Aerotrain observation car headlights

[tstage]

Greetings,

I have DVD footage of the rear left (red) headlight on the Aerotrain's observation car oscillating while in motion:

There's another segment that shows the rear headlight off, as the Aerotrain is moving onto the mainline from the Toledo train station.  The right headlight is white and used during backup.

Q: Was it ever prototypical for cars with rear oscillating headlights to oscillate while they were stationary - e.g. at a station?

Thanks,

Tom

[mbinsewi]

I can't answer your question directly, but I'm guessing it's something that's unique, to a unique train.

Mike.

[mvlandsw]

I don't have any knowledge specific to the Aerotrain but in general the red light on the rear protects trains against following trains. This protection is needed more when stopped than when moving. Thus it would be logical to have it on when stopped in a station. It may have been turned off when the station stop was not on a main track.

[jeffhergert]

I'm away from my old rule books, but I believe some required trains on adjacent tracks to stop before passing trains displaying a red oscillating light.  The light, I suppose depending on how railroads installed them, could be turned on automatically by an emergency brake application as well as manually when protection was required.

Jeff 

[dehusman]

tstage

Q: Was it ever prototypical for cars with rear oscillating headlights to oscillate while they were stationary - e.g. at a station?

If the red light was off while the train was moving, it probably would be illuminted when the train is stopped and probably only if the train was in emergency.  Since having a red oscillating light was extremely rare and the Aerotrain was only used by a couple railroads, there probably aren't "rules" per se to cover it and it would be a "feature" of manufacturer.  It probably works like the red warning headlights on some passenger engines, going on when the train was in emergency.

The rules Jeff alluded to would tell other trains to stop before passing or maybe proceed at restricted speed past a train displaying an oscillating red light BECAUSE that train was in emergency.  The oscillating red light would warn passing trains that the main track coupld be fouled or there could be people on the ground inspecting the train.