I live in the midwest and have noticed lately that the little sheds that house the equipment for crossing signals has a very bright lite on the outside of them has anybody else noticed this what is the purpoes for such a lite anyone know?
If the light is only on when gates are operating it is to let the train crew know they have activated the crossing proteciton. Some railroads use lamps that shine a narrow beam up and down the right of way and some just use a light on the building that can be seen by the crew.
The lights are power indicators. When they are on, it shows the normal commercial power is on. If the light is out, or on the railroad and territory I work on, a white strobe light is flashing, the normal power has been interrupted and power is from battery back up.
Jeff