Trivia: Best and worst headlights

[GM228]

Was just curious as to what stock have the best and worst night-time illumination for drivers.

I seem to recall that the 59/0s and 59/1s were regarded as the best illuminated locos, infact apparently some drivers complained of them being too bright when oncoming even if dimmed thanks to their American style lights.

 

[40129]

Cl-170 headlights are not the best

 

[Pacerpilot]

Loram C21 grinder . It's like daylight when the ditchfinder lamps are on!

But other than that the new clusters being fitted to our early 66s are pretty impressive.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Loram C21 grinder . It's like daylight when the ditchfinder lamps are on!

But other than that the new clusters being fitted to our early 66s are pretty impressive.

From someone who resides close to a railway I have to totally agree with you there!

It's like the midday sun when one of those things is doing its stuff in the dead of night, not to mention the firework display from the grinding and the whole house shaking, there seems to be a fair bit of stray light from new 66 lights also, as it seems as though someone has switched on the bedroom lights when one of those goes past, just an observation but the class 60 looks to have one of the poorest headlight setups, why were they not improved when refurbished to Super 60 status? conversely the lighting in the engine room which is noticeable at night looks super bright.

 

[MrPIC]

Class 317/6 lights are next to useless, barely even lighting up signage. But as I'm sure we all know, train headlights are not really for the benefit of drivers, more for people to be able to spot the train coming at night.
Having said that, when you get a 379 for example and its got a great headlight, it is a real treat!

 

[D365]

Class 317/6 lights are next to useless, barely even lighting up signage.

Aren't these the 1986-build units with the "Group Standard Light Cluster"? Are the headlights just as poor on other contemporary fleets?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Cl-170
are not the best

Fixed that for you


I recall speeking to a driver once who said he liked the 220 and 221 lights as I believe they were/are all LED and very powerfull. This was back in the early early days when the only Voyager working out of Edinburgh was the evening departure to Man Airport, previously a 158.

 

[GM228]

Class 317/6 lights are next to useless, barely even lighting up signage. But as I'm sure we all know, train headlights are not really for the benefit of drivers, more for people to be able to spot the train coming at night.
Having said that, when you get a 379 for example and its got a great headlight, it is a real treat!

That's true, train headlights are for trains to be seen, not for the driver to see!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That's true, train headlights are for trains to be seen, not for the driver to see!

I do wonder, though, why the SWT class 455 headlight are designed to shine sideways at almost 90° from the front of the train - if at that angle you aren't already aware of the train then something is seriously wrong!

Why do they shine almost 90° upwards as well?

Was it simply that the newer lights are bigger and it was to save money by not making the recesses bigger in order to fit them in normally?

 

[Ash Bridge]

I do wonder, though, why the SWT class 455 headlight are designed to shine sideways at almost 90° from the front of the train - if at that angle you aren't already aware of the train then something is seriously wrong!

Wxhy do they shine almost 90° upwards as well?

Was it simply that the newer lights are bigger and it was to save money by not making the recesses bigger in order to fit them in normally?

If Iam understanding you correctly I wonder could it be to avoid dazzling the driver of any oncoming train?