Truck Lights and Step Lights

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I am looking to add working step lights and truck lights to my HO BNSF locomotive. I am having problems finding pictures and videos of illuminated truck lights on DASH 9s and GEVO BNSF units.

Do the truck lights turn off oncee the locomotive reach a certain speed?

2

There is no automatic on/off. The main reason for the truck lights is for when you are doing a walk around inspection so I guess most engineers turn them off when running.

3

I too am interested in this topic, as I have such a locomotive I would like to upgrade. Any information posted here I would appreciate. I can make a contribution as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbpYKgy4Dh8

Its not prototype per se, but I bet it will still help you.

4

The lights above the truck under the cab are actually called ground lights. They were controlled by the same switch that controlled the gage lights on the engineer’s control stand. The switch was labelled “ground & gage lights” They were of little use for locomotive inspections. They were useful when starting a train in the dark. They enabled the engineer to see the ground to tell when the train started to move.

Before radios became common they allowed the trainmen who had to pass lantern signals to the engineer know that the engineer could see their signals. If the trainman could see the ground light he knew that the engineer could see his lantern.

When locomotives were equipped with step lights the ground lights were no longer used.

Mark Vinski

5

Mark,
That is not true. They still have both the ground and step lights.

Will,
Yes, the ground light is only under the cab and is for seeing when the engine is moving when starting a train, not, inspection. Inspection is what you use your flashlight to do.

6

[quote user=“BigJim”]

mvlandsw
When locomotives were equipped with step lights the ground lights were no longer used.

Mark,
“That is not true. They still have both the ground and step lights.”

I stand corrected. I did not remember them on the CSX units with step lights that I used.

Here are some links showing ground lights on CSX units.

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/693623/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/681229/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/674770/

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/699537/

I wonder if they were present on some locomotive and not on others.

Mark