Extra light on VIA F40

THayman

Member since
November 2003
From: Halifax, NS
405 posts

Posted by THayman on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 10:43 AM

Earlier this summer I saw VIA F40PH #6420 at Brockville on the South/West bound Ottawa-Toronto train leading LRC's. Underneath the normal headlight casing was an additional headlight casing (black like the others) with a slightly different style of light, which was not on. It's the only one I've seen like this. Can anyone explain?

-Tim

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Sterling1

Member since
February 2002
From: Traveling in Middle Earth
795 posts

Posted by Sterling1 on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 2:08 PM

Any pictures to show?

"There is nothing in life that compares with running a locomotive at 80-plus mph with the windows open, the traction motors screaming, the air horns fighting the rush of incoming air to make any sound at all, automobiles on adjacent highways trying and failing to catch up with you, and the unmistakable presence of raw power. You ride with fear in the pit of your stomach knowing you do not really have control of this beast." - D.C. Battle [Trains 10/2002 issue, p74.]

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ShaunCN

Member since
June 2003
From: Sarnia, Ontario
534 posts

Posted by ShaunCN on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 2:21 PM

6420 has the experimental 3rd light on it, so far it's the only VIA unit to do so, when i saw it it did have the third light turned on.

derailment? what derailment? All reports of derailments are lies. Their are no derailments within a hundreed miles of here.

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Junctionfan

Member since
February 2004
From: St.Catharines, Ontario
3,770 posts

Posted by Junctionfan on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 3:37 PM

What's the reasoning for the extra light?

Andrew

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traisessive1

Member since
December 2001
From: Winnipeg, Mb
628 posts

Posted by traisessive1 on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 6:39 PM

MAN thats SOOO freaky ... BRockville is where i used to live ... and thats the first place i saw that unit too.

MAN i have proabably seen you ... I was always around the yard and tracks filming and taking pictures ...

10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...

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THayman

Member since
November 2003
From: Halifax, NS
405 posts

Posted by THayman on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 7:15 AM

I have no pictures to show for it, as that particular day I forgot my camera! Then the next day, I was on the bridge by the station with a CN intermodal coming at me passing a local, and I ran out of film! Let's just say I'm not so lucky.

I would have assumed the 3rd light was for extra visibility on the ottawa-brockville CP line(it's very dark and remote, lots of animals).

-Tim

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traisessive1

Member since
December 2001
From: Winnipeg, Mb
628 posts

Posted by traisessive1 on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 11:00 AM

Man I used to live on that CP line ... its not that bad. The VIA's whipped through there pretty fast.
I would like to see some of your photos.
I have some on railpictures.net

search for Christopher de Vries

10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...

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Grinandbearit

Member since
September 2002
From: CANADA
126 posts

Posted by Grinandbearit on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 8:53 PM

Quoted from Train board .com , by Milne Hall.

"The third light on Via 6420 is an experiment. Transport Canada has approved this light. It is a 35 Watt Xenon HID pencil beam rallye light with ballast and the beam is very narrow. The light will improve long-range visibility, operates only when front headlights are on high, and the light is off when front headlights are on low or medium. There is a separate off switch for this light and the light is aimed to strike the rail 450 meters in front of the engine.

Via is waiting feedback before deciding to install on other locomotives."

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