Paul,

I'm just guessing, but I wonder if there isn't a receptacle inside the shell above the top of the doorway where the LED should be mounted.

MELGAR

Since there is a hostler's light to the right of the door, I suspect it is to illuminate that. Does the light turn on/off with a direction change?

Chris

LVHR

So sorry MELGAR and Chris - as with so much lately, I missed your replies.

MELGAR; I had a similar thought, but I don’t think there is a missing receptacle - here is a close up picture. As you can see, the LED is fairly large and wouldn’t fit into much of anything in that location. In addition, it can’t be pulled back into the body of the unit.

Chris; the light is always on, regardless of the direction of the unit. The A units have a light above the rear doors, and the B unit has one above the front and rear doors. And a question... when you say “hostler’s light” - is that the proper term for, what I call, the backup light???

The mystery continues  

Thanks.

Take a look at the thread with this title from March 27 (maybe March 20). It may give you all the information you need. Look it up with the Search feature.  (My guess is it's the rear light bulb that an asssembler neglected to tuck into the holder inside the shell during assembly. You'll need to take off the shell and put it into the holder behind the lens. Just a guess, but that's what I'd check.)

The picture below shows the set and was posted by Bob "O" on a different thread - notice the rear light on the front A unit is on and reflecting back on the B unit during forward motion. That may need to be cured with a setting correction on Legacy. Again, see the referenced article to see if your question is answered. 

How can I turn off the backup lights on the new Lionel FA AA units?

Thanks for the link, breezinup, but that thread and the video addresses a different problem with the backup light (on the right under the piping in my photos). I set up my three FA’s with separate ID’s, so the various lights in my lash up work appropriately. As for an assembler error, I don’t think that is the case. This isn’t the best pic, but I think you can see that there are two small holes allowing the wires to the light to pass through the shell, so it would be impossible to pull the LED back into the shell.

In addition, I believe that I have all the lights that I should on the engines   And just to cover all the bases, I tried the Aux 2 button, and the cab lights, head light, and backup light (if illuminated) all turn off, but these odd LED’s stay on. To quote the King of Siam, “is a puzzlement”!!!

Hopefully someone from Lionel will chime in with some info.

Paul,

If you think the light belongs on the outside of the shell, can it be placed horizontally across the top of the vestibule and fit snugly. Seems like it is a light for the vestibule or what looks like the rear facing headlight. Do you think a New Haven version of this engine would have this problem?

MELGAR

Wow that looks like crap. The TMCC versions weren't that way. Lionel "quality checked" strikes again.

@Apples55 posted:

 

That certainly does not look like factory work to me.

I just realized that you did not say the loco was purchased new. Some previous owner did that, most likely.

@RoyBoy posted:

That certainly does not look like factory work to me.

I just realized that you did not say the loco was purchased new. Some previous owner did that, most likely.

No, Roy, It is definitely factory work - the engines were purchased new from Nicholas Smith. All three (AA & B) have identical lights. In addition, I also purchased a LIRR FA Cab car from Charles Ro which has the identical LED. 

Try contacting Bob"O". I mentioned him in my previous post. He has the same set. See what his engines have.

@MELGAR posted:

Paul,

If you think the light belongs on the outside of the shell, can it be placed horizontally across the top of the vestibule and fit snugly. Seems like it is a light for the vestibule or what looks like the rear facing headlight. Do you think a New Haven version of this engine would have this problem?

MELGAR

Mel;

The LED’s are fairly large and the wide spacing of the wires passing through the shell would make tucking it into the top pretty near impossible. As for the New Haven, trick question... they didn’t have any FA-2’s, only FA-1’s (and 5 FB-2’s)  . What’s more, they were in such bad shape financially they wouldn’t have added any unnecessary extra lighting  

@RickO posted:

Wow that looks like crap. The TMCC versions weren't that way. Lionel "quality checked" strikes again.

Odd, yes... crap - not at all. When the engines are connected, the plastic vestibules pretty well block your view of the LED’s other than a reflection on the trailing unit. I assume if you did a lot of “night” running, they would be more visible.

@breezinup posted:

Try contacting Bob"O". I mentioned him in my previous post. He has the same set. See what his engines have.

Yes, I checked my CP set. Both A units have these LED's on the rear and the super bass B unit has one at each end. Mine are exactly as pictured by Apples55. They are not conspicuous when running as a lash-up.

(Great memory breezinup!)

Bob

I have 38182, the MKT version. It might look ridiculous, but it is a light for the vestibule so your 1/48 fireman does not stumble walking between units. As such, it is intended to be there:
See part 8148-116.