Amber Lights

[tree68]

This question has almost been asked before - usually there are a plethora of yellow strobes or other flashers, and they likely denote an RCL.

On two CSX GP38-2's I saw today there was what appeared to be just one yellow/amber light, not on, located about halfway back on the carbody, engineer's side, behind the dynamic brakes, and just about even with the roof line. They could be seen from the opposite side only if you were high enough. In fact, from the ground you could probably only see them if you were on that side of the loco.

Since one desireable feature of a flashing light indicating an RCL would be 360 visibility, these don't qualify. We can't completely ruling out the RCL angle, but it doesn't make sense. Can anyone shed light on what they are for? (pun partially intended...)

[csxengineer98]

the light you are talking about are for the APU equiped units... the APU is a system that will shut down the prime mover of the locomotive to save fuel...the system monitors such things as water temp..in cold weather when the temp of the water drops below a preset temp...the APU will restart the prime mover...
but back to the light in question.... when an unit is shut down by the APU...the light is supost to come on..to let the engineer know that a APU unit has shut down...
csx engineer

[tree68]

Makes sense, especially for the -38s, as they catch the local work around here and probably sit idle overnight.

Shoulda known ol' csx would know...

[mvlandsw]

The light only comes on when the APU has tried to restart the engine and failed.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mvlandsw

The light only comes on when the APU has tried to restart the engine and failed.

aaa...ok..i stand corrected... all that i know about APU tech is that is a pain in the ***.. and they shut down at the wrong times..like when your sitting at a signal for hours..and its cold out..you wake up to a cold engin..and relise that you hvae to restart the dang thing...
csx engineer