Locomotive classification lights: These colored flags by day, lights by night. The headlight on this train helps it stand out at night Trains include a variety of types of lights, for safety, illumination, and communicating train status. [1] The most universal type of light is the headlight, which is included on the front of locomotives, and frequently on the rear as well.
[2] Other types of lights include classification lights, which indicate train direction and status. All four of these aspects can be displayed on color light, position light (PRR), color position light (B&O), and position color light (Amtrak) signals. Searchlight signals and "tri-light" signals can only display three of the aspects by nature of their design.
Railroad glass was originally designed for the lamps, lanterns, and signals that used orange-tinted combustible fuels, and early glass manufacturers produced a rainbow of colors and color variations for individual railroad's preference and use. Color-Light Signals Color-light signals came into use around 1914 and are essentially an inverted highway stoplight with green above (proceed), centered-yellow (caution) and restricted below. However, other versions of this railroad signal include the triangle design, which operates basically in the same fashion just with a different layout.
Markers are sets of lights on the front of "L" cars that indicate what route the train is running. There are two sets of lights (one on the right side of the car, one on the left), each having four colors: red, green, yellow (amber), and white. Different combinations of these colors indicate different routes.
Marker Light History/Operation Marker Route Identification Marker Light History. Learn about the components and diagrams of color light railroad signals, their structure, operation, and types for safe and efficient railway signaling systems. Lunar color is a bluish white or a silverish white.
If any one of the red lights in a 3 head signal is replaced by a Lunar light it changes that signal from a Stop to a Restricted signal. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad color position lights on bracket masts at Magnolia, West Virginia North American railroad signals generally fall into the category of multi-headed electrically lit units displaying speed-based or weak route signaling. [citation needed] Signals may be of the searchlight, color light, position light, or color position light types, each displaying a variety of aspects.
As already seen above, a standard color light signal puts the three lenses in a straight row, whether vertical or horizontal. This style of signal places the lenses in a triangular pattern, giving the signal a maximum of three aspects per head.