Anyone tired of unrealalistic directional headlights? What we need is a small switch hidden in the bottom of the fuel tank on our locos so a modeler can turn off the trailing units' headlights in a consist. Having the other units' headlights on in a consist is highly unrealalistic. Also this switch could be made to turn on the headlight that is opposite the direction of travel for DPU operations.
Sounds like a good idea, im sure someone could make a set up for aftermarket instalation. Of coarse if the companys did this and included it on the new locomotives people would be upset because of the higher prices. Kevin
I'd say I'd rather see them get a better color first, and something more like constant intensity. Of course, cost would definately become an issue as Kevin pointed out. I've got one loco with a constant intensity kit installed, and that cost me about $40, if memory serves (course, it also has a roof beacon, so...) The switch idea does seem interesting, though, and really shouldn't add that much to the cost. The potential drawback would be where to put it, and durability (I'm assuming we'd be talking about a really tiny switch here)
Now, here is where some of those highly touted DCC features could come in. If you had several extra functions, you could command the headlight to be off, on high, or on dimmed on each end of each locomotive. Until you can do this, duplicating the actions of the engineer in the cab, you will not achieve prototype realism. For example, I have never seen an engineer flip the headlights on and off each time he changes direction while switching - he justs leaves both ends on at night. If you insist on trying it without DCC, maybe a reed switch mounted in the engine (find the room!) could be activated by a magnet. After all, how prototypical would it be to use the big 0-5-0 to pick up a locomotive to get at a switch under the fuel tank? By the way, Scott, since you call yourself "Locomotive Expert", why don't you answer "Yankinoz"'s question about inertial filters elsewhere on Trainboard? [ 05 August 2001: Message edited by: Gregg Mahlkov ] [ 06 August 2001: Message edited by: Gregg Mahlkov ]</p>
