well, Taiwan and India don’t have as many lawyers as we do.
I think lawyers are a delacacy in those countries.
The original use of ditch lights was in Canada in the Rockies so that the enginemen could see around corners and be able to avoid shuch things as rock falls, downd trees and other things. Original installation was for the right light to be aimed slightly left and the left light to be aimed slightly right. I don’t remember when this was started, but it was back in the 1970’s, I think, on the CP (or perhaps the CN - either way.)
all Ns road engines have all 3 of these requirments. I would venture to say most csx engines have alerters. I know there are union pacific engines that dont have alerters. if it is a road engine it has a dual hot no matter whos road you talk about. and only the yard units on the ns dont have event recorders
Fair enough, but I wonder if the alerters match Transport Canada specs? I know that it’s very rare to see a US engine leading around here, though that may have to do with familiarity and/or the lack of fridge and microwave.
As a footnote, I discovered over the weekend that while ditch lights were first implemented in Canada to allow additional visibility of the track ahead, the regulations requiring them are in fact about crossing safety - TC requires that the ditch lights be on only when approaching a crossing. VIA’s P42DC’s, by the way, have flashing ditch lights too.
The alerters on our engnes will go off every 10-45 sec slower speeds more often. and in most cases if you move the throttle or blow the horn or bail ,sand this will restart the time again on the alerter.we have a few engines that you must reset the alerter nothing else will do this. it is also not manditory to have alerters on engines here in the states. I have ran several UP engines with out alerters. and some engines have refrigerators but no microwaves.
In Germany we have no Ditchlights like the USA!
The signalrules of the DBAG (German Railroad administration) says that the front of a train must show 3 lights, 2 low and one in the middle above the two, lets say in A-form at night or when the regulations for a line, with many tunnels or so, says that it must be at every time.
The lights are not bright!!! The “A” is a signal!!! At night you see a maximum of 50 feet into the front!
The rear of a train must show 2 red lights at night or when the regulations for…yes, the same like above!
A reflecting sign at the rear of a freight train can be used at every time!
Correct is that push/pull-trains must show both signals at every time.
Why happens accidents between trains and cars?
The driver had crossed the line because he had not registrated the warning lights and sounds (like Wig-Wag or so) or because he was such an idiot that he thinks that he will be faster than the train, curves around the closed gate and… CRASH!!!
We had reduced the accidents with:
- We had removed many crossings. An expensive way because I bridge or a tunnel isn´t cheap!
- Crossings guided only with warning lights became half sided gates as minimum.
- Many other crossings were rebuilt with double sided gates. At non local lines you will find no crossings without doublesided gates.
Half side crossings gates are better than nothing!!!
Drive safety and watch for TRAINS!
[
As a footnote, I discovered over the weekend that while ditch lights were first implemented in Canada to allow additional visibility of the track ahead, the regulations requiring them are in fact about crossing safety - TC requires that the ditch lights be on only when approaching a crossing. VIA’s P42DC’s, by the way, have flashing ditch lights too.
[/quote]
Yes the VIA’S P42’S have the flashing ditch lights but they do not use this feature any longer.
The 1st new VIA that I saw a couple of years ago in Ingersoll Ontario
used the
flashing ditch light feature[I mistakened it for the daily N.S. 327 Buffalo/St.Thomas Ford parts train from a distance until it got close to the crossing ].
I thought to my self great,VIA is using a feature that GREATLY increases the visibility of an oncoming VIA train screaming thru town at 80 mph .
To my dismay that was the last VIA PC 42 I saw using the flashing ditch lights and now as they approach a crossing ,its the standard " A’ solid triangle of lights.
I e mailed VIA’s Head office and asked why they has stopped using this feature that in my mind enhances the safety aspect of its trains especially when it is equipped with it.
The reply was a standard thank you and a section of the Operating Rules stating that trains must have the 3 lights lit while operating.
There was no reply to my initial question of why they did not use the flashing feature.
…Witnessed a NS train coming through our town a few nights ago and it was traveling northwest…We were at a McDonalds parking lot located right beside the tracks and I heard the train horns sound and turned and looked and was surprised to see the triangle of lights approaching but none blinking…As the engines passed I noted the lead one was a Union Pacific six axle unit followed by 2 more NS 3 axle engines. Guess I am surprised when the ditch lights aren’t blinking…and when the NS engines lead they are. I think the blinking ones attract much more attention that a moving train is approaching hence promote more safety.
MC - the BNSF - especially the coal trains - never blink when they are coming in or going out of the yard. Maybe they turn them on after they leave the city, but not through the city.
Sis, I don’t know that BNSF has its ditch lights set up to flash; UP doesn’t.
It’s an attention-getter on the eastern railroads, though. Conrail’s ditch lights flashed when the bell was on (sounding the horn activated the bell, which also activated the ditch lights). CSX probably is similar; I know they had the horn-bell connection. Don’t know about NS.
Our rules say that (at least on the road) the ditch lights have to be lit any time the headlight is on bright.
Now Metra has bell-activated flashing ditch lights and Mars lights!
BC
…Yes, Jen I believe it is a non requirement for them to blink…but in my opinion, it really does make a difference when they do…It calls attention that something is active and causes one to pay attention.
And yes, I believe the NS system is set up to blink along with the warning horns, etc.
I guess this thread is appropriate to ask this question without starting a new thread. I was wondering about the flashing ditch lights. How are they activtated? I suppose they’re activated differently on differnt units?
In train simulator the BNSF dash 9 ditch lights always flash on full brightness. I’ve never seen a real BNSF dash 9 do this, HOWEVER, the old BN SD70MACs sometimes do this. I noticed once that as I was watching trains at my local depot I can watch the trains come straight on before they round the curve at the depot and here come a train once that had solid ditch lights that began flash, then the flashing stopped, and then they flashed again and then went back to solid. I was wondering if this triggered by the horn maybe? Just like the bell is triggered by the horn perhaps?
I think the flashing lights attract more attention. I’ve only seen flashing ditch lights on that one engine that one time.
…I think we understand the sounding of the horn in at least some Companies engines does trigger the ditch lights to blink alternately. Not all.
Ditch Lights are Ugly but their needed for saftey
Any type I see an engine approaching a grade crossing in my neck of the woods, the ditch lights are flashing. This is CSX territory, so I’m assuming that’s the policy. Just like all the lights, the engineer has control.
On ns engines they will flash when the horn is sounded or there is a seperate switch to make them flash for 30 seconds. also there is another switch that is set up for steady burn ( until the horn is sounded ) or flash ( continouse flash) most bnsf engines i have ran dont flash and no up engine i have ran wont flash. it depends on the road.
I was train watching on Trinidad Loop on the BNSF scenic Sub and East bound Z train with 4 locos the forth in the lashup a NS unit had its Ditchlights flashing all the way around the loop it look cool. But why were thay flashing it was not the lead loco?