Day/Night Headlights

[Kurolus Rex]

Hi there!

One thing that's always puzzled me over the years are headlights.

I understand most modern stock have settings for day/night headlights, what confuses me is when a driver uses either setting.

The answer to this would seem fairly obvious. Day headlights during day time, night headlights during night time.

It doesn't appear to be that straight forward, however. It's quite common to see trains with headlights still in the night time setting even in broad daylight.

When does a driver change their headlights? Do they simply turn them to the relevent posistion at the start of the journey and leave them there?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CC 72100]

What is also relevant is the rule book instructions for defective headlights.

If the day setting is defective, then provided it is available, the night setting should be used as there is no restriction attached to this.

Obviously if they go completely you're then into speed restriction territory.

 

[Eccles1983]

Hi there!

One thing that's always puzzled me over the years are headlights.

I understand most modern stock have settings for day/night headlights, what confuses me is when a driver uses either setting.

The answer to this would seem fairly obvious. Day headlights during day time, night headlights during night time.

It doesn't appear to be that straight forward, however. It's quite common to see trains with headlights still in the night time setting even in broad daylight.

When does a driver change their headlights? Do they simply turn them to the relevent posistion at the start of the journey and leave them there?

Thanks in advance!

I leave mine when they are set.

I have checked them before I left, and don't have time to get out and check them again.

 

[Llama]

If I change them over during a journey it is at my own discretion of when it's dark/light enough. I always check them once I've changed them. As said above, if one headlight is defective and only one is displayed on that traction type is the other must be used but then the train can proceed normally. If a marker light is unlit on one side I'll use the headlight on that side irrespective of time of day so that there is a light lit on each side. There's no rule book requirement to do that but when you see a train coming toward you with only a headlight lit in the pitch black and no marker lights, it becomes apparent how hard it can be to tell how far away that train is from you - most of our stock still doesn't have a high level marker light. Those that do have a high level marker that I drive (CAF) always have both headlights lit, the difference between the night and day settings is simply that the intensity is much higher on the day setting when dazzling oncoming drivers is less likely.

 

[Kurolus Rex]

Ah okay. I didn't factor in checking them outside which makes sense now.

I would guess that there isn't a great deal difference in visibility between night and day heads once you get into daylight so there wouldn't be much point in changing them and having to check them when the train has stopped somewhere.

 

[20atthemagnet]

Ah okay. I didn't factor in checking them outside which makes sense now.

I would guess that there isn't a great deal difference in visibility between night and day heads once you get into daylight so there wouldn't be much point in changing them and having to check them when the train has stopped somewhere.

On the stock I drive each mode (Day/Night) have different beam angles. The day mode uses the right hand main headlight and points pretty much straight ahead and is for maximum daytime visibility (not to see but for people on or near the line) The night mode uses the left main headlight and is dipped slighty so not to dazzle drivers, and points predominantly to the left and illuminates the track side. Day mode at night is pretty annoying if someone forgets, can dazzle quite a bit, but our stock have really powerful headlights. On some of the older stock both modes my aswell be candlelit so less of an issue.

Me personally I change to night mode when its dusk or after. If im asked to examine the line or look for something at night ill flick it back to day, lights everything up!

 

[pompeyfan]

To add to the above. If it’s foggy at night, drivers are allowed to flick to day, as often more can been seen if light isn’t instantly reflecting off of fog.

 

[TRAX]

To add to the above. If it’s foggy at night, drivers are allowed to flick to day, as often more can been seen if light isn’t instantly reflecting off of fog.

Wouldn’t this create an enormous and dazzling light halo for an incoming driver ?

 

[pompeyfan]

Wouldn’t this create an enormous and dazzling light halo for an incoming driver ?

I wouldn’t know I’m afraid, but I’d assume it’s safer than driving a train and being able to see less?

 

[37057]

185s have recently been modified so that both lamps illuminate on a 'full beam' setting by day and dip at night.

Someone I've spoke to in the past says they select the night setting when they start to notice street / station lamps illuminate...

 

[dk1]

Over the years I've found many to be wired up or labelled wrong. More modern traction has just the one setting with 'dip' to save dazzling oncoming trains. We tend to leave them on dip all the time during darkness.

 

[TRAX]

It’s interesting that British trains don’t have a quick dip function easily accessible, so that the driver can ride the night with full beam but quickly dip them while his train crosses another one.
I know British trains’ headlight controls aren’t meant to be easily accessible as they aren’t supposed to be touched during the ride, but this does mean the UK has one of the very few networks where trains run with dipped headlights at night.

 

[TheEdge]

It’s interesting that British trains don’t have a quick dip function easily accessible, so that the driver can ride the night with full beam but quickly dip them while his train crosses another one.
I know British trains’ headlight controls aren’t meant to be easily accessible as they aren’t supposed to be touched during the ride, but this does mean the UK has one of the very few networks where trains run with dipped headlights at night.

The 745/755s have exactly that, a big illuminated button on the desk that dips the headlights.

 

[Hairy Bear]

Wouldn’t this create an enormous and dazzling light halo for an incoming driver ?

If correctly aligned, no, as it should point down to the LH cess in accordance with Network Rails policy.
Invariably it points all over the place.

 

[Llama]

I recently noticed 195117, having been in service for a few weeks, has its left hand headlight at one end angled upwards about 20°, this must have been from new. 195s/331s have LED headlights but don't alter the direction of light output between day and night headlight settings, only the intensity of the output.

 

[Eccles1983]

The lights aren't for the drivers use. They are for everyone elses, trackworker etc.

That's what I was taught - admittedly under pacer light.

 

[Llama]

That's (mostly) right. Hence the use of the left headlight at night to illuminate lineside signage. I do remember reading the relevant group standard for train frontal illumination a few years ago though and I'm pretty sure there was some consideration given to illumination for drivers rather than just conspicuity of an approaching train. Indeed without a working headlight it's prohibited to use a train to examine the line in the dark, a tunnel or poor visibility unless a portable headlight is fitted.

 

[MotCO]

Are the night headlights sufficient to read unlit trackside signs?

 

[PudseyBearHST]

It’s interesting that British trains don’t have a quick dip function easily accessible, so that the driver can ride the night with full beam but quickly dip them while his train crosses another one.
I know British trains’ headlight controls aren’t meant to be easily accessible as they aren’t supposed to be touched during the ride, but this does mean the UK has one of the very few networks where trains run with dipped headlights at night.

I saw that on a Class 66 the other day

 

[Raul_Duke]

Are the night headlights sufficient to read unlit trackside signs?

Yes, usually even the grubbier ones and even with some HST’s Victorian oil lamp levels of illumination.

Although you could make the case that if you know the road properly you don’t need to read the signs...

 

[ComUtoR]

I came out the sidings the other evening. In the platform there was two units side by side. One old, one new. The difference in the headlights was insane.

For all you Northern Drivers. Enjoy the 319s...

 

[Llama]

Sometimes not being able to see is a blessing! Our Angel trains 158s can only dream of having headlights as intense as the 319s

 

[pompeyfan]

There’s a next generation headlight cluster that has/is being fitted to Turbos, 456s, 66s, MPVs and various other classes that are too bright. Eastleigh to Allbrook junction is about a mile and is on a curve, you can see desiros and voyagers as they come round the bend with their halogen lamps and it’s fine, but when one of the above comes round, you can see a marked difference and it’s a wonder drivers tolerate it, the same could be said for some LED signal heads.

 

[Llama]

At some point there will be a serious incident where a driver being unable to see due to glare from an oncoming train is found to be a factor. And yes, the vast majority of LED signal heads are ridiculously bright, particularly the later two generations of VMS signals.

 

[43066]

I know British trains’ headlight controls aren’t meant to be easily accessible as they aren’t supposed to be touched during the ride,

What gave you that idea?

Headlight controls are readily accessible to drivers and can be touched at any time deemed necessary (switching from day running to night running lights at dusk etc.).

 

[choochoochoo]

At some point there will be a serious incident where a driver being unable to see due to glare from an oncoming train is found to be a factor. And yes, the vast majority of LED signal heads are ridiculously bright, particularly the later two generations of VMS signals.

Maybe it's just me, but if I see an oncoming train whilst driving at night i tend to avoid looking at the front of it and look elsewhere, normally the 4 foot. That's always stopped me from being affected by any glare.

Can't avoid looking at signals though

 

[Llama]

Close one eye when approaching VMS or Dorman signals. You're not going to be able to see anything on approach or just afterwards because of the glare anyway, at least once you've passed it you can open one eye and see to some extent.

 

[TRAX]

What gave you that idea?

Headlight controls are readily accessible to drivers and can be touched at any time deemed necessary (switching from day running to night running lights at dusk etc.).

On some trains like the Electrostar you do have to stand up or stretch an arm to access the commands.
European trains have those and the dipping function right in front of the driver.

 

[ComUtoR]

On some trains like the Electrostar you do have to stand up or stretch an arm to access the commands.

Hardly inaccessible. I would say its more of a design choice than specifically locating them to prevent or reduce access. The switch is easily flipped from the chair and, even though I'm short, I've never had to stand to change my lights over.

European trains have those and the dipping function right in front of the driver.

Class 700 also have them on the desk.

I'm not sure I'd like to have a dip function or have any requirement to dip for passing trains. I'd see that as a distraction and from a metro perspective, I'd be dipping the lights quite often.

 

[TRAX]

Class 700 also have them on the desk.

UK trains seem to be getting more and more European features.

I'm not sure I'd like to have a dip function or have any requirement to dip for passing trains. I'd see that as a distraction and from a metro perspective, I'd be dipping the lights quite often.

To each his own I guess !