Just lately I seem to be a bit more mindful of ditchlights. I have no idea why, I think conversations have turned to them as we are looking at how to do locomotives and even if they could be lit or not. And everything seems to have them these days, even 1954 English Electric Diesel Locomotives.
So there I was, minding my own business while hitching a lift with Drew on Friday on train 535 (Whareroa-Palmerston North) when things took a bit of a surreal turn.
We'd stopped at Easttown (Wanganui) to get a warrant through to Marton and I took the chance to get out for a PNB (personal needs break, I'll let you fill in the details) as well as get some pics of the locos. We had 5448 and 5068 on point with 4231 along for the ride. I had previously hitched a lift on 4231 coming home on 201 (The Overlander) on my last jaunt, so I was keen to get some photos of the beast as it is now.
Interest is given by the just visible NZRC logo hidden behind the Tranzrail stuff.
And then I spotted it...what in the name of W.W Stewart was the story with the ditchlights?
"Oh", replied Drew, "Those are the Repco models...".
Now thats a modeling challenge in any scale.
3 comments:
Actually there was mandate written a few years back that all locos on the mainline must have ditchlights installed by the time 20XX rolls around.
Well, it the deadline has rolled around, KR are in a mad panic to fit out all the locos that did not have ditchlights fitted in next to no time, thus they have gone with the el-cheapo "repco" lights, low cost, easy to install etc etc.
Now the drama is all those local shunts around the country that require the DC to run long hood forward for part of the journey.....
Perhaps we will see ditchlights fitted to the back ends of DC's as well..
Ahem excuse me DG772 is mid 1956 thankyou lol. Yeh the mandate originally said all locos that operate on the mainline should have ditchlights by late 2008 originally but that got extended. Not sure when till.
Locos can operate on the mainline without ditchlights, esspecially heritage ones as well but the speed is limited and I think it also requires a max of 40km/hr across level crossings. DG772 had them fitted coz slowing down for all the level crossings we have here in the South Island makes it almost impossible to get to make speed.
Drew, isn't there a bulletin out that gives those DC and DBR locos employed on shunt services that are running long hood dispensation from having ditch lights fitted to the long hood.
Steve
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