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Model Forum / General / Railroads / February 2008Using Dual Headlights on F units
How did the prototypes use the dual headlights on F units? Which of the special effects in DCC decoders are most realistic? > How did the prototypes use the dual headlights on F units? Which of > the special effects in DCC decoders are most realistic? One of them (usually the top one IIRC) was a "Mars light", which flashed on and off, thus presumably making the engine more noticeable. I don't know the exact mechanism used. HTH >One of them (usually the top one IIRC) was a "Mars light", which flashed >on and off, thus presumably making the engine more noticeable. I don't >know the exact mechanism used. I thought Mars lights gyrated not flashed... >> One of them (usually the top one IIRC) was a "Mars light", which flashed >> on and off, thus presumably making the engine more noticeable. I don't >> know the exact mechanism used. > > I thought Mars lights gyrated not flashed... You're right, but the effect from a distance looks like a slow flashing. >>> One of them (usually the top one IIRC) was a "Mars light", which flashed >>> on and off, thus presumably making the engine more noticeable. I don't >>> know the exact mechanism used. >> I thought Mars lights gyrated not flashed... >You're right, but the effect from a distance looks like a slow flashing. Good point! > >>> One of them (usually the top one IIRC) was a "Mars light", which flashed > >>> on and off, thus presumably making the engine more noticeable. I don't [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Good point! Flashing isn't going to give the right effect! The Mars light will always look lit when in use, so you'd need the model Mars light to glow continuously _and_ flash slowly. Preferably the flash would rise in intensity, go full brilliance and then fade back to glowing. Greg.P. > The Mars light will always look lit when in use, so you'd need the model > Mars light to glow continuously _and_ flash slowly. Preferably the flash > would rise in intensity, go full brilliance and then fade back to > glowing. All the Mars/Gyralight models I've seen produced in the last ten years or so do exactly that. Here's what a real one looked like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCjzR5aj6vE >> The Mars light will always look lit when in use, so you'd need the model >> Mars light to glow continuously _and_ flash slowly. Preferably the flash [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCjzR5aj6vE Looks like an astronomical phenomenon, the kind that is about to swallow a space ship ;-) Most all the decoders have a good MARS light. Take your pick. I like the new TCS units because of their new BEMF. > Most all the decoders have a good MARS light. Take your pick. I > like the new TCS units because of their new BEMF. Works good, doesn't it? I replaced by Bachmann DCC decoders with TCS decoders, ahhh..... Added one to an Athearn and I have an Atlas engine that I'm going to do next, if I can figure out how to get it apart without destroying it. > How did the prototypes use the dual headlights on F units? Which of > the special effects in DCC decoders are most realistic? Different railroads did it different ways, but in most cases the lower fixture was the headlight proper, and the upper housing carried a variety of different oscillating or emergency lights, depending. Oscillating headlights came in at least two different sorts: the type that moved from side to side, and the type that moved in a "figure eight" pattern. When seen from in front of the locomotive, these delivered different sorts of light-to-dark patterns: the side-to-side sort giving two bright flashes per cycle and the "figure eight" giving one bright and one dim flash per cycle. Last time I looked both sorts were available, their only real drawback being that while they look neat from the front of the loco under daylight conditions, at "night" they look a little silly because of course the model's headlight beam doesn't traverse from side to side as did the originals, and this becomes painfully apparent in dark conditions. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to which brands of decoder you'd think were the most realistic. -Pete >> How did the prototypes use the dual headlights on F units? Which of >> the special effects in DCC decoders are most realistic? [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >-Pete I addition some railroads had a red light in the upper position that came on if the engineman put the train into emergency braking.  Signature"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - US President James Madison "To be a social conservative is to believe that the poor have too much money, and the rich don't have enough." - J.K. Galbraith "You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence." - Charles Austin Beard > I addition some railroads had a red light in the upper position that > came on if the engineman put the train into emergency braking. Is that all it came on for? I thought the red lamp would be used as a marker lamp on the trailing unit when running light. Puckdropper SignatureMarching to the beat of a different drum is great... unless you're in marching band. To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm >> I addition some railroads had a red light in the upper position that >> came on if the engineman put the train into emergency braking. > > Is that all it came on for? I thought the red lamp would be used as a > marker lamp on the trailing unit when running light. Yup. >>> How did the prototypes use the dual headlights on F units? Which of >>> the special effects in DCC decoders are most realistic? [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > I addition some railroads had a red light in the upper position that > came on if the engineman put the train into emergency braking. Used as emergency did the upper red flash or burn steady? Setting up a AT&SF F3, right now I have mars in upper with option of red steady but don't know if thats right? Thanks, Jim >>>> How did the prototypes use the dual headlights on F units? Which of >>>> the special effects in DCC decoders are most realistic? [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >if thats right? > Thanks, Jim That I am not sure of, it may have varied by railroad. There was also the ability to manually turn it on. For example if stopped on the main between sidings and unable to move. On GN I think these were only on passenger units. You might try asking on a ATSF group, I think there is one on Yahoo. -- "The Constitution does not grant rights, it recognizes them" - Jason Laumark "I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who will burn the Constitution and then wrap himself in the flag" - Craig Washington, congressman "The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." Patrick Henry "Any needless concentration of power is a menace to freedom" - Dwight D. Eisenhower |
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