Does the engineer control the ditch lights, or are they automaticac? Also, are they on whenever the train is in motion? Thanks for your help. I live near the NS and CSX tracks.
There is a switch to turn them on or off. Some locos have them set up to come on whenever the headlight is on the bright setting. Other locos have them set up to start flashing whenever the horn is blown, whether they are on or off.
Motion does not activate them although they are required to be on when operating over a road crossing at more than 20 mph.
The 'official' formalization of ditch lights (called 'auxiliary lights' and sometimes 'crossing lights') is in 49 CFR 229.125 (d). If you read down to (f) you will note that the text calls for continuous illumination before a locomotive moves, and then while it is in motion. (I understand this to mean that the lights have to be on while the locomotive is running over track that has grade crossings on it somewhere... we have CN (ex-IC), BNSF, and NS near me and they all operate with ditch lights lit even where their ROWs are grade separated.)
Oddly enough, the actual technical definition of these lights is in a later section: 49 CFR 229.133
Thank you folks!
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