Do they still use oscillating headlights (main light) on any locomotives?
Are older locomotives converting to LED headlights?
Are all new locomotives (including rebuilt/refurbished) using LED headlights?
I don't see many trains at night (been many years). How do the main headlights on a train compare (overall light output) compare to the incandescent headlights of cars.
The reason this came up (for me) is that I read that train lights don't need to be very bright and bright lights might interfere in seeing signal lights.
Any general information about the headlights (the main light) would be appreciated. It seems that the more I learn about trains and railroads the less I seem to know about trains and railroads.
Perry Babin Do they still use oscillating headlights (main light) on any locomotives?
There are a few left. Being mechanical, they are a maintenance headache, which means if they aren't working the loco is out of service. About the only ones you'll see are on vintage locos.
Perry Babin Are older locomotives converting to LED headlights?
Perry BabinAre all new locomotives (including rebuilt/refurbished) using LED headlights?
Perry BabinI don't see many trains at night (been many years). How do the main headlights on a train compare (overall light output) compare to the incandescent headlights of cars.
Perry BabinThe reason this came up (for me) is that I read that train lights don't need to be very bright and bright lights might interfere in seeing signal lights.
Perry BabinAny general information about the headlights (the main light) would be appreciated. It seems that the more I learn about trains and railroads the less I seem to know about trains and railroads.
The headlights run at 72 volts, as do most of the lights and other accessories. There is a dim function that is used in yards and when meeting other trains. The headlight bulbs are less than 100 watts, IIRC, so as a parasitic load, they are practically nothing. Running LEDs instead provides very little advantage in that aspect.
The question becomes when does the cumulative cost of LEDs become less than the cumulative cost of incandescents, of which the railroads probably have pallets on hand.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
More than I expected.
Incandescents will be banned shortly. I don't know if that will affect railroad lamps.
I understand, leave well enough alone.
I don't know of you've looked into handheld LED flashlights but a small flashlight (well, will fit into a large pocket) will flood a large field for hundreds of yards out, running on two 18650 battteries. Some of the new LED lights use a conventional reflector and some use an acrylic lens to focus the beam. The following is a nice light that's about average, nowadays. It's a TK35. The reviewer is good because he compares the reviewed lights to a 4D maglight so you have a reference.
https://youtu.be/73ax2YpIFN8?t=344
For other lights (if you haven't seen what's commonly available), try Battery Junction. I've never dealt with GoingGear (reviewer) so this isn't an endorsement but I've used Battery Junction a LOT and they're good to work with. Not train related. Just general FYI.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
FRA has a detailed set of requirements for headlights and auxiliary lights here:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-II/part-229/subpart-C/subject-group-ECFR4aa004644ff4be4/section-229.125
Dave
CN has a unit or two with LED headlights as a test. Rocky Mountaineer has some too.
I wonder how well they will burn through snow and ice buildup in winter.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
I haven't seen any LED headlights on our units, but LEDs are used for other applications. One such applications on new locomotives is for the number boards. They are brighter then the headlight on dim.
Jeff
Only METRA, also on their cab cars AFAIK.
I believe the 'ban on incandescents' taking effect now specifically exempts railroad main lighting and a variety of specialty bulbs.
I don't know if headlight voltage has been standardized at 72 volts, but CSX/Chessie used to use 34 volt bulbs. I once replaced a headlight bulb on an ex Conrail unit with a stock CSX 34 volt bulb. It was very bright for a fraction of a second.
I have seen some CSX units with what appear to be LED headlights.
My experience with household LED bulbs has been that they do not last anywhere near as long as the advertised life. I don't know if the LEDs fail or maybe the it's electronics required to run them on 120 volt ac power. There is some savings on electricity costs but the higher cost of the bulbs will probably more than cancel that out if they fail prematurely.
mvlandswI don't know if headlight voltage has been standardized at 72 volts, but CSX/Chessie used to use 34 volt bulbs. I once replaced a headlight bulb on an ex Conrail unit with a stock CSX 34 volt bulb. It was very bright for a fraction of a second. I have seen some CSX units with what appear to be LED headlights. My experience with household LED bulbs has been that they do not last anywhere near as long as the advertised life. I don't know if the LEDs fail or maybe the it's electronics required to run them on 120 volt ac power. There is some savings on electricity costs but the higher cost of the bulbs will probably more than cancel that out if they fail prematurely.
My town within the past two years has changed their street lights over to LED's. Most are OK, however, some of them have developed a 'defect' wherein the light output is very purple.
LED's of their own nature put out a 'cold' light, but purple?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
mvlandsw I don't know if headlight voltage has been standardized at 72 volts, but CSX/Chessie used to use 34 volt bulbs. I once replaced a headlight bulb on an ex Conrail unit with a stock CSX 34 volt bulb. It was very bright for a fraction of a second.
Some newer units still use 32v headlight bulbs.
LED life, in general, depends on how hard you drive them. Too many manufacturers try to cater to those who want the most output. To get there, cheaply, they use fewer/smaller LEDs with insufficient heat-sinking and over-drive them. Driven conservatively, LEDs can last a VERY long time.
Like the 32v lamp that was really bright for a few seconds, the LEDs fail prematurely. I have some LED lamps (incandescent replacements) that I purchased when LEDs were something new. 4 of them cost just over $100. One has been on continuously for more than 10 years and still works. The others still work but rarely get used.
The drive circuits are another weak point in cheap LED lamps (especially those that need voltage conversion/control). Cheap circuits with insufficient heatsinks lead to premature failure.
There is more than 1 way to get a 'white' LED. You can coat a blue LED with phosphors and that will produce white. If the phosphor coating changed from heat (or for whatever reason) that could have caused the shift in color. Another way to get to white is to use RGB LEDs. The 3 colors are run at the desired ratio to get to the desired color temperature (warm, cool white, whatever... color temperature in degrees Kelvin). This is the configuration used in lighting in electronic displays where you can infinitely vary the color of the LED light output.
My very first LEDs are so old that the circuits have always taken 1.5 - 2.0 seconds to come on. Have 70 - 80 newer. So far not one LED has failed. 2 CFLs left. Basement has dual 8 ft flouroescent fixtures. As they fail disconnect ballast install straight LED 8 ft tubes. I Find only need one LED tube needed instead of 2 flourescent.
I was happy to see the end of CFLs. I've had multiple CFLs fail with a bit of drama (sparks and smoke out of the vent holes in the ceramic base).
I had 4 sets of dual 8ft fluorescents that lasted 20+ years in my shop. When they started to fail, I could find no combination of ballast/tube that would last more than about a year. I have a 4ft dual that still works after 30 years (shop built in 1989) and it has had only one set of tubes replaced.
I've had quite a few screw-in LEDs fail but they were the cheap big-box types. Most last quite a while. I've also had some hanging 4ft shop lights in LED that have failed but they were cheap big-box pieces.
As a reliable solution, I hung an 8ft 2x4 over my bench (inside an old 8ft fluorescent fixture) with 4 ceramic screw-in bases and use screw-in LED lamps. Easy to replace. If I don't like the color (too warm, too cool), easy to change. If one fails, I still have light but likely have a replacement that I can drop in (buy in boxes of 8).
An even better solution, for even light, is to get some of the LED replacement tubes. Last I looked these came in too 'flavors' -- those that ran off the ballast output, and those that had you cut around the ballast or substitute an appropriate controller or low-voltage supply wired directly to the lampholders.
tree68The headlight bulbs are less than 100 watts, IIRC
I've never seen, and never expect to see, a comparison of the beam candlepower of a car headlight, a locomotive headlight, and an airliner's landing light.
https://rrtools.com/product/locomotive-halogen-headlight-ditchlight/
That says 350 watts. 200,000 candella.
As far as longevity - one supplier we use they seem to last a very long time. But then we get bulbs from another company, and if they last a week, it seems to be a miracle. And you can tell when they are going to let go - they get a little brighter than they should be. Then later that day/night, you'll get a quick white/blue "poof" and no more light.
zugmannThat says 350 watts.
Didn't have one at hand to check. I know if you're standing in front of one, you won't for very long...
So FRA says headlights are supposed to be 200000 beam candlepower? And it takes 2 x 350 watts to do that?
I never noticed that headlights are brighter than they used to be. I happen to have the SDP40F spec, and it says 2 x 200 watts on each end.
duplicate
Overmod An even better solution, for even light, is to get some of the LED replacement tubes. Last I looked these came in too 'flavors' -- those that ran off the ballast output, and those that had you cut around the ballast or substitute an appropriate controller or low-voltage supply wired directly to the lampholders.
https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlight-model-8770-locomotive/
<100W and heated
3.2A @ 24V DC (High Output)
1.2A @ 75V DC (High Output)
0.85A @ 110V DC (High Output)
2.60A @ 24V DC (Low Output)
0.85A @ 75V DC (Low Output)
0.75A @ 110V DC (Low Output)
The manufacturer must be a military supplier. $600USD+ each.
Perry BabinThe manufacturer must be a military supplier. $600USD+ each.
Doesn't seem to far off for a decent LED light.
What sort of LED light are you referring to?
The one RDA linked to. LED replacement headlight for a locomotive.
A bit of sticker shock as a replacement for a $25 incandescent.
We have one of those oscillating lights here at our RR. It's called a Mars Light. We don't have if on a locomotive but we do set it up once in a while at events. It rotates in a figure 8 pattern. The story about the name is that inventor could only find one company to finance to production of the light. It was the Mars Candy Company. And they wanted naming rights. It is fun to watch.
Rich
rlukeWe have one of those oscillating lights here at our RR. It's called a Mars Light. We don't have if on a locomotive but we do set it up once in a while at events. It rotates in a figure 8 pattern. The story about the name is that inventor could only find one company to finance to production of the light. It was the Mars Candy Company. And they wanted naming rights. It is fun to watch. Rich
As a kid our family took ACL's East Coast Champion one year on our vacation to Miami Beach. Can remember standing in a vestibule with my father with the upper door open and watching the ACL's Mars light on their engine dancing over the landscape as we raced along in Southern Virginia or Northern North Carolina at some velocity North of 79 MPH.
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