put visors below the bulbs, and to actually pay attention to the little arrow stamped on the blub that points "up."  Yes there is one--and that's how you aim the bulb. Seems simple, but it's apparently OH SO complicated!
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/15 15:01 by DrLoco.

One issue with LEDs is regulatory. How many burned out bulbs constitutes a defect? With one bulb, it works or it doesn't.

Posted from iPhone

The LED's on the new ACS-64 electrics seem pretty bright at night.  I have seen them in a dark area on the NEC and it was very well lite up.

In my opinion, in fog and snow, I feel there is too much glare and reflection from a headlight mounted between the number boards.  My preference is a nose mounted one, not withstanding the heat factor when you cross in front of it.

One thing the NS Cresent and Admiral cabs actually are good for. The headlight if far enough forward that it just barely reflects.

Posted from Android

Amtrak tested LED's on one of their P40's on the Auto Train last year I believe. I seem to remember there being complaints about how bright they were from crews on passing trains.

Posted from iPhone

Tim Rich
S. Ogden, UT

altoonafn Wrote:
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> One issue with LEDs is regulatory. How many burned out bulbs
> constitutes a defect? With one bulb, it works or it doesn't.

The standard should define the required brightness of the lamp. If the lamp does not meet the required minimum brightness (due to too many elements being out) then the lamp is "burned out". Burned out would be easier to judge on an incandesent than a multiple element LCD.