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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 13:20:16 GMT -5
when did the pole mounted flood light style of ditch light come into use were Canadian ditch lights around in 1969 what did they look like if around then. the reason I ask is I have a friend that wants a couple of Canadian built units built for her for her 1969 era freelance road and since I don't know much about the time frame of Canadian ditch lights thought I would ask our Northern Neighbors
thanks for any help
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Post by Mark R. on Oct 10, 2014 16:50:10 GMT -5
CP began installing temporary ditchlights on 15 different locomotive models for testing in 1975. Later that year, the Canadian government mandated their use across the country.
Mark.
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Post by jakeloyst on Oct 10, 2014 18:29:05 GMT -5
I have photos back to 1962 showing CN units with ditch lights I think mostly used out west in the rockies
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Post by Mark R. on Oct 10, 2014 18:59:24 GMT -5
If you want to go back to trials and testing, the first Canadian ditch lights were tested on CN back in 1956 / 57. The first "trial" ditch lights, on an F unit I believe (could be wrong here), were attached to a triangle. The triangle pointed up vertically, and on the bottom on either side were attached the lights, one for each side. The triangle was made out of 2 by 4's, and you could see a heavy line going inside the engine to power the lights. These were the first trial ditch lights attached to trains going through the Rockies at night. These early ditch lights were to increase visibility for the crew as opposed to the later mandates which required them for grade crossing safety.
Mark.
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Post by jakeloyst on Oct 10, 2014 19:23:49 GMT -5
that's more info than I have, but thanks, I can see an unit with 2x4s on it going on the layout soon
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Post by Mark R. on Oct 11, 2014 0:26:37 GMT -5
This postcard from 1969 shows no ditch lights on the F's .... I also went through a ton of CN pictures and could find much of anything with ditch lights right through the entire 70's. Obviously there must have been some lee-way in the Canadian mandate to have the ditch lights installed on older units. Mark.
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Post by ricnok on Oct 11, 2014 4:20:43 GMT -5
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Post by beentherecnthat on Oct 11, 2014 10:08:41 GMT -5
I understood they were mounted to westbound trains at Jasper and then removed from eastbounds at the same terminal.
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Post by iomalley on Oct 11, 2014 16:42:06 GMT -5
And they were called 'Rock Lights' on those west of Jasper trains...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 18:02:38 GMT -5
thanks that is what I need to know so they were added through the mountains westward removed eastbound coming out of the mountains this is a big help
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