a question to Soo-Line no.1535(MP15AC)

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi,

because it´s a switcher the engine have ditch-ligths on each site . My question:

which site have alternate ditch -ligths when the horn blows?

Christian!

2

  1. Not all ditch lights flash when the horn blows (none do in Canada, that’s a US thing and doesn’t seem very universal)

  2. Whichever end has the lights on. (Lights will only be turned on the direction of travel, and ditch lights are only turned on when running out on the main. They’re turned off when in a siding or yard.)

3

Flashing ditch lights seem to be an eastern thing. NS and CSX have them for sure, and other roads out that way, but most other outfits don’t have them, one more thing to maintain.

Generally ditch lights will be on in the direction of travel, unless meeting or passing a train, or they are turned off to not blind the guy working the ground near the engine. Pretty much any situation that would have the headlight go dim would have the ditch lights turned off.

On the full-size MP15ACs, there is a switch that only works the ditch lights. Center off, turn the switch towards the rear and the rear ditch lights come on, forward for the forward ditch lights. Completely independent of the headlight switches.