Why do different railroads have different headlight configurations? For example, the former Burlington Northern’s SD40s and SD40-2s 1 headlight either on top of the piolet and on the front, but no ditch lights. Some railroads have two single headlights on both locations, but still no ditch lights. Some railroads have it all: ditchlights, gyralights, and the two main headlights. Why is all that?
I think you’ll find that most railroads today have one headlight pair (two lamps, usually vertically oriented), either on the short hood or above the cab, and ditch lights. Preferences (and opinions) on headlight position vary.
Alas, gone are the days when you could almost tell the railroad by it’s headlights. SP had a unique collection of headlight, oscillating light, and red brake light, usually stacked one above another. ICG favored the headlight on the short hood, with an oscillating light (which included the red brake light) mounted above the cab. Some of the Paducah rebuilds had “frog-eyes” lights (horizontal) on the short hood. ATSF liked to put amber beacons on the roof.
I’m sure others can add more examples of unique lighting patterns. As I recall, the current rules allow some leeway, but the basic concept is to have a triangle of lights at the front of the train.
Every railroad has their own preferance.
As for me, I like the old, large, single headlight . I also like the gryalite used in combination with it.
But I guess we will never see the old single headlight used again. The railroads probally use the double headlight in case one bulb burns out, that way they still have some light from the remaining bulb. But I understand the gyralites movement could be stopped and focused in one direction so they might could be used as a regular headlight if the other headlights (s) failed.
Ditch lights are ok, but I would like to see the gyralite also used with them.
On BC Rail all road freights have two sets of ditch lights… They are the only railroad that I know of that does this…
Because the BC Rail right-of-way has so many curves the ditch lights are off-set so that the RTE’s can get a better look around corners.
So every loco has 6 lights in total on the head end. And they sure do a good job of lighting the place up!
I think it has to do with the company who made the locomotive.
Not entirely true, or false. The loco companies buy a lot of components from suppliers. You’ll find that most locos have the same brands of headlights (I don’t know what they are, and it’s not important here). The difference was (and still is, to a certain extent) the wishes of the purchasing RR. This also applies to such things as horn and bell location. The manufacturer will put accessories pretty much where the buyer wants them…