The current Trains has a photo of a shortline's ex-SP EMD end-cab switcher which has an off-center headlight, and on the other side, a single number-board.
What's that all about?
Still in training.
SP had a penchant at one time for installing all sorts of special lights and devices on some of its power -- some of the road engines got to looking a bit like the Borg had assimilated them. The party ended when the FRA began enforcing the rule that all lights, whether required by law or not, had to be kept maintained and working -- this led to many of the lights being removed, but not to those that were originally relocated to 'add more' being put back to original centered position.
Lithonia Operator The current Trains has a photo of a shortline's ex-SP EMD end-cab switcher which has an off-center headlight, and on the other side, a single number-board. What's that all about?
SP had a light package that included. Mars Light, and a Gyra Light. As removal began you got results such as this. Here's a few pictures of before and after
In the steam era, Belt Railway of Chicago had its switchers equipped with offset headlights.
CSSHEGEWISCHIn the steam era, Belt Railway of Chicago had its switchers equipped with offset headlights.
It's always a joy to go looking for pictures and find a whole explanation, better still when it's from the pages of Trains:
https://trn.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/belt-railway.pdf
Alas, the picture of 136 provided (p.46; it's one page before the reference in the text thanks to the way pictures broke across the gutter in the magazine) doesn't clearly show the offset... closest I can find is this -- others can probably do better.
I wonder if the Belt Railway of Chicago are still using steam locomotive style tires on their diesels? When Trains featured them in about 1993 or so a few years before the Alco era ended, they still were due to heavy flange wheel from the many switches their power travels through. Installation and removal was done in the same manner as in the steam era.
Not exactly 'off center', however, it is the first time I have seen operating headlights both above and below the windows along with ditch lights. The headlight above the windows also looks to be moving side to side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g15woqHoo6A
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD Not exactly 'off center', however, it is the first time I have seen operating headlights both above and below the windows along with ditch lights. The headlight above the windows also looks to be moving side to side. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g15woqHoo6A
Those would be Mars lights on the cab. They oscillate in a figure 8 pattern.
SD60MAC9500 BaltACD Not exactly 'off center', however, it is the first time I have seen operating headlights both above and below the windows along with ditch lights. The headlight above the windows also looks to be moving side to side. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g15woqHoo6A Those would be Mars lights on the cab. They oscillate in a figure 8 pattern.
TWO Mars lights must look really neat at night.
Why would any railroad want any engine to have an off-center headlight? What is reason for doing it that way?
Lithonia Operator Why would any railroad want any engine to have an off-center headlight? What is reason for doing it that way?
This is the first I've heard of this, but in the examples pictured, the headlights are on the left. Were they always on the left? The only reason I can think of (as a "throw it out there and see if anyone salutes" guess) might be for improved visibility in inclement weather. With the headlights farther away from the engineer, the reflection from drops of rain or fog would be farther away from the engineer's line of sight. Also, in any weather, shadows would be more prominent with the offset lights. Again, I'm just guessing.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Lithonia Operator Why would any railroad want any engine to have an off-center headlight? What is reason for doing it that way? Santa Fe 100 class GP60m's had an off center headlight to clear the off center nose door.
Santa Fe 100 class GP60m's had an off center headlight to clear the off center nose door.
Paul of Covington Lithonia Operator Why would any railroad want any engine to have an off-center headlight? What is reason for doing it that way? This is the first I've heard of this, but in the examples pictured, the headlights are on the left. Were they always on the left? The only reason I can think of (as a "throw it out there and see if anyone salutes" guess) might be for improved visibility in inclement weather. With the headlights farther away from the engineer, the reflection from drops of rain or fog would be farther away from the engineer's line of sight. Also, in any weather, shadows would be more prominent with the offset lights. Again, I'm just guessing.
That's a very interesting theory. It would definitely help in rain or snow, IMO.
I thought of it as reduced glare from the car ahead when pushing, something a switcher would often be called upon to do.
If I recall correctly, the Belt Railway steam locomotives had them offset to the right, perhaps for some additional illumination ahead on the engineer's side when shoving.
OvermodI thought of it as reduced glare from the car ahead when pushing, something a switcher would often be called upon to do.
You can turn it off for that...
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
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