I had to laugh when I read the replys here.
When I toured the C.B.& Q yard in Cicero Il. They yard master refered to the lights as sleepers. After a he refered to them as sleepers several time. I bit and asked why he refered to them as sleepers. He said because now we know where the crew is sleeping.
One rumor that we heard was that beacons were used to locate running locomotives. Operating steam engines could be seen from their wisps of steam and smoke around the yard, but diesel crews could hide in a corner and not be seen. With a beacon, the yard office could spot the locomotives that were manned.
The rules state that if there is a beacon it must be operational and turned on when the locomotive is running. We solved this problem by removing the beacons. They are just another light bulb to replace.
Ditch lights are a separate issue as they are required in many areas at grade crossings. We installed ditch lights on all our diesels to CYA.
The amber roof top becaons were basically replaced by the now common 'ditch lights'. SP/SSW engines usually had a collection of 'gyralights' mounted on the front end. I think they started using the roof beacons at some point, but ditch lights became the rage(and by legal decree).
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
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