Earlier this summer I saw VIA F40PH #6420 at Brockville on the South/West bound Ottawa-Toronto train leading LRC’s. Underneath the normal headlight casing was an additional headlight casing (black like the others) with a slightly different style of light, which was not on. It’s the only one I’ve seen like this. Can anyone explain?
Any pictures to show?
6420 has the experimental 3rd light on it, so far it’s the only VIA unit to do so, when i saw it it did have the third light turned on.
What’s the reasoning for the extra light?
MAN thats SOOO freaky … BRockville is where i used to live … and thats the first place i saw that unit too.
MAN i have proabably seen you … I was always around the yard and tracks filming and taking pictures …
I have no pictures to show for it, as that particular day I forgot my camera! Then the next day, I was on the bridge by the station with a CN intermodal coming at me passing a local, and I ran out of film! Let’s just say I’m not so lucky.
I would have assumed the 3rd light was for extra visibility on the ottawa-brockville CP line(it’s very dark and remote, lots of animals).
Man I used to live on that CP line … its not that bad. The VIA’s whipped through there pretty fast.
I would like to see some of your photos.
I have some on railpictures.net
search for Christopher de Vries
Quoted from Train board .com , by Milne Hall.
"The third light on Via 6420 is an experiment. Transport Canada has approved this light. It is a 35 Watt Xenon HID pencil beam rallye light with ballast and the beam is very narrow. The light will improve long-range visibility, operates only when front headlights are on high, and the light is off when front headlights are on low or medium. There is a separate off switch for this light and the light is aimed to strike the rail 450 meters in front of the engine.
Via is waiting feedback before deciding to install on other locomotives."