The Espee forum seemed a little dead, so I figured I'd throw out a question to get some action going. Anyone seen any Espee/SSW/DRGW units recently with oscillating lights intact? I know Espee had been progressively removing the lights for over ten years now, but there have been a few units here and there that have managed to keep their lights, more or less. I shot SP SD45R 7423 early last year with its lights in place, albeit with UP-style ditchlights on the pilot. I also saw an SP GP38-2 a few months ago with lights, although the red nose light was missing. I shot the last SP GP40X, 7231, two years ago and it still had lights, but I haven't seen it since so I don't know if it still has them. Anyone else out there know of any units that have or had their lights up until recently? ------------------ Have A Nice Day!
Some of the Rio Grande Tunnel Motors and GP40's still have the full light packages. ------------------ Jim Harrawood Utah Rails
I have a photo of DRGW GP40 #3096 taken in the past couple of months. It has the full DRGW light package in place, as well as ditch lights. Since it was working a yard job, only the headlight was on. I don't know if the Gyralights are functional. Most other DRGW units I have seen recently have the gyralight removed and plated over. ------------------ Kevin Stevens www.trainweb.org/KernJunction
From what I have heard, if they have any type of lights installed, they have to work. I know all the Rio Grande units that have the light packages still installed still work. A lot of times when they break, they just paint over or blank them off. ------------------ Jim Harrawood Utah Rails
There are still a few with full light packages, but most of the mars/gyralights are just the lenses no lights or mechanism. 3097 and a couple 5400's are that way. They look good but they don't work. I'm pretty sure 5345 and 5360 still have working Mars lights In my opinion and others(including some FRA types) the signals lights are better than the dicth lights. They give off a sense of movement and catch peoples attention better. If railroads were so safety conscious(instead of cheap and low maint) they would have kept the signals lights along with ditch lights. I understand that the Mars company went out of business but I'm sure if there was a demand somebody might step in. Mike
Willamette & Pacific owns at least two former SP engines (one SD9 and one GP9) that still have working Mars lights, and what's really odd is that they don't have ditch lights. Does anyone know if a Mars light takes the place of ditch lights, legally speaking? ------------------ Mike Smith Eugene, Oregon www.angelfire.com/or/LCSO927 SP FOREVER!!!!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LCSO_927: Willamette & Pacific owns at least two former SP engines (one SD9 and one GP9) that still have working Mars lights, and what's really odd is that they don't have ditch lights. Does anyone know if a Mars light takes the place of ditch lights, legally speaking? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I think so....from what I've interpreted from the law, an engine must have some type of "alerting lights" in order to comply. I think that gyralights might count. The law also applies to how fast the unit will be going over grade crossings; any faster than 25, and it has to have warning lights. I remember about 3-4 years back, a friend and I were at Espee's Dolores, Long Beach engine facility and saw an SP SD40R, 7373, that had the full light package intact. Talking to the foreman, he said it had just brought in a stack train to ICTF, and yes, the lights were working. Hats off to the friendly Espee guys willing to take time to answer railfan questions; I'm just upset I didn't get to see it come in with the lights on, and the fact it was night and I couldn't get any pics! ------------------ Have A Nice Day!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LCSO_927: Willamette & Pacific owns at least two former SP engines (one SD9 and one GP9) that still have working Mars lights, and what's really odd is that they don't have ditch lights. Does anyone know if a Mars light takes the place of ditch lights, legally speaking? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> W&P actually has several units with oscillating headlights - 1801, 1851, 1852, and 1853, I believe. In addition, the two LLWX (Lavacot Locomotive Works) SD-9s have 'em, and several Port of Tillamook Bay SD-9s as well. For pictures of them, check out www.potb.org, click on 'railroad', then click on the railfan's page link. Jody had sent me a .AVI of a SD-9 headed past the wig-wag at Timber with the oscillating headlights going...pretty neat. [This message has been edited by wigwagfan (edited 01 September 2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wigwagfan: W&P actually has several units with oscillating headlights - 1801, 1851, 1852, and 1853, I believe. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> WPRR 1501 is one of the ones I was referring to. It's an SD9 they've just started using recently to switch in Corvallis. ------------------ Mike Smith Eugene, Oregon LCSO's RailPics ~ License and registration please... "She's not really gone if her memory lives on in our hearts." Southern Pacific 1865-1996 [This message has been edited by LCSO_927 (edited 04 September 2000).]
