Does anyone know if Louisville & Nashville FA2’s or any Alco FA2’s used Mars lights and if so which one (top or bottom)?
R. Craig Rutherford’s book, “Alco’s FA - Running In The Shadow”, published by Four Ways West, states that “Pyle-National gyra-lights and five chime horns were often standard equipment on L&Ns FAs”. Five of the eight illustrations clearly show the FA units with two lenses in the lower lamp housing; the noses of the remaining three locomotives are in deep shadow.
I like the wording “…often standard…”. It either was or it wasn’t!! The only other road where all examples illustrated had such equipment was the Green Bay & Western.
Hope this helps.
Ed
Hi Charlie, As a rule, when Mars and other rotating or gyrating signal lights were used, they were installed in the upper headlight position in cab diesels of all builders, with the normal headlight moved down to the lower position – in the nose door on Alco and EMD units. The L&N’s FA2s were delivered with Mars signal lights in the upper position and dual sealed-beam headlights in the lower position. The L&N didn’t buy any FA1s new, but did acquire some second-hand from the Lehigh & New England. Those lacked signal lights, and so had the single headlight in the upper nose position. so long, Andy