I was recently watching a couple of videos, Hot Spots 8 Dagget and Winter on Marias Pass, and noticed something about the ditch lights on the approaching trains. Some trains have the ditch lights on, some have them off, and in a couple of cases, as the train was approaching the camera, it looked like the lights were on and then went out, as if they were turned off. What would be going on here? I assumed that the lights stayed on continuously while the train was in operation.
…And in our area {Muncie}, CSX and NS ditch lights are on and as they approach a crossing and the bell begins operation they will blink, one than the other.
I also note most of the Western engines passing through here the lights are on but they don’t blink as the bell starts ringing for the crossings…
The engineer can turn them off at will.
In yard work, or when coupling up at night, they will shut them off to keep from blinding the ground crew.
Also, when passing oncoming trains, you should dim or turn off your headlights, and turn off the ditch lights for the same reason, to prevent blinding the oncoming engineer.
Trains in sidings will dim their headlights, and turn off the ditch lights to prevent any oncoming train from assuming they are headed into another train…it is a signal to oncoming trains you are stationary.
It is quite possible the engineer realized he was “on film” and turned off the ditch lights to keep the “shot” from being ruined.
From the GCOR…
5.9 Headlight Display
Turn the headlight on bright to the front of every train, except when the light must be dimmed as outlined in Rule 5.9.1 (Dimming Headlight) or turned off as outlined in Rule 5.9.2 (Headlight Off).
5.9.1 Dimming Headlight
Except when the engine is approaching and passing over a public crossing at grade, dim the headlight during any of the following conditions:
- At stations and yards where switching is being done.
- When the engine is stopped close behind another train.
- In non-signaled territory, when the engine is stopped on the main track waiting for an approaching train.
- When approaching and passing the head end and rear end of a train on the adjacent track.
I personally think it depends on the railroad and the rules that railroad carries as to when the ditch lights should or must be lit. For example Speta (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authoity) requires all of it’s reagonal rail trains to run ditch lights at all times no matter the track. They are also supposed to have bright lights on when entering the tunnel or underground portion of the lines.
Amtrak requires it’s trains to run their ditch lights at all times at least on the Mid- Altantic Subdividion, which is on the NEC,it’s a portion of the NEC that runs from Philly, NJ, to New York.
I have had engineers turn off the ditch lights when they see me raise the camera up.
Just trying to be nice I guess but I do not mind the ditch lights.
I’ve had them do the same. Once, I was trying to take a picture of a MU in late evening and a passing freight put its ditch lights on. It had the effect of illuminating the other engines, which I thought was nice. Plus the passing crew slowed down and waved to me.