Headlights on trains.

[Bletchleyite]

The most modern incarnation of train lighting standards* does actually call for headlights to have a dimmed mode and a full beam mode - full beam during the day, dimmed at night (which I admit doesn't make much sense to me!)

It makes sense when you consider that the purpose of the headlight is less so the driver can see where he's going, and more so the train can be seen by others, potentially from a great distance. In that regard, a brighter light during daylight makes more sense.

 

[Domh245]

It makes sense when you consider that the purpose of the headlight is less so the driver can see where he's going, and more so the train can be seen by others, potentially from a great distance. In that regard, a brighter light during daylight makes more sense.

I suppose that does make sense, it's all about getting the contrast with the environment, which at night requires a far less bright light.

 

[Harbon 1]

The Class 59/0 centre headlight are almost a high beam. They're so bright they illuminate a fair distance ahead and the drivers turn them off when another train approaches.


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[driver9000]

I suppose that does make sense, it's all about getting the contrast with the environment, which at night requires a far less bright light.

Plus you don't want to blind drivers of trains going on the opposite direction. Our eyes adjust to the dark cab and road ahead so an overly bright light coming the other way would potentially cause problems for us. It's bad enough passing LED signals!

 

[FordFocus]

I'm not a fan of the new standard because I find them very bright and dazzling at night. I was trying to brake for a station at night at speed, there was a loco sat at the end of the platform with the new headlights that were too bright which made it difficult to judge my braking curve.

 

[Deepgreen]

I'm not a fan of the new standard because I find them very bright and dazzling at night. I was trying to brake for a station at night at speed, there was a loco sat at the end of the platform with the new headlights that were too bright which made it difficult to judge my braking curve.

Indeed - I'm not a driver but as a passenger I find some approaching trains' lights ridiculously bright. Given that far dimmer lights would still be very easily visible to track workers and also perfectly adequate for reflective signs, I wonder why we have reached this situation. If lights are now intended for seeing with, then I would have expected strict designs along the lines of road vehicle dipped beams to be mandatory.

However, if you want to see daytime sunshine in action, try US freight trains with their full lighting clusters on!