Large Scale Central

EOT Freds & Ditch lights

Reference
#1

Not to be confused with Fr. Fred.

I’m being asked if I can manufacture FREDS for those with modern mainline trains. For my own purposes, and EOT device is called a “Caboose.” So, I’m looking around for photos, drawings, and particularly videos, so I can figure out what I’m getting into.

These same fellows are asking about ditch lights too. I was out for a while today and video’d a few trains. UP freight trains don’t seem to blink their ditch lights. Chicago Metra does when approaching the crossing. AMTRAK came while I was watching a freight from the other way and about shook me off the bridge.

No such thing as either in my era

#2

TITLE 49–TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER II–FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION

PART 229_RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY STANDARDS–Table of Contents

Subpart C_Safety Requirements

Sec. 229.125 Headlights and auxiliary lights.

(a) Each lead locomotive used in road service shall have a headlight
that produces a peak intensity of at least 200,000 candela. If a
locomotive or locomotive consist in road service is regularly required
to run backward for any portion of its trip other than to pick up a
detached portion of its train or to make terminal movements, it shall
also have on its rear a headlight that produces at least 200,000
candela. Each headlight shall be arranged to illuminate a person at
least 800 feet ahead and in front of the headlight. For purposes of this
section, a headlight shall be comprised of either one or two lamps.
(1) If a locomotive is equipped with a single-lamp headlight, the
single lamp shall produce a peak intensity of at least 200,000 candela.
The following lamps meet the standard set forth in this paragraph
(a)(1): a single operative PAR-56, 200-watt, 30-volt lamp; or an
operative lamp of equivalent design and intensity.
(2) If a locomotive is equipped with a dual-lamp headlight, a peak
intensity of at least 200,000 candela shall be produced by the headlight
based either on a single lamp capable of individually producing the
required peak intensity or on the candela produced by the headlight with
both lamps illuminated. If both lamps are needed to produce the required
peak intensity, then both lamps in the headlight shall be operational.
The following lamps meet the standard set forth in this paragraph
(a)(2): a single operative PAR-56, 200-watt, 30-volt lamp; two operative
PAR-56, 350-watt, 75-volt lamps; or operative lamp(s) of equivalent
design and intensity.
(b) Each locomotive or locomotive consist used in yard service shall
have two headlights, one located on the front of the locomotive or
locomotive consist and one on its rear. Each headlight shall produce at
least 60,000 candela and shall be arranged to illuminate a person at
least 300 feet ahead and in front of the headlight.
© Headlights shall be provided with a device to dim the light.
(d) Effective December 31, 1997, each lead locomotive operated at a
speed greater than 20 miles per hour over one or more public highway-
rail crossings shall be equipped with operative auxiliary lights, in
addition to the headlight required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this
section. A locomotive equipped on March 6, 1996 with auxiliary lights in
conformance with Sec. 229.133 shall be deemed to conform to this
section until March 6, 2000. All locomotives in compliance with Sec.
229.133© shall be deemed to conform to this section. Auxiliary lights
shall be composed as follows:
(1) Two white auxiliary lights shall be placed at the front of the
locomotive to form a triangle with the headlight.
(i) The auxiliary lights shall be at least 36 inches above the top
of the rail, except on MU locomotives and control cab locomotives where
such placement would compromise the integrity of the car body or be
otherwise impractical. Auxiliary lights on such MU locomotives and
control cab locomotives shall be at least 24 inches above the top of the
rail.
(ii) The auxiliary lights shall be spaced at least 36 inches apart
if the vertical distance from the headlight to the horizontal axis of
the auxiliary lights is 60 inches or more.
(iii) The auxiliary lights shall be spaced at least 60 inches apart
if the vertical distance from the headlight to the horizontal axis of
the auxiliary lights is less than 60 inches.
(2) Each auxiliary light shall produce a peak intensity of at least
200,000 candela or shall produce at least 3,000 candela at an angle of
7.5 degrees and at least 400 candela at an angle of 20 degrees from the centerline of the locomotive when the light is aimed parallel to the tracks. Any of the following lamps meet the standard set forth in this paragraph (d)(2): an
operative PAR-56, 200-watt, 30-volt lamp; an operative PAR-56, 350-watt,
75-volt lamp; or an operative lamp of equivalent design and intensity.
(3) The auxiliary lights shall be focused horizontally within 15
degrees of the longitudinal centerline of the locomotive.
(e) Auxiliary lights required by paragraph (d) of this section may
be arranged
(1) to burn steadily or
(2) flash on approach to a crossing.
If the auxiliary lights are arranged to flash;
(i) they shall flash alternately at a rate of at least 40 flashes
per minute and at most 180 flashes per minute,
(ii) the railroad’s operating rules shall set a standard procedure
for use of flashing lights at public highway-rail grade crossings, and
(iii) the flashing feature may be activated automatically, but shall
be capable of manual activation and deactivation by the locomotive
engineer.
(f) Auxiliary lights required by paragraph (d) of this section shall
be continuously illuminated immediately prior to and during movement of
the locomotive, except as provided by railroad operating rules,
timetable or special instructions, unless such exception is disapproved
by FRA. A railroad may except use of auxiliary lights at a specific
public highway-rail grade crossing by designating that exception in the
railroad’s operating rules, timetable, or a special order. Any exception
from use of auxiliary lights at a specific public grade crossing can be
disapproved for a stated cause by FRA’s Associate Administrator for
Safety or any one of FRA’s Regional Administrators, after investigation
by FRA and opportunity for response from the railroad.
(g) Movement of locomotives with defective auxiliary lights.
(1) A lead locomotive with only one failed auxiliary light must be
repaired or switched to a trailing position before departure from the
place where an initial terminal inspection is required for that train.
(2) A locomotive with only one auxiliary light that has failed after
departure from an initial terminal, must be repaired not later than the
next calendar inspection required by Sec. 229.21.
(3) A lead locomotive with two failed auxiliary lights may only
proceed to the next place where repairs can be made. This movement must
be consistent with Sec. 229.9.
(h) Any locomotive subject to Part 229, that was built before
December 31, 1948, and that is not used regularly in commuter or
intercity passenger service, shall be considered historic equipment and
excepted from the requirements of paragraphs (d) through (h) of this
section.

[45 FR 21109, Mar. 31, 1980, as amended at 61 FR 8887, Mar. 6, 1996; 68
FR 49717, Aug. 19, 2003; 69 FR 12537, Mar. 16, 2004]

#3

So the official name of “Ditch Lights” is “Auxillary Lighting.”

They may flash at crossings, but are not required to.

If they flash they must do at least 40 flashes per minute, and no more than 180 per minute.

Sounds like I’d need to let the customer decide how fast and when to flash.

I have found some FRED photos. Never paid them much attention before. I’ve also learned that they flash only at night.

#4

Tom, though us railfans call them “Freds” I can attest that most railroaders out of Harrisburg, Altoona, or Conway don’t recognize the term. To us railroaders they are "EOT"s or “markers”.

I made a couple from “N” size single battery holders. They are self contained including teh blinking LED ans battery. I used a small plug from my electronics box which matched the LED leads as the socket and switch… my design was posted at Aristo once, I’ll see if I can find the thread.

The thread at Aristo, A LONG TIME ago: http://www.aristocraftforum.com/vbulletinforums/showthread.php?t=7822 - Since that first pic, I painted mine silver and then a red square to represent the reflector… course today you could use a small square of reflective red tape as a real thing.

Tom… one thing that most people don’t get to know, that us railroaders have learned. The markers WILL blink during the day. There is a some sort of motion sensor in the marker. If the train has been sitting for a while and then starts moving, the marker will blink for about ten seconds or so… (five blinks maybe?) and then shut off again. We learn that by sittign behind another train waiting to get to our destination.

#5

J.D.

That short blink I think is caused by the radio message to the head that the tail end is moving…

Low light situations will cause the FRED to flash as well.

#6

Tom Ruby said:

So the official name of “Ditch Lights” is “Auxillary Lighting.”

They may flash at crossings, but are not required to.

If they flash they must do at least 40 flashes per minute, and no more than 180 per minute.

Sounds like I’d need to let the customer decide how fast and when to flash.

I have found some FRED photos. Never paid them much attention before. I’ve also learned that they flash only at night.

(edit, snip: As you were. I didn’t read carefully before responding; you’re talking about FRED lights. I know of ones that ONLY flash when turned on … the light is a par 56 strobe tube and has no other option. I particularly like the ones with the little air turbine that runs off the brake line to make power for the FRED … you can hear them whirring if the train’s moving slowly enough that the general noise doesn’t cover it up.)

Also see this if you haven’t already, about capacitor powered FRED units (model) that live for a long time once charged… http://www.richmondcontrols.com/fred.htm

#7

Tom… I knew my image’s archeology database had something of interest.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jgallaway81/markers/100_3270.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jgallaway81/markers/100_3272.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jgallaway81/markers/100_3273.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jgallaway81/markers/100_3274.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jgallaway81/markers/100_3275.jpg)

I blurred out the marker’s owner’s initials & marker number for security purposes.

#8

Nice photos. Thanks!

#9

Tom, this style has the built-in air-turbo generator which charges a small battery as a backup power source, but is the primary power source for the radio, computer & light.

#10

Few G gauge trains have brake pipes, so I’ll probably have to rely on batteries :wink:

#11

I’ll tell you what. If you come up with a scale turbine that will run on a scale 90psi and a scale 5-10cfm and still generates 12v… I’ll built you an operating air compressor :stuck_out_tongue:

#12

Steam powered?

#13

So, I’m thinking a resin casting with an LED and flasher cast inside. It’d come with adapters to glue on the side to match the sides of various couplers. For power, either a coin cell clipped to the bottom so it hides “behind” it a bit, or a battery holder you can stick under the car and the wire would look like a brake pipe hose.

You could permanently glue it to a coupler, or use those funny glue dots to easily move it from one car to another.

Whatcha think?

#14

The key to my design was that it was completely self-contained and that it would be added to any coupler in your train. If running “talgo” couplers, you could just glue it to a coupler directly and then just move the coupler from car to car.

#15

Your design involving the brake pipe?

Newer ones have rechargeable battery that can run it a few days.

#16

Actually the battery only works a few hours at best. And it can take about 8 hours to fully charge a dead one. The trouble is the batteries… they die fairly quickly. Its not uncommon to get a turbo-charged marker with a “dead battery” error. They then have to be taken out of service because the battery isn’t user-replaceable like the old ones were. (We are talking about eh real markers, right?)

My original design used an “N” scale battery holder, and a lithium ion battery that was 3v, and the same diameter as a small button cell (about 3/8") but twice as tall. The entire thing was self contained. The one thing I never got to add because of the protoype’s original design was the air hose, but I had ideas on how to do it. I am now waiting on those new magnetic hoses to see about developing the idea.

#17

Ozark has a 1/29 flashing fred in the 1/29 parts section. I have a couple of them installed in boxcars with D batteries and an on/off switch.