Mars and Gyra Lights

Are there any differences between a Marslight and a Gyralight?

Thanks,

IIRC, the Mars light rotated in a figure 8 pattern and the Gyralite in a circular pattern.

Seems to me I read that somewhere.

A long, long time ago.

Andre

Go here :

http://www.trainweb.org/gyra

This has all the information you’ll probably need.

About every 4 or 5 months topics seem to repeat themselves only with new people starting them. With this “new” system I can’t seem to find one of the older Gyralite or Mars light threads. Maybe Locomutt can. He and I have both posted about them before and I included several links. One of the links shows an older loco (I think in SP colors but not an SP loco) with an add on Gyralite.

IMHO, one of the “coolest” sights I’ve ever seen as a railfan: [8D]

1977 in Tampa the southbound Amtrak “Champion” (often late) and northbound “Floridian” being pulled by SDP40fs in the early evening. Even from a distance the wobbling gyra light beam on these big locomotives is bouncing and reflecting off of the buildings near me as the train approaches. Definite attention getter! [:D]

I sure miss seeing those lights here in Florida. [sigh] I still think that they were more “attention getting” than today’s blinking “Ditch Lights”. [;)] I assume that cost is the main factor since the gyra lights were mechanical and ditch lights, which are purely electrical, use no moving parts.

I’ve read though that some commuter agencies in this country still use the “Gyras”. [:D]
10-4!

Thanks for the vote of confidence,Jim;but I don’t seem to be finding anything either.
I’ve just spent about an hour in the archives,well,no joy.

And you are defenitly correct about us posting on that subject several times. I know
that I started one last year on: “rotating beacons,and,or flashing light on locos”
You,Tree,and several others contributed to that one. And we had another one just a month or so ago(seems like it)

For now,The above posted link from Overmod is going to be the best bet until one
of the other experts weighs in.[:D]