I have been wondering aloud to many of my freinds if here was a reasons or reasons why SP had all the 'wacky" or “lovable” lights. No one could give me a real reason. So, I thought Id post here As I know there are some well informed SP fans here . (Chad)
I know that some of the Canadian roads went with “ditch lights” before the Amercain counter parts did. Was it a saftey issue for better visibility for the crew or more people would see the engines with more lights? I am sure there is a combonation of things, but I suppose I am more stumped why other roads waited so long to follow… Any info would be great…
Because some guy at SP said, “Let’s put a bunch of lights on them. That will drive the modelers nuts!”. The other guy said, “That’s brilliant!” and he did it.
Each served a purpose, and each type was used by other railroads. SP just came up with a “signature” set up for them.
If you check out the front of many ATSF F units, you’ll see two headlight openings. One was the headlight. In the other you can see two lights - one clear, one red. Those were oscillating lights…
IC used oscillating lights on freight units into the 70’s, at least.
IIRC, ditch lights were first installed for just that reason - to light the ditches. They were actually focused off the centerline of the track. Today they’ve taken on a safety function, too - providing that signature triangle of light coming down the track.
As pointed out above, several railroads had lots of lights on the front end, usually a sealed-beam headlight with two lamps and an oscillating signal light, also with two lamps. To these, SP added a red emergency light above them which illuminated when the train went into an emergency braking application.
Of course the same idiots that could not figure out that the single headlight heading at them on the tracks was as train still can’t figure it out with 3 lights heading at them. What a waste of time, money and effort.
In all respect, I would have to disagree. Back in the 70’s the goverement in conjunction with the the railroads did studies that showed most people couldnt see the headlight in grade crossings accidents when the train was close, say with 500 feet. The problem was the beam was pointed and focused in a tight beam directly foward to light up the tracks as far down as they could. The result, in rural and in some urban crossings, that were not portected by signals, trees or structures would block a long view of the track. By the time the car got to the tracks, the beam was over them and could not be seen. Figures proved the use of ditch lights, which were aimed acorss the tracks and down low, which would shine more at head level and be easliy seen at close range, with in 500 feet. Statistics showed a huge drop, (almost by half I think) the number of night time grade crossing accidents when ditch lights were used.
There was a good article this past year in Trains Magazine. Wish I could recall what month it was. Very intersting.
…I agree…Ditch lights do make a “brighter” important statement from the approaching engine. And when they are blinking {as some railroads have them doing}, it adds to their attention getting ability.
I personally think seeing that triangle of lights coming at you from the approaching engine does draw more attention than the single narrow focused headlight.