I know the DRGW diesels had Mars or Gyra lites. I need to find out if they ALL had them (if not, what ones did/didn't) AND where they were mounted (as cab lights or nose lights) and all of them or just some. Specifics would be really good. Thanks, Rick
take this as tentative, until confirmed. it's what i have surmissed but not yet fully validated. all F units had them -- mars light on top (but that's not 100% sure in all cases). all hood units (road units) had them -- mars light on the nose (not cab) this is why they have that extended sort of frame around the nose lights. switchers did not have mars lights, though if there was an exception i've never heard of it. dave f.
David, You are mostly correct--but the Conrail GP40's the 'Grande, and the GP60's never got MARS lites. http://www.trainweb.org/gyra/mars.htm states: "Rio Grande Use : The Rio Grande used Mars signal lights on all of its cab units, starting with its FTs of 1941. In all cases the Mars light was mounted in the nose, with the headlight mounted below in the door. All of the Grande's PAs, FTs, F3s, F5s and all F7s through unit 5644 were delivered with WR-5000 Mars Lights,. F7s 5651-5694 were delivered with white over red dual-lens Mars lights in the nose (SB-WR-2-200), but these were quickly changed to dual white. F7s 5701-5764 and the F9s were delivered with dual white lenses (SB-WR-2-200 – dual Clear option). [There is also the possibilty of the SBWR-5000 lights being used or at least some conversion units of this model to update former WR-5000s – dual Clear option]. Two earlier units were wrecked and fitted with dual lights when rebuilt, 5481 and 5571. Krauss-Maffei units 4000-4003 came with dual-white lenses in the nose as well. None of the Grande's switchers or early road switchers came with signal lights or had them applied, so their GP30s were the first roadswitchers to be delivered with nose-mounted dual white Mars lights (SBW-2-301). All subsequent road units were so equipped (GP35s, GP40s, SD45s) through GP40-2 3128 and SD40T-2 5385. Subsequent units were delivered with Gyralites: GP40-2s 3129-3130, SD40T-2s 5386-5413, and SD50s 5501-5517, and several older units are known to have received replacement Gyralites as well. GP60s 3154-3156 and the second-hand Conrail GP40s did not have signal lights applied. Jim Eager"
How are MARS light operated on DRGW diesels? Hi, This may sound as a junior question, but I wonder how did the Rio Grande operate mars light on its diesels, specifically in its late years (80s-90s) Basically the dual MARS lights on the nose of hood DRGW engines are lit constantly, right? In which occasion do they flash? Were those operations guidelines still in use during SP/DRGW era? Have mars lights and ditch lights the same role? Are they operated the same way? Now, in Nscale, can we operate constant / flashing Mars light prototypically? You may want to indicate me some previous thread. Thank you for your feedback.
I'm not Mike, but I think I can shed some light on it. :wink2: Technically, the pattern is a lazy 8 or infinity loop, sweeping both sides of the track accomplishing the same effect of ditch lights. The Rio Grande merged with the SP before the Federal ditch light rule went into full effect. The GP60's that arrived after the SP merger had no nose lights at all and a pair of ditch lights, as evidenced below. For me, it's not really a "Grande" unit without those Mars lights! Long live the Grande! :teeth:
Sorry for the long time in responding, been busy railroading lately. "This may sound as a junior question, but I wonder how did the Rio Grande operate mars light on its diesels, specifically in its late years (80s-90s) Basically the dual MARS lights on the nose of hood DRGW engines are lit constantly, right? In which occasion do they flash?" Basically the same rules applied as with the headlight. When locomotive is moving, on bright. Exceptions: in yards, meeting opposing trains, on dim. If stopped in the clear, off. Signal lights were supposed to be in the "run" position while approaching crossing at grade, men and equipment or when otherwise necessary for further warning. They did not "flash". That is just the illusion you get when the light rotates directly into your vision. It's an great attention getter and the main reason for having them. "Were those operations guidelines still in use during SP/DRGW era?" On units still equipped, yes. This was during the transition era where maintainence costs outweighed safety. SP Started getting rid of theirs first and then after the merger alot of Grande units lost theirs also. If I remember right, the MARS company went out of business about the same time. But Pyle was still around and some MARS lights were replaced with the Pyle lights when they failed. "Have mars lights and ditch lights the same role? Are they operated the same way?" Technically yes. They are to get the attention of people and motorists. Opinion is that the signal light was a better attention getter than just the blinding lights of the ditch lights. But it is nice for the crew to be able to see a little better at night with the ditchlights. Units still equipped with functional signal lights can use them in lieu of ditch lights. Ditch lights are to be always on when approaching crossings. If they fail, you have to reduce your speed not to exceed 20 mph. On the SP and UP ditch lights turn on/off with the headlight switch. Some SP units(the AC4400's and the MK rebuilds) had the ditch lights ocsillate when the horn was blown. The signal lights had their own seperate switch, off, dim, bright; and a toggle switch to run the signal light and to manually move it. In this photo you can see the signal light switch right behind the horn valve and right of the radio. http://www.trainweb.org/railblazer/drgw/drgw10/drgw3109caba.html Signal lights were very useful when looking out for rocks around a curve. Just swing the light around into the direction of the curve. Hope this answered your questions.
Very nice, Mike! Great info as usual! The ability to swing light into a dark curve looking for rocks is especially handly on the former 'Grande!
Interesting comments that Grande Mars lights always worked in a figure-8 sweep all the time. This is not what I witnessed when riding the RGZ twice in 1974 and '79... On both occasions, the lead F-9's hogger isolated the Mars to a fixed beam except when approaching grade crossings or to attract attention of M of W crews. I noticed at night that he would use it as an adjustable search beam particularly in Byers and Gore canyons, likely keeping an eye out for rockslide potential etc. This was all very easy to watch from the dome cars. Opposing trains we passed also followed the pattern of a fixed-beam with their Mars and Gyralites, except when approaching grade crossings. If an opposing train crossed a road well ahead of us, I noticed that train's engineer used the oscillating light only until he was clear of the crossing, then set it to a fixed straight-ahead beam, then dimmed it and the regular fixed headlight before he passed us exactly per the general rulebook.
Redwood Chopper, welcome to Trainboard!!! I wish I had been out west before the 'Grande was swallowed up into SP and later UP.... Mike, you noted that the signal lites could be swung into a curve--do you mean that they can manually be aimed, and hold their position?
No they didn't ocillate all the time. There was an 3 way toggle switch like the one in the posted Link: http://www.trainweb.org/railblazer/drgw/drgw10/drgw3109caba.html. Right behind the horn valve to the right of the radio. It's the little switch below the bigger switch which turns the light off, dim, or bright. Centered is just the "on" position. To the left was "inch", meaning to manually move the light to desired position. To the right was "run", meaning operating in either the figure eight of circular depending on MARS or Pyle lights. Yes Hemi, just move it to desired position and it will stay there.
