For some time recently, I’ve been noticing a change in the exterior lighting on BNSF engines. Specifically, the Step lights which seem to be changing from a ‘white’ cast to a ‘blue-white’ cast.
It is really noticable when the changes are apparent in multiple engine configurations. And , of course, the time is late at dusk or at night. It seems that the BNSF is going from older,conventional light sources(?); the new bulbs appear to cast, as noted, a distinctive blue-white light.
Is this change due to the government mandates to phase out the incandescent bulb for more energy efficient LED (Light Emitting Diode) type bulbs? Recently tried to price some LED bulbs at a local "Big Box’ store and they were in a range for some where around 15 to 30 bucks APIECE!
I would guess that ‘step lights’ on diesel engine would be pretty rough service and require a very well built bulb…Read very expensive(?)
How long do those exterior bulbs last in service, on diesel engines?
Are the LED’s a better alternative. I know the smaller bulbs that one buys for home use do not last too long and are not cheap to replace.
I do not know why they are changing bulbs, but I doubt that it is directly related to the phase-out of the incandescent. Those locomotive incandescent bulbs are no doubt rated as “Rough Service,” and that class of incandescent bulbs will continue to be manufactured and sold as an exception to the ban.
Incidentally, bulb manufacturers are gearing up for a gigantic surge in demand for “Rough Service” bulbs for the general public to use in their homes as a replacement for the banned incandescent bulbs. “Rough Service” bulbs cost more than normal bulbs, however, the not only withstand bumping, but they also last longer than normal bulbs; and many will prefer them over CFLs.
LEDs have no filament and can therefore tolerate substantial abuse (roughness). They also have a very, very long lifespan (much longer than the locomotive they’d mount to). If you can substantially reduce the need for maintenance on a particular device, why not?
Quality LEDs, properly mounted, will last a long time.
On the other hand, the LED “driving lights” I have on my truck - essentially as DRL’s (daytime running lights), don’t last long at all - once they get some moisture in them (especially in the winter, with the salt) they start to fail fairly rapidly. And they’re wired in threes, which eliminates the need for a dropping resistor but means when one quits, three go out.
You can get LED headlights for some vehicles - I’d be surprised if LED headlights for locomotives didn’t come along pretty soon.
While all LED lights are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, the major cost increases in home use LEDs is because of the lumens required, the omnidirectional requirement and the requirement to support 110 house current and standard light sockets. A locomotive need not have any of those problems. You will note that pretty much all modern traffic signals are LED lit, because they end up being cheaper for the municipality in the long run and Railroads and municipalities don’t care about how much they cost on the shelf at Home Depot, they care about the long term costs.
In the OTR Industry we started to switch over to LEDs in the Late 90’s for Marker and Tail lights why called one LED out was less likely to get you pulled over by the DOT than one Incan bulb out. Sorry but I know of trucks that have had LEDS on them since oh say 1996.
Even some “LED traffic signals” are not all LED. Many leave the yellow (amber) as an incandescent bulb because it isn’t lit long enough to generate the electricity savings to justify the additional cost. INDOT for one, is doing that until they run out.
Step lights burn out a lot. Between the stepping up and down on them, and the occasional 5 cars…4cars…321farenuff…SLAM! that happens. Plus they have a nasty habit of breaking when you get cold weather. Perfect application for LEDs.
Why LED’s? Easy, longevity, and power. Read the studies K&E did on power consumption. The light is far superior to incandescent any day of the week. UP has been using them for well over a year now. Some shops/fuel stations still have big supplies of the old type left.
And before someone gets a stupid idea, they are 74 volts DC, they will NOT work at home!
I have noticed several aircraft using LED’s in the mid 80’s. Now of course the A380’s and 787’s use them all over the interior. CNW of course used Speed recorders with LED’s since that same period in the 80’s. Infrared LED’s were great to use as point to point communications in the 70’s. It had great properties, and 1000% better than CB’s.