Western Railroad Discussion > AT&SF, when did ditch lights start to show up.......???

Hello to All,

When did ditch lights start to show up on the Santa Fe? What classes were equipped first? When did they filter down to engines like GP-38's and so on? All info appreciated!!!

pilotblue Wrote:

> When did ditch lights start to show up on the
> Santa Fe? What classes were equipped first? When
> did they filter down to engines like GP-38's and
> so on? All info appreciated!!!

The first Santa Fe units delivered with ditchlights were the 100-class GP60M's in 1990, and all widenose power since has come with them. I don't recall seeing any older power fitted with ditchlights by the time I left Santa Fe territory in 1991. By 1993 or so, ditchlights were showing up on standard-cab Dash 8's and GP60's.

Dash 8-40B 7424 in 1993 with ditchlights: http://www.trainpix.com/ATSF/GE/B40-8/7424.HTM
GP50 3835 in 1993 with ditchlights: http://www.trainpix.com/ATSF/EMDORIG/GP50/3835.HTM

The federal rule requiring ditchlights (or technically "auxiliary lights") went into effect in March 1996, with all locomotives having to be outfitted by December 31, 1997, so that was when the final big push occurred. BNSF didn't quite make the deadline for the entire fleet and had to ask for an extension...as I recall the FRA gave them a few weeks.