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Why haven't the railroads embraced LED technology?

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Posted by rdamon on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 12:06 PM

Here is one replacement for numberboard or walkway lights.

http://www.evansgroup.net/locomotive-led-step--walkway--number-board-lights.html

 

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 10:23 AM

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.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by rrnut282 on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 8:12 AM

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?

Mike (2-8-2)
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 7:06 AM

I've seen them turning up in grade crossing signals and in several wayside signals.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 5:05 AM

LED signals are popping up all over my neck of the woods.

Norm


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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Monday, November 2, 2015 11:16 PM

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.

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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, November 2, 2015 10:29 PM

Dost thou have been living in a cave?

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by D.Carleton on Monday, November 2, 2015 9:59 PM

What are you talking about? I just installed an LED bulb over the entry door to our shop.

Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak

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Why haven't the railroads embraced LED technology?
Posted by avonlea22 on Monday, November 2, 2015 9:53 PM

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. 

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