Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

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David Collins
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Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by David Collins »

I was watching this video…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9bXgmkBIYeA

Just curious, Why did the P40’s back then have flashing strobe lights but no flashing ditchlights but the Charger locomotives now have flashing strobe lights AND flashing ditchlights?

On a side note: those 1st gen K5LA’s in that video are quite impressive :shock:
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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by Schteinkuh »

David Collins wrote:
Fri Mar 18, 2022 5:45 pm
I was watching this video…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9bXgmkBIYeA

Just curious, Why did the P40’s back then have flashing strobe lights but no flashing ditchlights but the Charger locomotives now have flashing strobe lights AND flashing ditchlights?

On a side note: those 1st gen K5LA’s in that video are quite impressive :shock:
Because mechanical engineers have a hard-on for the F40 strobes?
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by David Collins »

Schteinkuh wrote:
Fri Mar 18, 2022 6:25 pm
Because mechanical engineers have a hard-on for the F40 strobes?
But if they do have problems with them, why do the chargers have them?
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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by Schteinkuh »

David Collins wrote:
Fri Mar 18, 2022 6:28 pm
But if they do have problems with them, why do the chargers have them?
What
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by GP30M4216 »

The paired strobes were also used on the ex Metroliner cab cars as part of the “Christmas Tree” light and horn setup on the cab end. Keep in mind, those strobes on the cab cars and F40s predated the installation of required ditch lights. The Ex Metroliners still have them.

Not all ditchlights flash. Many railroads have them wired just to be lit and constant, not to wig wag. I didn’t realize the early P40s were configured in this setup early on, but all Amtrak ditch lights do flash now.

I was surprised when the Chargers debuted with the F40 style strobes, too.

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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by SD80MAC »

Fun fact, Amtrak locomotives do not have ditch lights, they call the 2 auxiliary lights below the headlight "crossing lights". Ditch lights aim inward at an angle, crossing lights aim straight ahead.
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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

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Are any North American locomotives using actual ditch lights nowadays?

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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by kd_1014 »

DaveO wrote:
Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:26 pm
Are any North American locomotives using actual ditch lights nowadays?
Pretty much all freight locomotives

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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by DaveO »

I mean actual ditch lights, the ones that are crossed to help with illuminating the ditches and right-of-way going around curves.
I believe they were first used by Canadian railroads in the terrain they crossed out west.

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Re: Early Amtrak P40DC strobe lights

Unread post by SD80MAC »

DaveO wrote:
Mon Mar 21, 2022 10:01 am
I mean actual ditch lights, the ones that are crossed to help with illuminating the ditches and right-of-way going around curves.
I believe they were first used by Canadian railroads in the terrain they crossed out west.
Yes, all freight locomotives with ditch lights are angled to the original specs.
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