Good morning,
I was wondering if any enthusiast has seen any more of those classic SP engines with the “oscillating Mars lights”, I always got a kick out of seeing them. For that matter, are there any other Class I roads that still use them? Just wondering…
Riprap
We discussed these a while back - you might be able to search the thread(s) out.
In general, as mesmerizing (and effective) as the Mars-type light is/was, it’s also a maintenance headache, and if it’s broke, it’s gotta be fixed before the engine can roll (at least in certain cases).
Ditch lights (especially flashing ditch lights) kind of made the oscillating lights redundant.
Welcome to the forums!
As far as I know the last ones on the SP were removed in the late 80s early 90s.
The ‘Oscillating’ warning lights (Pyle, Mars, Oscilatrol. etc.) were mandated to provide visual warnings at grade crossings for Passenger trains. Later, all trains were required to have operating beacons or strobe lights, which have been replaced by ‘Ditch’ lights.
My information is that ALL running trains are required to have 'Ditch lights today - even on Excursion Steamers such as SP#44449 - that from an SP (now UP) engineer.
I wonder if forthcomming 4449’s from Bachmann will have them? - Nah!
I think historic equiptment like steamers are exempt. But now that I think about it SP 4449 does still have its mars light.
Even before the rule making ditch lights mandatory, even SP had given up on the classic “Mars” lights, since they had the dreaded[V] “MOVING PARTS”, which had to be eliminated, since they wore out and needed “expensive” attention. An equivalent diode controlled unit could perform the same results from a signal light. Then the ditch light rule ended that.
My family lived in Hudson, Wisconsin, in the early 1960’s. My dad was based in the Hudson depot and North Hudson relay shop. He frequently took me down to the Hudson depot platform to watch trains as they crossed the Hudson drawbridge and passed by the depot. I’d laugh and excitedly bounce around watching the trains come…with one exception…
Whenever an E7 or F7 came, I’d take off running away as far as I could. I was scared of the Mars lights. They still give me the willies when I see them. Weird.
Mark
are they even still around anywhere? i HAVE to see those!
A couple of corrections. First there was no requirement that RRs had Mars lights on psgr engines (see PRR, NYC, and many UP). Some RRs applied them to psgr power & not frt (GN) for whatever reason(s) they thought pertinent. Second the SP used Pyle lights, not Mars. The difference is that the Pyle sweeps in a circular pattern and the Mars in a sideways figure 8 (kind of like an infinity sign) From trackside this looks like one bright pulse for the Pyle and pairs of pulses for the Mars. I had a chance to observe the Mars light from the observation car of the C&NW 400 on a snowy night and it does indeed work in a sideways figure 8 pattern. The SP 4449 originally had a Mars light but, I believe is now equiped w/ a Pyle. If you can locate vintage tapes that show GS-4s in service along w/ the currently operating 4449 you can see the difference.
Metra engines have them.
Bert
So do the cab cars…
Kale
My information is that ALL running trains are required to have > 'Ditch lights today - even on Excursion Steamers such as > SP#44449 - that from an SP (now UP) engineer.
I wonder if forthcomming 4449’s from Bachmann will have them? > - Nah! The real 4449 has no ditches, and neither will the model. First, historic equipment is exempt from such requirements. Second, a unit may operate without ditches or any other warning-style lit device (e.g. Mars lights) if it either operates at less than 25 miles per hour, or does not operate over any public grade crossings. Third, a unit equipped with a gyralight instead of ditches may operate at speeds greater than 25 miles per hour, or at any (legal) speed over public grade crossings. Gyralight equipped GP and SD units are still in daily use on the Portland & Western / Willamette & Pacific. They can often be found as local switchers or in unit train service, hauling rock.
I found that Mars lights, in the middle of the night, riding in the lead unit as a brakeman trying my best to stay awake, could be positively hynotizing, when I’d realize that I was following the figure eight.
Recall the SP red gyralight that indicated the air was in emergency?