Are these still used much? Personally, I haven’t seen one in quite some time but all I usually see are UP, NS and a few BNSF units. I remember KCS used to have them on all their road units but I was curious if they were now from a byegone era.
Jason,
Gone for good, except on restored motors.
Flashing ditch lights are the norm now, required by the FRA on any motor that will be operated where a public street cross railroads at grade.
Stay Frosty
Ed
I say, “Bring them back”. Nothing wrong with having ditch lights AND Gyralights. [:D]
AND I liked them. Frisco used the single lamp ones on the nose. SP and Rio Grande used the double lamped one. Some of the commuter lines used them too.
With the idiots driving today a railroad engine needs all the lights it can get.
Probably the one thing keeping them off the rails is maintenance - they are definitely full of moving parts. Aside from burning out a bulb now and then, ditch lights require virtually no maintenance. Even the flashing is probably done electronically.
With the advances in LED technology, I wouldn’t be surprised to see incandescent ditch lights replaced by LEDs down the road a piece. Don’t think so? Check your local emergency vehicles - safe bet you can find some with LEDs in the light bar or in the windows.
Metra in and around Chicago uses both flashing ditch lights and gyrating beacom lights (as well as stationary lights) on their units.
My dad’s school superintendent was killed by a train back in the 50’s(?). He was struck at a crossing where the tracks met the highway at a less than 90 degree angle. Presumably, he thought the train was an oncoming car. My dad claimed his death was responsible for the Pyralite’s invention and use. However, I imagine that many such tragedies resulted in its implementation.
OK, let’s list the railroads they did use to use them. Either the Gyralite or the Mars lights can be listed. Here are a few links one of them has some pics. Notice in the pics that some of the lights appear to be “add ons” and not factory installed. When they were factory installed they were flush with the loco.
Now this also give me a question. The Alco PAs and the EMD E units (and some others also) had the one large single light, and some also had a two bulb unit. Are these lights a Gyralite or Mars light, or what?
And remember the large red light mounted high above the end of dome cars and obs cars? Were they Mars, Gyarlite, or what? Post more links if you have them.
http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/gyra_use.htm
http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/photo/wprr.htm
Like I said Frisco used the single large nose mounted Gyralite. Mark said Rio Grande used the Mars lights. SP used one of the two.
http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/mars.htm
Enjoy [:D]
Very interesting WEB sties,Jim.
The photos will help ME in detailing my Red Caboose GP-9s.
Larry,two of our pumpers had “MARS” lights mounted in the front of the cab.
And have you tried one of the LED flashlights yet?
I understand they are good,and was thinking about one for the house.
Seems I recall reading somewhere that many roads used both brands, so as to not show favoritism to just one. So I guess there’s a good chance that it could be either one.
Personally, I remember that, as a child, the sight of a locomotive coming down the tracks with it’s beam searching all around the tracks used to give me the willys. Anything that grabs your attention that strongly can’t be all bad. You also couldn’t mistake it for anything else, even when all you could see was the light playing on the nearby buildings.
I don’t necessarily remember the first part,but the lights were “awesome”.
Possibaly the FRA needs to "require"them again?
Dear Sirs,
Years ago CPR Mounted a Rotating Reflector Portable Headlamp on the Centre of the Door on the Front of their Budd Car “Dayliners”.
This is NOT to be confused with the Portable Roof Mounted Double Beam Gyrating Lamp CP also applied to the Lead GMD FP of the 1400 Series on their Name Passenger Trains. There was a Mounting Bracket and an All Weather Socket recessed into the Roof for this Twin Beam Lamp.
The B-B GMD Passenger A Units on CP also had Strap Iron Icicle Breakers on the Roof to Protect Dome Car Windows from Icicles in Tunnels and Snowsheds. CP GMD B-B Psgr. Units Geared for 89 MPH, and included some S/G Geeps.
Anyway, back to the Budd Car Oscillating Mid Door Lamp.
At nite, the Beam of the Lamp Rotated from Fence to Fence and Track to Sky encompassing the Telegraph Poles and everythig else. VERY hypnotic!
After a nite Trip on a Budd with this kind of Lamp, a Man was dizzy.
The Lamps removed after Years of complaints.
The thought is of Old Folks Homes with Old Timers heads Rotating from Years on the Budds. Hmmmm.
The Lamp was a good idea, as Budds were FAST, showed Little Smoke, when NOT in Commuter Service, and appeared out of nowhere at 85 MPH.
With the Heat Shimmer on the Prairies, a Budd just popped up out of a Sag, and the Rotating Light was a great help.
The Prairie Budds had Grates over the Front Windows to prevent their breaking hitting Ducks and Geese at 80 Per.
Another Problem with Budds being Fast. If Operating in Multiple as a Real Train, if the Side Windows in Vestibule were Opened at High Speed, the Air Currents when Passing Opposing Trains on Double Track and on Windy Days upset the Operation of a certain Water Filled Bowl in the Lavatories.
Budd
I found another interesting website. [:D]
I liked the Frisco ones, really warned people, I see M. W. Hemphill has a new account, welcome back Mark!!!
I remember seeing the Frisco engines at night. The ones that had the Gyralite could be spotted miles away and you could see the light shine up into the sky from a distance. Even before you could hear the engines you could see the light at night. Of course I was a youngster then, but I still remember it. [;)]
Frisco – It may be gone, but it is not forgotten.
Mookie [8D]
Did “your” engine have a Gyralite or Mars light on it?
<JIm is still jealous even if it didn’t, Mookie getting to ride in an Alco.>
Early UP streamliners featured a light that shone straight up to the heavens mounted on the cab roof . Talking to several who remember the lights say they could be seen for miles on clear nights. How about it anyone remember these lights. Understand the prewar CITY OF DENVER units were the last equipped with these lights and they lasted until the units went to scrap in the 1950’s.