It seems everywhere one turns these days some one is talking about converting from incandescent to LED lighting. I just do not like the look it provides in buildings or engines or passenger cars or room lighting. I thought I would join the bandwagon last winter so I upgraded the 2 feet by 4 feet fixtures from florescent to LED. I was very pleased that I found flat panel replacements that came with a remote at would change the light intensity 100 to 75 to 50 to 25 percent and also adjust the color from 3500 to 5000 kelvin in four increments. seemed like a dream come true getting a dimmer and color adjust in one package. Even though the cost over $150 each, the features being so easy to access made the costs seem reasonable. I should have had suspicions when one failed right out of the box. Now, one just quit working and replacing them is no fun!
I went this route because of all the clamor about the wonderful reliability that LED's would offer. Yeah, right!
I also wish I could take the LED's out of the wonderful buildings I have purchased from Menards and Woodland scenics. I really prefer the warm glow that the grain of wheat bulbs provide in the majority of my buildings. But try to get to all those LED's that are installed. Not to mention the LED lights that went out in my Menards American Power and Light building. It is a good looking building but not so much without any lighting.
As for trains, how odd is it to watch a steam engine come down the tracks with a super bright LED head lamp blinding you! Or the unbelievably bright LED headlamp in the 3rd Rail union Pacific SD diesel. This one leaves my eyes unable to refocus for several seconds after the light shines in my eyes as it comes around a curve. (Just so you know, I really enjoy watching a beautiful engine and train come around a curve toward me.)
So you may be wondering why I am posting this tonight. Well, I have three Lionel Southern heavyweight cars from around 2006 or so and they have that warm glow as they go around the tracks but i only have three. So I add the Southern RPO car that came out last year to the consist an although the car is a different color of green, I figure it will make the consist look more realistic. I am pulling it with a little MTH Railing 0-6-0 which is Southern green and the warm glow of the engine headlight and cab interior light and that from the three Southern passenger cars is what one might imagine seeing go through the country side in years gone by. And then you notice the HORRIBLE screaming white light emanating from the RPO car and the whole moment is lost.
I have used some of the orange paint suggest here on the forum and although it helps, it is no where close to the same effect.
So, does anyone else feel this way or is it just me?
Happy railroading,
Don
