Ditch lights on Ho Locos

[jwilliam33]

What's the best way to install ditch lights on HO scale locos. GP30's and GP7/9 installations. I'm set up for DCC. I assume there are lighting kits that could be used that would provide forward, reverse, ditch and truck lighting?

[cwclark]

I use detail associates "ditch lights" ( www.internettrains.com ) and glue them to the front of the locos..i then drill a #74 hole with a pin vise thru the lenses (be sure the holes angle downward thru the locomotive front body so you don't drill into or above the front platform....I then drill out the front headlights (stay with me now)..with a 1/16" drill bit ..i then measure out 2 - .75mm fiber optic strands for the ditch lights and 2 -(or 4 depending on the number of headlights) 1.5 mm fiber optic strands so that they will be long enough to reach past the motor but not all the way to the rear of the locomotive...now do the same for the rear headlights and ditch lights but make the rear ones shorter...take a candle flame and flare one end of each fiber optic strand so that they fit in all the light sockets and then glue them in place with C/A glue ....i then take two bright white 5 mm leds and solder them together cathode to anode and anode to cathode between the motor and the rear of the locomotive..solder a wire on one side and a 580 ohm resistor and a wire to the other side and then solder them to the lighting wires on your decoder or the proper current path for your particular locomotive style...(i have Athearn locomotives so one wire goes to the frame and the other to the top motor pick up copper clip ...I still do DC)...test the engine and the lighting out..the front LED should light when the train runs forward and the rear LED should light when the train goes in reverse..if they don't, swap the LED wiring around...now...be sure you wrap all bare wiring with small pieces of electrical tape so that they won't short if they get pressed against anything that could create a short when the locomotive shell is put back on...now..place a short section of shrink tubing on each LED bulb and (This part is hard but ,with patience it can be done) feed the fiber optic strands for the front lights to the front LED and the rear ones to the rear LED bulb...put the shell back on and there you have it...LED lighting with ditch lights for your locomotive!

[Anonymous]

In the above installation, how do you make the ditch lights flash alternately while the headlight stays steady. That's what I observe happening at grade crossing on both BNSF and UP here in Kansas City. Ditch lights are usually off until the train approaches a grade crossing. Then they come to life and flash alternately. I don't see how the above installation can replicate that.

[jrbernier]

Ed, you will need to have a seperate LED for each ditch lamp - most full function decoders can be programed to alt fla***he ditch lights when you blow the horn or ring the bell......Digitrax has a link on their web site for programming this function with their decoders......

Jim Bernier