The headlight is so people can see the train before it gets too close, only one is needed for that purpose so only one headlight is used. However, trains should also have marker lights lit whilst moving, these are much less bright and sometimes barely visible in daylight.
However, trains should also have marker lights lit whilst moving, these are much less bright and sometimes barely visible in daylight.
Simple question with probably a good explanation behind it;why do so many trains run with only one headlight lit during daylight hours. Any reasons?
An overhead 'cyclops' lamp looks good but is not a requirement.
C2.2 Marker-lamps
The forward facing front-end of the leading vehicle of a train shall be fitted with three marker-lamps, in a triangular format as set out in Appendix 2 (lamp optical centres within the boxes). It is permitted for one marker-lamp to be the fixed head-lamp in use.
Good road knowledge doesn't require headlamps! Ask any old steam driver.
On my side of the planet (I'd be interested to know what the rule is on yours) there are places where the headlights must be on, and places where they must be off EXEPT for safety. Obviously if there are trackworkers out at night in a blackout area, you put the lights on for visibilty. Equally, when you're next to a highway for miles, you put them on low beam or just use the low level spotties so you don't blind passing motorists.
Most of our locos have small marker lights, a centre twin headlight, and low level ditch lights. If I've added the photo correctly, it will show a train at Baalbone Colliery with the headlights on low beam and the ditch lights on. We're waiting for the mine wallah to finish filling the enormous bin before we drive under and he loads the train. High beam is very bright. Off the top of my head, I think the light globes we use for the headlights (times two) are 350 Watts each, but I would be open to correction.
Good road knowledge doesn't require headlamps! Ask any old steam driver.
Any old steam driver ran on railways where ESR and TSR's warning boards were lit.
Nowadays they're all reflectorised so a working headlight is required.
I had the (dubious in some cases!) pleasure of working with some of those old sods - the eyesight on some of them meant even 1MW floodlighting was insufficient!
And hearing?!!
There was one old fart with hearing so bad that he constantly tapped his foot on the DSD pedal - the reason?
He couldn't hear that new-fangled vigilance beeping and was fed up of dropping the brake so decided to remove his foot every few seconds throughout the whole shift.
Enough to drive you to madness!!
An overhead 'cyclops' lamp looks good but is not a requirement.