Grain of Wheat Bulb

[dougdagrump]

I finally got around to installing the new rear power truck on my Lionel FT last nite. When I first unwrapped the new one I was really turning the air blue. It comes with a new P/U roller already installed, however the lead that is attached to it is all of maybe 1.5 inches long. Doesn't really leave much to splice into the existing lead after you pass it thru the chassis. [|(] [censored] [:(!] Ended up just using the old P/U roller.
Now to my question: What is the purpose of the "Grain of Wheat Bulb" in the nose of the FT's and I assume in the other F series loco's.

[lionelsoni]

Isn't it the headlight?
http://www.lionel.com/Products/ProductNavigator/_ServiceDocuments/6845_combo.pdf

[dougdagrump]

Bob, The FT's have a single bulb which is directionally controlled in the lead unit, a bayonet mount, but the grain bulb stays lit all the time that power is on. Just noticed, those schematics are for a different model than I have, mine is 6-18169. They were made in B&O, NYC and Santa Fe roads.

[csxt30]

I wonder if that bulb is for a seperate cab interior light. Seems I had that feature in a Northern Pacific set, that you could turn the interior light off & on with the cab 1in TMCC, like the strobe lights. Hope I remembered right! Thanks, John

[dougdagrump]

Thanks John.
I'll have to take a second look at the owner's manual, never even thought of that since they don't have any cab detailing in them.

[daan]

Just another small note, if the lead wire is too short you can simply solder another wire to it. If you use shrink tubing you will have a perfect wire and a good electrical connection which looks good as well.

[Jumijo]

The FT pictured in the latest Lionel catalog (p22)shows two headlights, one on top of the other, and a lighted interior. Perhaps the GoW bulb illuminates one of those items.

Jim

[lionelsoni]

Is it mounted behind the lower headlight lens? Maybe it's meant to represent a Mars light that is not pointing at you. From the Lionel web site, it looks like it is powered directly from the front truck's pickup.

I have seen excellent simulations of Mars lights that use an LED. They glow dimly but flash brightly for an instant every second or two, to give the impression that the oscillating light beam has swept over you.

[dougdagrump]

Thanks for the input everyone. [tup]
I went back to the schematics for a 6-18169/18166 and found that the GoW bulb is considered a "cab light ". Seems kinda strange since there is absolutely no cab detail at all, plus the way it is wired there is no on/off option.
Just think as it cruises around the layout and it comes by your location you won't see an engineer at any controls you'll get to see a flywheel going round an round. Anybody got a discarded engineer, I could put it's head on the flywheel axle and have the "Exorcist Engine". [(-D] [;)]