Ditch Lights

RJ-

The ditch lights will only flash if the unit is running forward. If the lights do not flash, try reprogramming the locomotive with function code AUX1 + 8 to set the correct features.

-John

I thought that the ditch lights only flash when the horn is blown, at least that seems to be the case on prototype units.

I had both of the Atlas Union Pacific and both had flashing ditch lights when moving and the horn was activated.  Personally I would not fix the non-flashing ditch lights on your UP.  I have never seen a real UP engine that oscillated the ditch lights when the horn blew.  NS, CSX, and Amtrak do, but not UP.

And BNSF ditch lights don’t flash, either.

If you really want the ditch lights to blink with the horn, consider adding the 691-PCB1-012 Oscillating Ditch Light Board.

Are the stock lights suppose to oscillate on this dash 8?

Yes.

Is anyone aware of a fix for this ditch light glitch ?

I think John did that with this link:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...L-NON-MODULAR-DIESEL

@Trainman87 posted:

Is anyone aware of a fix for this ditch light glitch ?

In my opinion the mistake was Atlas designing the ditch lights to oscillate.  Their Dash 8-40CW was produced in CSX, BNSF, Santa Fe, and Union Pacific liveries.  Prototypically the only one of the four railroads that had oscillating ditch lights was CSX.  

@Trainman87 posted:

Is anyone aware of a fix for this ditch light glitch ?

Unlike Lionel Legacy diesels where the Cab2 remote allows selection of either steady or flashing ditch lights, the Atlas Trainman Dash 8 were programmed with flashing ditch lights only.  The product description states:

• Exclusive oscillating ditch lights when horn is activated

As far as I know there is no operator control on these engines that allows selection of steady vs flashing lights.

Since the Atlas engine would be TMCC, there would be no control of ditch light modes from the CAB2.  If it were designed with flashing ditch lights, that's the way it would work.  I think Atlas used the AD-20B for their ditch lights.