Trains.com

Union Pacific Ditch Lights

1838 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,190 posts
Posted by mvlandsw on Sunday, June 9, 2024 2:37 PM

The flashing ditch lights get your attention much better than the steady ones. Since they start flashing when the horn is blown, they are a better indication that the train is moving toward a crossing.

Mark

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, June 8, 2024 2:41 PM

jeffhergert
The eastern roads seem to favor flashing ditch lights.  SP also specified the flashing option when they ordered engines.

IAIS has flashing ditch lights on their GE's that they bought new because the order for the first were tacked onto, and built to, CSX standards.

The FRA regulations allow ditch lights to be either flashing or constantly on.

Jeff 

Eastern roads tend to operate in more populated areas, guess humans need more 'variety' to discern a train than do the wild animals that inhabit the areas of the Western roads.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, June 7, 2024 8:04 PM

The eastern roads seem to favor flashing ditch lights.  SP also specified the flashing option when they ordered engines.

IAIS has flashing ditch lights on their GE's that they bought new because the order for the first were tacked onto, and built to, CSX standards.

The FRA regulations allow ditch lights to be either flashing or constantly on.

Jeff 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 2,366 posts
Posted by timz on Friday, June 7, 2024 7:08 PM

I didn't know the flashing ditch lights were an SP idea -- just assumed it was some FRA requirement or something. What other RRs flashed?

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,190 posts
Posted by mvlandsw on Thursday, June 6, 2024 7:06 PM

Thanks Jeff,

  We would frequently get UP locomotives on CSX but I didn't remember how the ditch lights worked.

Mark

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,901 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Monday, June 3, 2024 9:00 PM

The only flashing ditch lights that UP has are on former SP units.  All others are on constantly.

Jeff

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,190 posts
Union Pacific Ditch Lights
Posted by mvlandsw on Sunday, June 2, 2024 2:22 PM

How do UP ditch lights work on their ES44AC units? Do they flash when the horn is blown or are they on constantly?

I have two of the Athearn units and they are set up differently.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy