Does anyone know if there are any laws or rules which require locomotives to have lighted numberboards? I have noticed that most of the modern locos I see don’t have any “rear” (long hood end) numberboards at all, just the loco number painted on the end. This is for NS locos in particular, but I have seen this also on Alaska SD70MAC, BNSF C44, SD70MAC, and SD70ACe, SP SD45T-2, and CP Rail SD90MAC locos. So, if there doesn’t have to be lighted numberboards on the rear end, what about on the cab? Are there any roads that have done away with the lighted numberboards on the cab, or is it some kind of law that they have to have them there? If I can find a prototype, it would make it easier for my freelanced leasing company locos by not having to mess with the numberboards, just paint them over and put a number on each end. Thanks for any advice.
Regulations require that locomotives be equipped with illuminated number boards, on the front. Furthermore, only the number boards on the lead unit are to be lit, all others are suppose to be extinguished.
It’s actually an FRA defect if the number board lights don’t light, on the lead locomotive.
Nick
I couldn’t find anything in the CFR that required a lighted numberboard. So I would say it isn’t required by law by is required by rule.
In days gone by some roads had a rule that the engine that was addressed in the train orders would have its numberboard lit. So if you were the Extra 2345 East and eng 2345 was 2nd out, it would have the numberboards lit and the lead unit would be dark.
Quite correct.
Dave H.