Uk headlights question..

[trainfan3655]

Hey, I have a question. In the UK I’ve noticed some class 66 locomotives running with all their lights on. Is the UK transitioning over to a full headlight set up instead of a daytime and nighttime running set up with the headlights?

 

[driver9000]

Essentially yes although as far as I know there is nothing forcing an operator to change existing lighting to the new set up. The current standard is for twin headlights, markers and a roof height light which also allows an operator to do away with the yellow end if they wish. The new lighting style still has day/night settings with the lights being dimmed at night.

 

[trainfan3655]

Essentially yes although as far as I know there is nothing forcing an operator to change existing lighting to the new set up. The current standard is for twin headlights, markers and a roof height light which also allows an operator to do away with the yellow end if they wish. The new lighting style still has day/night settings with the lights being dimmed at night.

I have seen some videos of this twin headlights set up and it looks to be extraordinarily dazzling.

 

[driver9000]

I have seen some videos of this twin headlights set up and it looks to be extraordinarily dazzling.

Generally I don't have an issue with dazzling but class 68 and 88 locomotives are known for having bright lights.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I have seen some videos of this twin headlights set up and it looks to be extraordinarily dazzling.

Like this?

 

[martin2345uk]

374 headlights are bright enough that we are expected to "dip" them for oncoming trains

 

[Fincra5]

374 headlights are bright enough that we are expected to "dip" them for oncoming trains

Azuma's are especially blinding when you rise out of the Tunnels at Kings Cross into the station!

 

[Ashley Hill]

I remember many drivers moaning about the brightness of oncoming Voyagers when they first appeared.

 

[trainfan3655]

What does it mean to dip the headlights?

I remember many drivers moaning about the brightness of oncoming Voyagers when they first appeared.

 

[tfw756rider]

What does it mean to dip the headlights?

Set them to the dimmer setting for a train approaching in the other direction, but @martin2345uk put "dip" in quotation marks because it's from car/road vehicle terminology, where you're driving in the dark on an unlit road with no vehicle close in front of you or approaching in the other direction (and therefore you're using main beam/full beam/high beam headlights) but if for example (a) vehicle(s) approach(es) in the other direction, you pull the stalk to change to dipped beam/low beam headlights ("dipping" the headlights as in lowering the angle of them / tilting them down to a less dazzling angle, even if they're actually different lights).

With LED headlights / on trains, you'd technically be dimming rather than dipping.

 

[Sun Chariot]

With LED headlights / on trains, you'd technically be dimming rather than didipping.

The fascinating things I've learned through this forum. I genuinely didn't know that LED fitted stock has that facility.

 

[furnessvale]

I have seen some videos of this twin headlights set up and it looks to be extraordinarily dazzling.

I have always supported the use of polarised glass in train headlights.

Given a different angle polarised sun visor in the cab, drivers could be protected from the glare, while trackworkers, crossing users etc, get the benefit of better protection

 

[fgwrich]

Essentially yes although as far as I know there is nothing forcing an operator to change existing lighting to the new set up. The current standard is for twin headlights, markers and a roof height light which also allows an operator to do away with the yellow end if they wish. The new lighting style still has day/night settings with the lights being dimmed at night.

I had noticed this with the new design of BMAC clusters fitted to some of the GW 150s.

For example, the older (and in my opinion personally) has the Day / Night mode where you’ll always have one light on each cluster on. On the newer version as seen on 207, it has all 4 lights on with varying degrees of brightness for Day / Night mode.

 

[trainfan3655]

I remember many drivers moaning about the brightness of oncoming Voyagers when they first appeared.

What does it mean to dip headlights?

 

[43096]

What does it mean to dip headlights?

You have already asked that and it has been answered: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/uk-headlights-question.284211/#post-7232543

 

[martin2345uk]

What does it mean to dip headlights?

See post #10

 

[trainfan3655]

Set them to the dimmer setting for a train approaching in the other direction, but @martin2345uk put "dip" in quotation marks because it's from car/road vehicle terminology, where you're driving in the dark on an unlit road with no vehicle close in front of you or approaching in the other direction (and therefore you're using main beam/full beam/high beam headlights) but if for example (a) vehicle(s) approach(es) in the other direction, you pull the stalk to change to dipped beam/low beam headlights ("dipping" the headlights as in lowering the angle of them / tilting them down to a less dazzling angle, even if they're actually different lights).

With LED headlights / on trains, you'd technically be dimming rather than dipping.

Got it I do appreciate the explanation though! This is such a welcome information for me! I’m interested in everything train, headlight, and head code related.!