Where can I find prototype dimensions for a FRED/EOT device? I've never seen a FRED (especially in N scale) that looks remotely prototypical, so I'm going to try to scratchbuild my own with Evergreen strip styrene and an SMD LED. I have an old battery-powered flasher circuit that I can use; that used to flash a small red LED bulb, which would have been the size of an oil barrel in 1:160 scale. Micro-Trains a couple years ago made dummy FREDs that were meant to be glued to the side of couplers. But they're near-human height and I know a prototype FRED is portable enough to be carried around by one person.
Here's a 96 page pdf from Siemens. EOTs start on page 11. I would guess sizes differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. But then just how close do you need to be.
https://w3.usa.siemens.com/mobility/us/en/Documents/J1-J92%20Locomotive%20Systems.pdf
Ring Engineering HO scale EOTs measure 24" long by 5" square, which is close to what this Siemens pdf shows.
Mike.
My You Tube
SOmetimes you just have to make things a bit large to be able to discern the detail. If a real one is about 5x5x24, in N scale that would measure 31 thousandths of an inch square by 150 thou tall. Or in metric. .8mm square by 3.8mm tall. Good luck hiding even a small SMD LED in there, along with wires.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I've never researched EOT's, but I do my share of railfanning, live and camera feeds, and the flashing light must have a sensor that activates it only when it's dark.
I've never seen one flash during daylight.
So, while running a train last night, while I worked at the bench, I look up at the train going by, and the flashing Ring Engineering EOT on the last car. My layout is all day time operations. No simulated night time ops. No lights on anything except signals and locomotives. Just had to chuckle.
My point being, if you just run daylight operations, a "dummy" EOT would be perfectly right.
EDIT: For some of locals, I use the flag.
At one time I saw n freds for N scale.. Look up that term. Fred is another term used.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
mbinsewi I've never seen one flash during daylight.
Conversely, I see them flashing in daylight all the time. Perhaps there's some sort of rule.
NittanyLion mbinsewi I've never seen one flash during daylight. Conversely, I see them flashing in daylight all the time. Perhaps there's some sort of rule.
If I recall correctly, displaying a "highly visible" (IE: flashing light, etc) marker is only required one hour before sunset to one hour after sun rise or something similar.
Many of the current markers not only function as a light, but also include two-way communications to the locomotive to allow the engineer to see brake pipe pressure as well as dump the air from the rear of the train in an emergency.
Having them function during the day isn't surprising. The photo-cell (light detector) may be broken causing it to flash, or it may just flash 24/7 when it senses air pressure, movement, etc.
If you're going to model the flashing EOT on your model train, make sure you have a kazoo with you as well to make the noise that the small air dynamo makes.
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When stopped behind a train with an EOT, you can tell when it's getting ready to move. The EOT will flash a few times when it senses the rise in brake pressure. I've never seen them flash continuously in broad daylight, though.
Jeff
If they are driven by photosensors, the area I observe them in is well shadowed at times and has a tunnel and multiple overpasses in the area, so they're in and out of darkness before I see them.
This thread needs more pictures...
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL