Found this being discussed on a FB page.
Here is a bit about it. How many railroads had such a thing and does anyone have one on the layout?
Removable roof-mounted Gyralite mounted at 45 degrees, which rotated in a figure-8 pattern in the sky. Only applied on the 1400-series units used on the Canadian, and typically only applied on the front unit of a consist. They seem to have fallen out of use in the years leading up to the VIA takeover in the 1970's.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Rapido's model included it:
https://rapidotrains.com/ho-canadian-fp9a-f9b/
I recall a few other railroads, some even had them on their steam locomotives, but I don't think they ever caught on. As your photo shows they showed up pretty well on a foggy night but in clear skies they weren't very effective.
CNW_400_Chi by Edmund, on Flickr
The above links to a post card of a C&NW E-2 Pacific with such a light.
Lots of different designs of Mars/Gyra lights were tried over the years to draw attention to the rapidly approaching trains. Some drivers and pedestrians didn't seem to get the message
Cheers, Ed
I'm kinda missing the point, somehow the light would alert the crew of an avalanche?!
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
NWP SWP I'm kinda missing the point, somehow the light would alert the crew of an avalanche?!
Probably just a knickname. They were intended to attract attention to the approaching locomotive.
Actually I remember CN having removable "Ditchlights" that they would mount on the locomotives and plug in to the MU receptacle. They were used in the curvy-mountainous areas and were applied and removed at Jasper, Alberta, in the 1970s anyway. In this case the name was aptly given and is still in use but their purpose is not as much for seeing into ditches.
Even with rock slide detectors, having the added lights helped to "see around the curves" in the event of a slide or obstruction.
Regards, Ed
Alright, that makes sense.
Pretty cool little detail.
Another detail I'd love to see a prototype picture or modeled version of, is the UPac 69XX series Centennials (aka DD40AX) with the Air Raid Siren grade crossing alert device.
I was able to find a prototype photo, I'd post it but I can't get to the image to link it.
NWP SWPAnother detail I'd love to see a prototype picture or modeled version of, is the UPac 69XX series Centennials (aka DD40AX) with the Air Raid Siren grade crossing alert device.
The first source of information on anything U.P. I go to is Utah Rails:
http://utahrails.net/up/up-loco-features.php
Scroll down a bit. It mentions the siren to be used as a warning to track crews. This makes sense as I've seen track safety watchmen using hand-crank sirens to warn crews of approaching danger.
Good Luck, Ed