Nostalgia & History > 3 of a Santa Fe Freight in the Tehachapi Mountains in April 1980

ATSF in the Tehachapi Mountains in April 1980, Karl Miller photo.  The power was:

• SD40-2 5068 built April 1979 and became BNSF 6728
• SD45u 5337 built Dec. 1966 as SD45 1875 and became Wisconsin Central 6606
• F45 5923 built June 1968 as 1923 and scrapped March 1999
• SD40-2 5122 built Oct. 1979 and became BNSF 6806

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/22 17:00 by MartyBernard.

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Lead unit with an oscitrol light too!

Posted from iPhone

tehachapifan Wrote:
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> Lead unit with an oscitrol light too!

OK, must admit that I've never heard of an "oscitrol" light. What exactly is/was that?  I'm familiar with the brands of Mars Signal Lights and Pyle-National Gyralights, but never heard of an "oscitrol" light.

HotWater Wrote:
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> tehachapifan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Lead unit with an oscitrol light too!
>
> OK, must admit that I've never heard of an
> "oscitrol" light. What exactly is/was that?  I'm
> familiar with the brands of Mars Signal Lights and
> Pyle-National Gyralights, but never heard of an
> "oscitrol" light.

Oscitrol Headlight System, Santa Fe was not the only user, was also used by the Illinois Central/Illinois Central Gulf and others including Amtrak.
See The Santa Fe Diesel, Volume Two: 1960-1995, Page 123 for the Santa Fe units. 

In a nutshell as I understand it, the two, clear, top lights flashed opposite each other and the lenses were pointed off center (one slightly to the right and the other slightly to the left). This was supposed to mimic a gyra or mars light but with fewer moving parts. The lower, red lens flashed during a emergency brake application.

Posted from iPhone

HotWater Wrote:

> OK, must admit that I've never heard of an "oscitrol" light. What exactly is/was that?  

http://trainweb.org/gyra/oscitrol.htm

Thanks for photos and the disposition info, Marty.
TC