Let me start this out that I have no experience railfanning anywhere but on the East Coast, and most of that is in PA, but it seems to me that the railroads have been slow to embrace LED's both in signals and engines. The only train engines I've seen with LED's are the new Amtrak ACS 64's. I did see a few LED's along the NEC in CT a few months back too. However, I have yet to see a NS engine (other than step lights) or even a single grade crossing signal with LED's.
What are you talking about? I just installed an LED bulb over the entry door to our shop.
Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak
Dost thou have been living in a cave?
Union Pacific has embraced LED’s bigtime with their signals!
Above views from Arizona, shot July 12, 2011.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
LED signals are popping up all over my neck of the woods.
Norm
I've seen them turning up in grade crossing signals and in several wayside signals.
You may not see many LEDs because railroad equipment (including lamps) are fairly robust and do not need frequent change-outs. Why do you expect the railroads to spend money on shiney new before they need to?
Just looking at headlights - you can't just go out and buy an LED "bulb" for your car's current headlights - you have to replace the entire fixture. That said, many new vehicles are coming out with LED headlights.
You may see new locomotives with LED headlights, but I doubt the far-less-expensive incadescents will be replaced wholesale unless someone can demonstrate significant savings.
Those places where LEDs can easily replace incandescents, most of which have been mentioned already, they are being replaced. Solar power may start making inroads even in locations where commercial power is available.
When we replaced the incandescent lamps in our "FREDs", we went from hardly getting a full day out of a charged battery to being able to cut back the time they spent charging to several days a week. We can get several day's operation out of them now.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Here is one replacement for numberboard or walkway lights.
http://www.evansgroup.net/locomotive-led-step--walkway--number-board-lights.html
There was a story recently (on Trains, 3 months or so..) about the NTSB findings that mixing LED style track side signals with conventional incandescent type caused an accident; the farther (LED) signal was showing a more permissive aspect than the nearer (non-LED) signal & caused the engineer to run through the closer signal....
Storey was from Jan. 2015
Was a NTSB Safety alert
from the Far East of the Sunset Route
(In the shadow of the Huey P Long bridge)
JC UPTON There was a story recently (on Trains, 3 months or so..) about the NTSB findings that mixing LED style track side signals with conventional incandescent type caused an accident; the farther (LED) signal was showing a more permissive aspect than the nearer (non-LED) signal & caused the engineer to run through the closer signal....
That type of accident has happened with totally incandescent signals in the past - there are many elements involved in how individual signals are viewed from approaching trains.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
For a while, green LEDs weren't as green as one might desire - more yellowish, instead.
Nowadays, they can "dope" them pretty precisely, so green is really green, etc.
In Australia, Pacific National has replaced the headlights on their Cv40-9i units as they go through major overhaul. The fitting seems to be a standard twin unit with the sealed beams replaced by a hexagonal array slightly smaller than the old bulb and reflector.
Those LED lights are very bright and are visible from further away than the standard headlight. The ditch lights on those units are LED too, but a different pattern with fewer larger LED elements, possibly because they now flash (alternately) when the horn is sounded, a feature added along with new cab electronics and a new 7FDL-16....
EMD said that the SD70ACe-T4 uses LEDs for evereything EXCEPT the head and ditch lights. Since these are available, there might be a USA standard requiring conventional sealed beams....?
M636C
The Class 1 railroads have replaced or are replacing all the signals with LEDs.
The regional railroads would not be able to change all their signals as quickly.
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
tree68You may see new locomotives with LED headlights, but I doubt the far-less-expensive incadescents will be replaced wholesale unless someone can demonstrate significant savings.
There's at least one NS engine running around with LED headlights installed. Most of the other lights on the engines (numberboard and running) are being replaced as the engines get shopped. Many of the newer RCO engines are getting amber LED beacons instead of the normal strobes.
Lanterns are LED now. Signals are still mostly incandesent yet, but LEDs are slowly being worked in. Amtrak has been more proactive in using them. Neat to see an old PRR dwarf signal with LED upgrades.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Did a Chicago Detroit trip last week, most of the signals I noted were LED. Most of the grade crossing flashers around where I live are LED. The industry, FRA, and the University of Illinois conducted a visibility/ conspicuous study of conventional vs LED grade crossing flasher study in the late 9Os. The goal was to preempt FRA from fighting LEDs in that application. Needless to say the LEDs were as good as or better than conventional.
basementdwellerOne down fall to LED's is the lack of heat allows snow to cover the lens. I see this problem every winter on our traffic lights.
It's a problem for vehicle lights as well.
While the visible range may be reduced, at night it shouldn't be a problem short of a serious blizzard of sticky snow. On a sunny day, however, it could be an issue.
Perhaps that's one reason for the length/depth of the hoods on the "Darth Vader" signals.
I hope LED replacements are better for railroads than they have been locally for highway traffic lights. Cities in this area switched pretty quickly as soon as LEDs became available and they seemed to start failing within a couple of months. The failure was that as many as 40% of the LEDs in any one array would be dark. I suspect the whole array was replaced when it got any worse than that. I haven't heard whether the failures have been caused by faulty LEDs or the circuitry behind them.
I have noticed, however, that newer installations seem to be much more reliable. They're still only marginally better than incandescent when driving into the Texas sun. Even good-sized black sun shields behind the lights don't help all that much; wise drivers approach any signal with extreme caution when driving into the sun and, with the sun at your back, assume the other fellow is not so wise.
ChuckAllen, TX
cefinkjr The failure was that as many as 40% of the LEDs in any one array would be dark. I suspect the whole array was replaced when it got any worse than that. I haven't heard whether the failures have been caused by faulty LEDs or the circuitry behind them. I have noticed, however, that newer installations seem to be much more reliable.
The failure was that as many as 40% of the LEDs in any one array would be dark. I suspect the whole array was replaced when it got any worse than that. I haven't heard whether the failures have been caused by faulty LEDs or the circuitry behind them.
I have noticed, however, that newer installations seem to be much more reliable.
Our local traffic department tells us that it is manufcturing defects by a certain company ( unknown ). LEDs use DC and it may be that the rectifiers do not work well. As well some company in parts pipeline may have gone bankrupt ?
One problem you'll see with LEDs is ganging. Rather than install a dropping resistor on each LED, manufacturers often hook three LEDs up in series. So when one fails, three are now dark.
South Shore is all LED signals. Initally the train crews were upset with them. They are much brighter then the bulbs. I'm waiting to see what happens with a good snow storm. LED's do not generate enough heat to melt the ice.
cefinkjr I hope LED replacements are better for railroads than they have been locally for highway traffic lights. Cities in this area switched pretty quickly as soon as LEDs became available and they seemed to start failing within a couple of months. The failure was that as many as 40% of the LEDs in any one array would be dark. I suspect the whole array was replaced when it got any worse than that. I haven't heard whether the failures have been caused by faulty LEDs or the circuitry behind them.
I noticed this as well when they first started switching to LED's. Now that you bring it up, I havent seen any like that in a while.
One problem I DO have with LED's in traffic lights is their brightness at night. Approach an intersection that has no streetlights but three or four LED's, you can be blinded by them, especially the green.
Thanks everyone for your input. Apparently the technology has been used in some areas. Like I said, I'm mostly in the Harrisburg, PA area and not much, has been done here. Doi the new Tier 4 units have LED lighting?
avonlea22One problem I DO have with LED's in traffic lights is their brightness at night. Approach an intersection that has no streetlights but three or four LED's, you can be blinded by them, especially the green.
avonlea22 cefinkjr I hope LED replacements are better for railroads than they have been locally for highway traffic lights. Cities in this area switched pretty quickly as soon as LEDs became available and they seemed to start failing within a couple of months. The failure was that as many as 40% of the LEDs in any one array would be dark. I suspect the whole array was replaced when it got any worse than that. I haven't heard whether the failures have been caused by faulty LEDs or the circuitry behind them. I noticed this as well when they first started switching to LED's. Now that you bring it up, I havent seen any like that in a while. One problem I DO have with LED's in traffic lights is their brightness at night. Approach an intersection that has no streetlights but three or four LED's, you can be blinded by them, especially the green. Thanks everyone for your input. Apparently the technology has been used in some areas. Like I said, I'm mostly in the Harrisburg, PA area and not much, has been done here. Doi the new Tier 4 units have LED lighting?
Some police and emergency vehicles are using LED's for their 'Light Bars'. As mentioned - their light output at night is absolutely BLINDING. While you may be able to see them flashing from a further distance, when you get closer they are overpowering. I will be interested to see the accident statistics for these units over time as I suspect some drivers will get 'attracted' to the source of the light and end up hitting the source (target fixation).
Fred BoyerSouth Shore is all LED signals. Initally the train crews were upset with them. They are much brighter then the bulbs. I'm waiting to see what happens with a good snow storm. LED's do not generate enough heat to melt the ice.
Even covered in snow, the LEDs are bright enough to shine right through it. These aren't sissy little auto tailights.
zugmann Fred Boyer South Shore is all LED signals. Initally the train crews were upset with them. They are much brighter then the bulbs. I'm waiting to see what happens with a good snow storm. LED's do not generate enough heat to melt the ice. Even covered in snow, the LEDs are bright enough to shine right through it. These aren't sissy little auto tailights.
Fred Boyer South Shore is all LED signals. Initally the train crews were upset with them. They are much brighter then the bulbs. I'm waiting to see what happens with a good snow storm. LED's do not generate enough heat to melt the ice.
Incandescent bulbs on approach-lit signals have the same problem. Snow builds up, even on hooded signals when snow is blowing around, and the bulbs aren't on long enough to get hot to melt the snow.
Jeff
jeffhergertIncandescent bulbs on approach-lit signals have the same problem. Snow builds up, even on hooded signals when snow is blowing around, and the bulbs aren't on long enough to get hot to melt the snow.
Especially the green bulbs which are almost NEVER lit.
tree68 Emergency service agencies have had a similar problem with the LED light bars now in use. Some light bars include a day/night option.
Emergency service agencies have had a similar problem with the LED light bars now in use. Some light bars include a day/night option.
Yes, very good point. I used to work for Whelen Engineering, the company that makes many of the emergency lights. I know the old strobe style had a day/night option and I heard that the LED's do as well. I tend to think those that use the lights don't care to or don't think to switch to night mode. Unless the technology has changed, this had to be done manually from inside the vehicle rather than, say, a sensor on the bar.
avonlea22Yes, very good point. I used to work for Whelen Engineering, the company that makes many of the emergency lights. I know the old strobe style had a day/night option and I heard that the LED's do as well. I tend to think those that use the lights don't care to or don't think to switch to night mode. Unless the technology has changed, this had to be done manually from inside the vehicle rather than, say, a sensor on the bar.
It also doesn't help that many agencies use Disco patterns. And also put 15 auxillary LEDs on every spare inch of their cars and trucks. Used to be a simple rotator lightbar was suffiecient. Now....I know they want to be seen, but being blinded isn't good either.
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