I model the NYC in 1967 but I couldn’t resist the Athearn SD-70ACe in the Lightning Stripe. Looks great, I guess I have the engine of tomorrow on my 67 layout. My question concerns the ditch lights. How does NS configure them. Do they only turn them when the horn is activated, do the flash alternetly, do they have them on all the time while moving etc… None of my NYC vidoes have ditch lights of course, but us long as I have a back to the future engine I may as well program the decoder to properly operate the ditch lights. It looks like a monster next to my other engines of the 50s and 60s but since I am the president I can live with it.
Paul
Dayton and Mad River RR
[;)]Hi, Paul
I, too, model the NYC around the mid '50s (loosely) and when I saw the SD-70s from Genesis I thought it would be neat to have one. I opted for the 4141 George Bush scheme ONLY because I thought that paint scheme was really neat. I run it on fantasy fan trips and OCS trains!
What I have since discovered is that out of the box I don’t think there’s any way to get the ditch lights to flash. Then you’ll discover the Genesis controversy over micro-lamps vs. LEDs. I have researched several options and have put any modifications to this engine on the back burner since I have other, more pressing DCC projects at the moment. I have several Genesis F units that the headlight lamp is kaput and they’re awaiting LEDs.
There’s plenty of Youtube vids and other sources of conversion help out there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huH4jN-Wk1E here’s an example.
You can “do it yourself” or get ready made kits for the LED conversion. Others on the forum have recommended the Ulrich kits http://www.ulrichmodels.biz/servlet/the-Athearn-Upgrade-Center/Categories
Going by my personal observations in the Cleveland, OH area NS runs with the ditch lights ON continuously when running and alternately flash when the horn is first sounded and continue to flash until the head end it through the grade crossing. My mose recent NS rulebook is from 1972 so it won’t be much help [:-)]
Have fun with your SD70 on the NYC in 1967[;)] Afterall, NYC IS THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE
Happy Modeling! Ed
Still, I do not have an EDIT button in my above post so I have to add another.
Here was a breif discussion about Athearn ditch lights: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/p/225125/2505743.aspx
Sorry about the winking smiley at the beginning of my post above. For some reason with this IMPROVED software all the emoticons get sent to the start of the text and I forgot to delete this one [frustrated]
More specific to your question is this thread from railroadnet: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=12883 toward the middle you’ll find a link to a PDF of NORAC rules that may be helpful.
But, Since you asked…
TITLE 49–TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER II–FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PART 229–RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY STANDARDS–Table of Contents
Subpart C–Safety Requirements
Sec. 229.125 Headlights and auxiliary lights.
(a) Each lead locomotive used in road service shall have a headlight that produces at least 200,000 candela. If a locomotive or locomotive consist in road service is regularly required to run backward for any portion of its trip other than to pick up a detached portion of its train or to make terminal movements, it shall also have on its rear a headlight that produces at least 200,000 candela. Each headlight shall be arranged to illuminate a person at least 800 feet ahead and in front of the headlight.
(b) Each locomotive or locomotive consist used in yard service shall have two headlights, one located on the front of the locomotive or locomotive consist and one on its rear. Each headlight shall produce at least 60,000 candela and shall be arranged to illuminate a person at least 300 feet ahead and in front of the headlight.
(c) Headlights shall be provided with a device to dim the light.
(d) Effective December 31, 1997, each lead locomotive opera
Ed, Thank you so much for the quick answer. Your second post says it all, I did not realize that the ditch lights were as bright as the headlight, but it is there in black and white! Of course I don’t look at engines real often with their ditch lights and headlights on. I live in the Tacoma area so I don’t see to many NS or CSX engines; however, I do see them once in awhile.
Did you happen to see this new issue of Model Railroader? It has Rich Stovings NYC on the Hudson layout. It should be a good advertisement for the NYC historical socitey(He is very active in that) which has an excellent quarterly publication. It is worth the price of membership just for that. I have been a member for years, and I highley recommend it. Thanks again for the information. I think I will just live with them being solid on as I to have higher priority projects. Had it just been a CV fix I would have done that.
Paul
Dayton and Mad Rivr RR
Modeling the NYC (CCC&StL) from Dayton to Springfield Ohio
I bought the Penn Central Heritage version (go figure!) and it was delivered a few weeks ago. I am loving every minute of it’s run time, Athearn did a great job modeling the prototype. Anyway, the CV’s for the ditch lights are already programmed from the factory. In order to activate the ditch lights you need to press F5, once on, they stay on all the time. They will flash when the horn is activated, then return to steady. F0 is for the headlight.
There is also info on the NS ditch lights, the only railroad that use the “alternating” method. All this is in the back of the operators manual that comes with the loco.
Thanks for that info on the functions P-C! I really haven’t had the time to explore all of the programming options on my particular unit. I was “assuming” [D)]based on what I read at the Ulrich site and Youtube rather than first-hand experience. I hope I will have time today to play with functions and programming.
[edit]
I just watched your review on Youtube! Bravo, nice work! I see the ditch lights at 15:05 sure enough! My fault for not pressing the “long” horn to activate the alternating function! Thanks again!
Take care, Ed
Ed,
No harm, no foul. This is the 1st sound equipped loco I bought. All my dcc/sound locos I have converted. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the factory programming.
Thanks for visiting my youtube channel and watching the video. Glad it helped!
Terry
I recently purhased an Athearn Genesis SD70, in the NS scheme, and was surprised to find the ditch lights already programed to flash when the horn was blown. I installed a Tsunami in a Genesis SD 70, and was able to program the ditch lights to flash when the horn is blown, and stay on steady when running. The Tsunami owners manual explains it. I don’t remember which CVs were used.