I'm planning on adding some operating beacons to a few of my locomotives, and I was wondering in what cases would a beacon be activated?
A discussion from 2006
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/72285.aspx?sort=ASC&pi332=1
A 1985 Court decision http://www.usroads.com/journals/rilj/9912/ri991202.htm found that while rotary beacons were not required by the FRA, they must, if installed, be in good operating condition. The locomotive involved had a beacon installed wired to the headlight switch. The beacon was not operating because it had been removed for repair.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
They could be used anytime the engine was moving, but as I recall were primarily used at night. I remember MN&S engines running in front of my house with a four-light yellow rotary beacon spinning around lighting up the area.
For the over-the-road locos I remember that it was the lead unit that had the flasher/strobe turned on. Some were left on while the units were waiting at the "diesel pit" (BN Lincoln service track). Switchers seemed to have them on most of the time. For modern use, the remote control switchers have yellow/orange beacons and these are used when the unit is being remotely controlled.
So are roof-mounted rotary beacons on locomotives falling out of favor? I remembre putting Details Associations (I think) beacons on all (3) ConRail GP locomotive models I had in the late 1980s, because the prototype photos I saw showed such locomotives with them.
Rotary beacons were most common in the 1960's-1980's era. Once the European / Canadian triangle "ditch light" flashers came in (about 20 years ago), the rotary beacons pretty much fell out of favor.
It does seem their use may have varied by railroad. I was watching Pentrex's "Classic Twin Cities" DVD last night, film from 1970. Some railroads used the beacons during the daytime, some didn't.
From a modelers perspective, I turn the beacon on my Genesis F45 when running a train through high-traffic areas, such as the two yards and the city scene.
Of course, I finally have it programmed to simulate a rotary beacon and I love the look, so 90% of the time I have it on all the time unless my engine is sitting unused. But other wise, see above.