Some Amtrak and freight locomotives have horizontally arranged headlights, while the lights on others are stacked vertically. Some headlights are placed on the nose of the locomotive, while others are high-mounted, centered above the windshield. Is there any particular rationale for using one arrangement or location as opposed to another?
I would think that, especially in terms of visibility, high-mounted headlights would be preferable to those only a little higher than the ditch lights. OTOH, on locomotives with a low nose (as most diesels are), would high-mounted headlights tend to shine on the nose itself, possibly creating a distraction for the crew, or are they always adjusted to cast their beam far enough down the track for that not to be an issue?
Also, didn't trains that had Mars lights or Gyralights have one headlight or set of lights on the nose, with the other mounted further up? (I believe the moving light would have been the one mounted higher.)
On double-decker cab-cars, used when a commuter or other push-pull train is pushed "backwards," is it customary to locate the headlights above or below the door (assuming the car has an end door)? It seems to me that the Amtrak California cab-cars have their headlights below the door (perhaps a strobe light is placed above the door, though).
I would think that, especially in terms of visibility, high-mounted headlights would be preferable to those only a little higher than the ditch lights. OTOH, on locomotives with a low nose (as most diesels are), would high-mounted headlights tend to shine on the nose itself, possibly creating a distraction for the crew, or are they always adjusted to cast their beam far enough down the track for that not to be an issue?
Also, didn't trains that had Mars lights or Gyralights have one headlight or set of lights on the nose, with the other mounted further up? (I believe the moving light would have been the one mounted higher.)
On double-decker cab-cars, used when a commuter or other push-pull train is pushed "backwards," is it customary to locate the headlights above or below the door (assuming the car has an end door)? It seems to me that the Amtrak California cab-cars have their headlights below the door (perhaps a strobe light is placed above the door, though).