Western Railroad Discussion > Hell Train In San Francisco

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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/19 13:17 by phthithu.

Hell train?  She looks pretty darn inviting to me, as compared to the soaking one would get outside......I'd station myself at the front window for this trip.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

agentatascadero Wrote:
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> Hell train?  She looks pretty darn inviting to
> me, as compared to the soaking one would get
> outside......I'd station myself at the front
> window for this trip.
>
> AA

You'd be in for a tormenting ride as there is no foamer window on the Bombardier cab cars.  

On Nippon Sharyo cars I'm with you! 

Thanks for that important distinction.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

phthithu Wrote:
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> A scene out of a nightmare seen next to 7th St. in
> San Francisco as a northbound Caltrain runs
> through a world filled with black and red tones
> while using super bright blue-ish LED ditch lights
> which are not beloved by the railfan community
> around these parts. If Hell has trains they
> probably have these kind of lights.    

I think most people gripe about those LEDs just because they're different. I'm glad they have them as they are far easier to see and will probably save pedestrian lives. My personal tastes are less important :P

I gripe about them because they're so bright and so blue. I have read in a few places engineers gripe about them for the brightness issue as well. Can be blinding when meeting other trains. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/19 18:55 by phthithu.

Another place these LEDs are in place is on bikes. Amazing brightness. Blinding really.

Life savers. Speaking of life, some folks need to get one...

(Railfan since 1940)

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

Fantastic shot!

phthithu Wrote:
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If Hell has trains they
> probably have these kind of lights.    

From my perspective, it would only be Hell if there were no trains!  :)

I hate those leds. Railgrinders use them and their support vehicles do too; our MOW vehicles as well. A hy-rail is more blinding than a train... 

Mr. white, hoping for destination of Monterey?

Steve Donaldson
Pacific Grove, CA

phthithu Wrote: > ...  super bright blue-ish LED ...

Great photo! The misty-rainy effect is quite remarkable.

And I have to concur with you about the LEDs, although not from a railfanning experience. Several months ago I was returning home after a couple of errands. It was night time on a busy arterial 30 MPH 2-lane road. In the oncoming traffic was the normal headlight glare of the occasional opposing car. But suddenly I was looking at an abnormally bright strobe flashing rapidly, maybe 3-4 times per second. That "blue-ish LED" was completely blinding and I became almost 100% disoriented. I became unsure if I was in my lane, and instinct told me I might be drifting across the center line. Coming at me was a bicyclist with this type of light. I've never seen one before or since. Only because I performed my entire RR career under a rule saying: "when in doubt, take the safe course" I slowed down to under 5 MPH. I understand, and am all for safety. But THAT light was way over the top! It was SO overpowering I could "feel myself drifting" across the center line, whether I actually was or not. I can't imagine a bicyclist being so ignorant as to apply a powerful strobe light that is going blind and/or disorient an opposing motor vehicle driver. Somebody somewhere is gonna get killed in this situation...

Lance/199

Folks here are not alone in their observations. It appears that the color of the light is more of a problem than the intessity.

https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/too-bright-headlights-may-make-driving-at-night-less-safe

TAW

Cool pic!!