Portable ditch lights

[Roscoe P. Coaltrain]

I saw CSX 8055 recently, and noticed that the rear ditch lights were not permanently mounted but seemed to be magnetically stuck on and powered by a thin looking wire that ran into an MU-style receptacle. When I saw it, 8055 was rear coupled to another SD40-2 and the "power plug" MU thingy for the lights was unplugged and draped over the rear cut levers, and a traditional fat MU cable connected the two engines.

When looking for shots of 8055 online running LHF, there are plenty showing the temporary ditch lights in operation. Between various photos, the lights are applied at different positions, and one photo even shows both rear lights at different elevations, implying they are magnetic stick-on of some sort.

I wonder if there is much of a difference in brightness between the temporary and permanent attached ones. Is it just a con job to get past the FRA and operate single units at track speed during these 'precision' times?



Mounted high http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=4991789" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mounted wide and low http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5046996" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Each light different height http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5003504" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Engineer Spike]

It’s no “con job” . CP had a pair at St-Luc shop. As long as they are bright enough, then who cares if they are permanently attached.

[74VScotty]

Same bulbs, same voltage source, same light. MU pin 4 (neg) and pin 13 (pos). MU pin 9 (reverse) turns the power source on and off to the bulbs via a small control card wired into the inside of the MU plug. When engineer puts reverser in reverse, power is applied to portable lights. When reverser is centered or forward, now power so no lights. Only difference between permanent ditch lights is if they are installed on an angled surface, the light beam will not be directed straight back but at a slight angle which could appear less bright. And yes, these are used in order to go track speed and not have to stop at crossings.