Is it time for operating class lights?

If you run the locomotive on a loop (like 95% of 3-railers) then there is ALWAYS another section following (the same train when it comes around again) so the class lights should be green and always on.  

 

Only a matter of time, lionel already has diesels class lights that change color at both ends when the direction of travel changes, and ditch lights can be controlled. Tender classification lights can be turned off on somesteam models as well. Just a matter of adding the software just as lionel did to turn off the "mars warning light"  on the s3.

Typically I either unplug them, stuff the LED's back into the smokebox, or even

paint over them. They were lit for specific reasons, only. (In point of fact, I usually

only do this when I've got the loco up on the rack for some other reason.)

 

It isn't as annoying as cab radio chatter in locos used before there were radios in cabs.

Or even before radio, sometimes.

Although I always unplug the wires to the class lights, and to the rear tender marker lights, I do like the MTH "white" (actually sort of yellow for an incandescent 32volt bulb) class lights on their steam locomotive models. Plus, with the MTH more recent run steam models, I can "turn off" the class lights with the DCS hand held.

 

That said, I can not understand why other manufacturers insist on putting "red" or "green" lights/LEDs in FRONT class lights. At least please give us a switch to turn the class lights "off".

You have three options for steam classification lights: White (extra) Green (section following) or Dark (scheduled train, no sections following or last section.)  I'm not aware of a red lens in steam locomotive class lights, at least on the one's I'm familiar with.

 

Tenders don't have classification lights, red marker lights maybe, in some instances, but not classification lights.

 

Rusty

I do like the MTH "white" (actually sort of yellow for an incandescent 32volt bulb) class lights on their steam locomotive models.

 

I thought the same.  I have those installed on one of my MTH engines.  I tried to buy more to convert other engines and they were not available.  In trying to buy extras, the shop owner referred to them as yellow, whereas I though of them as "a yellow glow white".

 

So the question for me is, why is it so hard to get a white class lamp?  Santa Fe used white for just about all freight movements. 

 

I like the fact you can turn the class lamps off with MTH engines.  I think that 3rd rail would benefit from being able to use the "lamp on and off function" of TMCC to do more than turn the back up light on and off, perhaps it should be used to turn off the cab light, class light, or both like MTH does.

 

Yes, we need better lighting control.  I'm still in the process of experimenting with my engines although it is on the back burner while working on my layout.  I think you can do something better with RS4.  I can pass on the headlight on/off and better use that function for the class lights or cab lights of both.

 

Thanks for bringing this up Rob, I was thinking of doing the same with regard to 3rd Rail engines on the 3RS board.

 

BTW, I'm talking steam.

I was trying to figure out how to do the on/off thing with a Proto2 upgrade to a GG1 and just left the front markers out, as the lens are red on both ends.  I did put the rear set of dim LEDS in and they are on, but don't show very well through the red lens.

If you look at photos of the B&O, you will see they used flags not lights. BF

Great idea!  Controlling the classification lights would make a really lot of sense.  On my new Lionel Milw Rd S-3 those d--- lights are so bright that they nearly outshine the headlight.  Very unrealistic.  I agree with Hot Water, maybe the right thing would be to simply disconnect them.

 

Actually, if they would just put a switch under the cab, or along with the other switches in the steam dome, to control the lights, that would be just fine.  They wouldn't have to be controlled by command control, but to simply have the option of white, green or dark would be a great and very inexpensive addition to the locomotive.

 

Paul Fischer

Download the LSU from Lionel dot com and select " loco marker" control for the touchpad and then you can switch off the loco class lights on the S3 from the legacy remote!!

That's great Jon!

 

I hope that will be something Lionel will make available in the future for other engines.

 

Jon, I hope you can reply to this, is there a problem with being able to have white class lights signifying the train is an "extra"? 

 

Personally, I can't find the correct white LED, small enough to fit in steam class light housings to do that, but then I haven't exhausted all possibilities.

They still had to use lights at night.

 

Rusty

>> I hope that will be something Lionel will make available in the future for other engines.

 

All of the latest locomotives have this feature!!  Although not all memory modules export the controls to the CAB-2.  (Use LSU to change Cab-2 controls)  To know if your loco supports the control of the lighting (everything but number boards and firebox glow) - basically if the loco has Sequence control, it has the lighting controls.

 

The white/red or white/green LEDs exist; but not small enough for this application.  I asked for water clear class / markers LEDs so "white" is emulated by the LED OFF.  Best I could do with the tech available.

 

Class lights on steam:

Off / Green

 

Markers on Diesel

Off / Red

 

With OFF emulating White or Off in our imagination.

Must be a "B&O thing", since they only ran in the day time.

Jon,

 

Just a suggestion concerning the class lights on your steam models:

 

1) For obvious passenger type models, offer the "off/green" feature.

 

2) For obvious freight models, offer "off/white" feature. Rarely did railroads use green class lights on freight trains.

Good grief, Ed! Are you for real?????

 

The Sasquatch plainly posted that photos of the B&O used flags not lights, which means ONLY one of two things:

 

A. The B&O did NOT run at night!

 

B.  There are NO PHOTOS of B&O trains operating at night, in the steam era, in order to verify what the Sasquatch stated!

Thanks for the reply Jon!

Well all, thanks so much for that so insightful piece of 'reality.' I thought I was clear and purposeful and realistic in my explaination.

 

Evidently your answer(s) to me are no. So I shan't debate this any longer and have likely overstayed my welcome with the OGR forums.

 

I am withdrawing and will not be a burden here any longer.

 

And least I'm not ashamed of my name, unusual is it may be, nor of where I live,  like other over opinionated members are.

 

Edward F. Bommer

of Tusla OK.

 

 

 

My mistake, I meant marker lights. I was focusing more on the fact that they can be turned off.

So the answer for MTH locomotive is "can't turn the markers on/off with the DCS remote?"

I'd guess one could use the ditch lights in the upgrade kit as marker lights then turn the ditch lights on/off; is that possible with the DCS remote?

Ed, I'm really sorry you feel that way. I have always respected your modeling and technical modeling information, especially related to the B&O and other eastern railroads.

 

I'm also sorry that you don't/didn't understand the joking that goes on between a few of us and the Sasquatch, especially when it comes to his modeling desires with B&O equipment. It is now obvious that you took all this "B&O white flags thing" WAY TOO SERIOUSLY!

Sometimes it seems like you should change your name to "Hot Under The Collar", HotWater!  Having said that, I must admit the "attitude" in your posts, makes for some interesting discussion/reading, hopefully Ed didn't take it too seriously.

Your comment about Lionel turning off the Mars light on the S-3 interests me. I thought that was not possible? Anyone out there tell me when Lionel did something with the Mars light, as far as I know I can't turn mine off on my #265. Thanks!

What I am hoping for is something more akin to DCC-type control when in command mode.

 

I want to be able to not only turn on/off or change color of lights as the situation warrants, but also to not have any automatic overrides do goofy things like change the lighting set up just because I go in reverse for a moment.

 

If I am going to actually be running in reverse for a long stretch, then I want the appropriate markers. But I don't need lights flashing every time I change direction when - for instance - I am running an extra way freight and stop to do some switching at a local industry.

 

We are getting there... it will be great when we have full command of the lights the same way the engineer does.

 

Rob

Try firing up the Legacy System Utility, that's how other folks did the deed.