Ditch Lights

Who came up with the term" Ditch Lights" on locomotives ?

not sure, but the way i look at it is. The rails are usually sitting up higher then regular ground. So in a way the sides could resemble small ditches. Adding the lights may light them up better.

In the US we do not use ditch lights we use auxiliary headlights.
yes people call them ditch lights but they are not.

Ditch lights are aimed cross eyed to look around bends towards ditches , they are installed on Canadian locomotives.

The Auxiliary lights in USA are aimed straight ahead, not cross eyed and are not considered ditch lights.

Using DRNs' logic (?) the Canadiens invented them, so........

I believe it was BC rail that actually was first to use Ditchlights, and found that crossing accidents dropped dramaticly in few months that ditchlights were installed. here is a picture of a BC rail locomotiove, look how firemans side Ditch lights shine towards ditch where photographer is standing.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 32&nseq=94

Hi All,

Ditch Lights used on Metrolink are most probably for warning everyone to an oncoming train. Additionally, they have the ability to flash on and off alternatively to warn passengers to move away from the edge of the platforms. These lights are on the engines, EMD F-59 PH and PHI's and are also on the Cab Cars, the Cabbage Cars.

That's funny, how come everything is labeled Ditch Lights and not Auxillary lights? CN loco's have Ditch Lights, but they aren't 'cross eyed'...

Sometimes a name just sticks even if its not right. and BC rail is no more.

For some of more boring background details on how they came to various conclusion on these lights read;
http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/Research/ord9513.pdf

From my little bit of research, a CP Rail train hit a rock slide at Spence's Bridge, BC on March 17, 1974 killing two crew members, this led to the eventual installation of ditch lights on Canadian trains. http://www.railways.incanada.net/candate/candate.htm (scroll to this date)
The earliest dated photo I found for a CP Rail locomotive with ditch lights was May 1977 http://www.mountainrailway.com/Roster%2 ... 1410-2.jpg This was what I found online...

However, in the book "Illustrated Treasury of the MLW" I found a builders photo of Pacific Great Eastern (pre-BC Rail) #714, representing units 710-716 with ditch lights inset into the short hood, built between 1971 & 72. Subsequent photos of MLWs built for BC Rail also have ditch lights inset into short hoods. BC Rail might be better known for its use of quad (four) ditch lights. I couldn't find a builders photo online but this one is pretty close to as-built: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPi ... x?id=48366

I believe the term "ditch lights" is in reference to the "cross-eyed" lights that illuminate the sides of the rails, the ditches. They're not always mounted low either as this SW1200M shows: http://forums.railfan.net/Images/Vancouver/IMG_1080.jpg

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The FRA recommendation was if a locomotive is equipped they should be on at all times (unless prohibited by company regulations) for both crossing protection and roadway worker protection (track workers, signal maintainers etc.)

for GCOR rule see:
5.9.5 Displaying Ditch Lights
Display ditch lights, if equipped, to the front of the train when headlight is on bright.
Locomotives must not be operated as the lead unit out of a train’s initial terminal unless both
ditch lights are operating. However, if no units are equipped with ditch lights, do not exceed 20
MPH over public crossings until occupied.
If one ditch light fails enroute, the train may proceed, but repairs must be made by the next daily
inspection. If two ditch lights fail enroute, the train may proceed, but not exceeding 20 MPH over
public crossings until occupied, but must not travel beyond the first point where repairs may be
made or until the next daily inspection, whichever occurs first.

DutchRailnut wrote:In the US we do not use ditch lights we use auxiliary headlights.
yes people call them ditch lights but they are not.

Yet, the post above this, is contradictory, to the quote above this writing. Which is it, Nut?