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In one of my "senior moments," I posted this on the Hi-Rail Forum, instead of Real Trains, and it got a small, but interesting, response.  So, I am re-posting it here, where it might be seen by more who have information about this topic.

 

I noticed a photo of a VIA Rail GE unit that had enough lights displayed that one could possibly be an oscillating headlight.  Would someone be willing to clarify?

 

I'm also interested to know whether any of the Chicago Metra locomotives still use oscillating headlights.  The blue units with stainless steel "grillwork" on their sides that were built for the former Milwaukee Road routes back around the late 1970's had true Mars lights, and Metra's F40PH units and some newer ones had Gyralites.  Are the oscillating headlights still in use there?  And what about Caltrans, on the San Francisco Peninsula?

Last edited by Number 90
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MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commutter) at least USED to be a big user. Their now all retired but one  GP40WH-2s used Gyralites instead of ditch lights. A number of MARC's Kawasaki cab cars use Gyralites instead of ditch lights although some have been converted to ditch lights. 

 

MARC's electric's, GP39s, and MP36s do not have Gyralites. 

 

See some MARC videos below

VIDEO 1

VIDEO 2

 

I do miss seeing and riding those GP39s with the Gyralites and jet engine-like acceleration. 

Cal train still has them on the older F40PH's above the windshield. do not know about the new MP36's, I left burlingame back in 2001. rode cal train all the time, we took cal train from burlingame down to redwood city to get to kaiser for the birth of my first son. walked from the train station to the hospital too.

Originally Posted by mark s:

Did the Mars lights on Burlington's modern steam locomotives and SD diesels rotate in a figure 8 pattern? How about NKP Berks?

Mark . . . Nickel Plate, Burlington (as well as C&S and FW&D), Milwaukee Road, and Rock Island are four carriers that never gave up on Mars, and used it as their exclusive oscillating headlight.

 

Most other railroads either bought from both Mars and Pyle (Santa Fe, Southern Pacific), or started switching to Pyle Gyralite after tiring of the extra maintenance on the dual cranks and levers that drove the Mars oscillating headlight.  UPRR stopped equipping new locomotives with Mars Lights in 1955 or '56, but left them intact and operable on existing cab units swell as on the GP7's and SD7's.  Southern Pacific, which equipped every road locomotive and many switchers with Mars or Pyle oscillating headlights, abruptly discontinued their use and, in amazingly short time period, removed all of them.

 

I figured that, except for short lines and museums, commuter rail would be the only regular daily use on the main line these days, thus my question. 

 

Thanks to all who answered.  

Last edited by Number 90

When the original "ditch light" requirement was issued, locomotives with oscillating headlight but not equipped with "ditch lights" were considered to be in compliance with the requirements for 4 years following issuance of the FRA's final rule.  1996 is a date that sticks in my mind as the year either the interim rule or the final rule was issued, and by now any diesel or electric locomotive built after December 31, 1948, must have "ditch lights" to operate without the 20 MPH speed restriction.

 

However, oscillating headlights are still permitted on locomotives equipped with "ditch lights" as additional warning devices at the option of the railroad which operates the locomotive.

Last edited by Number 90

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