Red lights at front

[telstarbox]

I saw an EMU running with red lights at the front today (a dispatcher noticed and signalled to the driver who changed them). Is there a reason they're not interlocked with "forward gear"?

 

[Mills444]

So you can easily change the headlights to red to signify danger?

 

[the sniper]

I saw an EMU running with red lights at the front today (a dispatcher noticed and signalled to the driver who changed them). Is there a reason they're not interlocked with "forward gear"?

They are on (all?) newer units.

 

[hst43102]

I saw an EMU running with red lights at the front today (a dispatcher noticed and signalled to the driver who changed them). Is there a reason they're not interlocked with "forward gear"?

What type of EMU was it?

 

[hexagon789]

I saw an EMU running with red lights at the front today (a dispatcher noticed and signalled to the driver who changed them). Is there a reason they're not interlocked with "forward gear"?

Depends on the class, some of the newer ones auto change on selection of the direction of travel. I believe there are one or two classes the actually put on reds when stopped and the driver selects "neutral" such as when calling at a station. Possibly Electrostars(?).

 

[bengley]

They are on (all?) newer units.

You'd have thought so, but 397s and presumably other CAF units require the driver to select the correct running lights.

700s which I drove previously could be left on headlights and they'd revert to reds when removing the master key.

377/387 also have auto mode too and so don't require any action.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Oct 2020 ==

Depends on the class, some of the newer ones auto change on selection of the direction of travel. I believe there are one or two classes the actually put on reds when stopped and the driver selects "neutral" such as when calling at a station. Possibly Electrostars(?).

not correct

 

[telstarbox]

What type of EMU was it?

Don't want to get anyone in trouble but one of the older classes.

 

[aleggatta]

Depends on the class, some of the newer ones auto change on selection of the direction of travel. I believe there are one or two classes the actually put on reds when stopped and the driver selects "neutral" such as when calling at a station. Possibly Electrostars(?).

I know the later electrostars, the track debris light is linked somewhere around the interlock circuit or the DDS, but I never actually worked that one out...


Edit: just checked the Line of Route - Track debris and pan cam light are linked to the interlock circuit.

 

[hexagon789]

not correct

I thought I'd more than likely got the type wrong, but there's something that does or at least someone said there is - I definitely recall reading in another thread that there was a class on which the headlights went out when neutral was selected.

 

[Gulf1159]

You'd have thought so, but 397s and presumably other CAF units require the driver to select the correct running lights.

700s which I drove previously could be left on headlights and they'd revert to reds when removing the master key.

377/387 also have auto mode too and so don't require any action.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Oct 2020 ==


not correct

345’s also revert to red also when master switch turned to off.

 

[bengley]

I thought I'd more than likely got the type wrong, but there's something that does or at least someone said there is - I definitely recall reading in another thread that there was a class on which the headlights went out when neutral was selected.

Having reds on the front when stopped at a station could potentially cause oncoming trains to stop. Reds displayed to the front is a danger signal. I can't imagine any train has this as a feature in the UK.

 

[Bald Rick]

Not all electrostars are ‘auto’ - I’ve personally hauled up 375s on the down at Waterloo East.

 

[hexagon789]

Having reds on the front when stopped at a station could potentially cause oncoming trains to stop. Reds displayed to the front is a danger signal. I can't imagine any train has this as a feature in the UK.

Admittedly on thinking about it I think they said the headlights went out, but presumably the markers stayed on, I don't think they said the reds went on.

It's so long ago, trying to remember exactly what was said is difficult but it was something to do with headlights going out on selecting neutral.

 

[bengley]

Admittedly on thinking about it I think they said the headlights went out, but presumably the markers stayed on, I don't think they said the reds went on.

It's so long ago, trying to remember exactly what was said is difficult but it was something to do with headlights going out on selecting neutral.

That will be the debris light on the front of 377/6/7 and 387s. It turns off when the train is at stations. The headlight stays on.

 

[20atthemagnet]

Depends on the class, some of the newer ones auto change on selection of the direction of travel. I believe there are one or two classes the actually put on reds when stopped and the driver selects "neutral" such as when calling at a station. Possibly Electrostars(?).

Definitely not lol No class of UK class does that. Electrostars (the ones I've driven anyway) and Aventras will automatically select tail lights when the DDS is positioned to OFF so long as the Tail light switch is in the AUTO position. The older units you are free to do as please with the lights, even show them all at the same time unless the individual switches for tail/headlight/marker has been replaced with a more modern rotary switch. They will display whatever position the drivers leaves it in. As above the only light that will appear to go on and off is the track debris and pantograph inspection light. They are indeed linked to interlock.

Its not something that will get anyone in trouble for. A quick disco from another driver usually tells you youv'e forgetten Worst case the Signaller rings you and tells you and thats the end of that.

 

[Hairy Bear]

I thought I'd more than likely got the type wrong, but there's something that does or at least someone said there is - I definitely recall reading in another thread that there was a class on which the headlights went out when neutral was selected.

You might be thinking of class 60's. Headlight goes off when 'engine only' is selected.

 

[pompeyfan]

Desiros on my network put reds on the front when the driver takes their key off, but if the headlight switch is selected on day or night you’ll get day, marker and tail. This is happening a lot at the minute as drivers are keeping their EP keys, also happens when detaching a portion.

 

[pdeaves]

Going off on a slight tangent, am I correct in thinking that shunting locomotives display red and white at each end while they move back and forth, (in part) to save the driver changing the lights every time they reverse?

 

[43066]

Desiros on my network put reds on the front when the driver takes their key off, but if the headlight switch is selected on day or night you’ll get day, marker and tail. This is happening a lot at the minute as drivers are keeping their EP keys, also happens when detaching a portion.

Thanks. That probably explains why the stabled Desiro units near Clapham junction always have both red and whites up at the London (non buffer stop) end.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks. That probably explains why the stabled Desiro units near Clapham junction always have both red and whites up at the London (non buffer stop) end.

It doesn't seem unusual to have both red and white (but only white markers) on both ends when shunting.

 

[43066]

It doesn't seem unusual to have both red and white (but only white markers) on both ends when shunting.

Out of interest where have you seen that? It’s white markers only (reds at the rear) when shunting everywhere I’ve ever signed.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Out of interest where have you seen that? It’s white markers only (reds at the rear) when shunting everywhere I’ve ever signed.

I've seen it at Bletchley CS, certainly. I think I noticed it being done on the 319s. It might have been a mistake, but I've seen it too often for that to be the case. I've also seen a unit come into the platform on a train starting at Bletchley in that condition; the lights were switched to the correct head and tail after arrival at the platform.

Could be an error but I've seen it too often for that?

 

[43066]

I've seen it at Bletchley CS, certainly. I think I noticed it being done on the 319s. It might have been a mistake, but I've seen it too often for that to be the case. I've also seen a unit come into the platform on a train starting at Bletchley in that condition; the lights were switched to the correct head and tail after arrival at the platform.

Could be an error but I've seen it too often for that?

Certainly an error bringing a unit onto the running lines in that condition (although we’ve all done it).

In the yard it’s probably just down to sloppy practice, particularly where shunter drivers are jumping in and out of cabs all day.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Certainly an error bringing a unit onto the running lines in that condition (although we’ve all done it).

In the yard it’s probably just down to sloppy practice, particularly where shunter drivers are jumping in and out of cabs all day.

Could well be, cheers.

 

[40129]

Once came across a train with pink lights on the rear. Turned out that both the head and tail light switches were in the 'on' position

 

[pompeyfan]

Once came across a train with pink lights on the rear. Turned out that both the head and tail light switches were in the 'on' position

Electrostars or Turbostar by any chance? Can’t be many units that use the same lense for markers and tails

 

[40129]

Cl-323 iirc

Iirc turbostars have one rotary switch which controls both red and white lights whereas cl-323s have separate switches

 

[Domh245]

Electrostars or Turbostar by any chance? Can’t be many units that use the same lense for markers and tails

Plenty of units have a common marker/tail lens, even the old ex-BR stock where they've been retrofitted with the modern LED light clusters like this. I'd probably go so far as to say that separate marker & tail light 'lenses' are now in the minority

Iirc turbostars have one rotary switch which controls both red and white lights whereas cl-323s have separate switches

Two switches for a 170, one does headlights & markers (4 positions - off/day/markers/night), the other does tail (off/on/off/on)

 

[Kneedown]

Going off on a slight tangent, am I correct in thinking that shunting locomotives display red and white at each end while they move back and forth, (in part) to save the driver changing the lights every time they reverse?

Correct. A shunting loco in a yard, class 08 for eg, will display both a red, and a white light at each end. The white light will be the one closest to the running line to avoid drivers on that line mistaking it for a tail light or other stop signal.

 

[Driver2B]

Thanks. That probably explains why the stabled Desiro units near Clapham junction always have both red and whites up at the London (non buffer stop) end.

The red and white lights displayed simultaneously on 444s and 450s in Clapham Yard means the train has been prepped.

The ones that haven't been prepped just have reds.