Howdy, When did the Frisco turn on the: 1. Amber flashing beacon 2. Pyle National Gyralite 3. Was the rear headlight steady or flashing when in reverse? Best, Mike
The amber flashing beacon has a on / off slide switch on the electrical cabinet behind the engineer. Similar to the class lights, it could be turned on or off independently from other lights. On some successor railroad units, if the same switch was turned on, their Western Cullen rotary beacons would only come on when the headlight switch was turned on. The gyralite had its own switch just like the headlights, if I remember correctly it was located just above the forward headlight switch and below the the generator field, engine run, etc. switches. Some Frisco engines still have them even though the actual gyralite has been removed. The rear headlight was steady when turned on either in the high or dim mode. Roger
Roger hit it right on the nose on the rotary beacon. If memory serves, any locomotive that had a gyralite must have it on when in operation. And Mike I think it is spelled Pyle, not Pile. Also buy the late 1970s the two marker lights, or class lights, or what ever they are called were only white light bulbs and only on when the train was an extra, unscheduled. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also it has been posted a few times before on the site but I will list it again. I think by the mid 1960s at the latest every locomotive the Frisco owned had a rotary beacon. And every loco they got after that had one. As for gyralites here are the locomotives that had them. GP38-2 - all GP38AC - all GP40-2 - all SD45 - last order (SLSF 943-948) SD40-2 - all GP50 - all (ordered by Frisco but delivered after the merger) U30B - last two orders (SLSF 844-862) B30-7 - all Ethan
Ethan, Add GP15-1 as all to your list. Also those of you that saw my presentation on "Show Trains" at the last Frisco Festival saw a shot of the Royal American Carnival train getting ready to depart Rosedale Yard in Kansas City with a GP38 on the lead and the class lights were on signifying its status as an extra.
I cannot believe I forgot GP15-1. I was hot and exhausted when I typed that reply earlier today from football camp. I will also add in a link to a video that demonstrates all three lighting features. Ethan
Rule 17b as amended in System ETT No 1, page 46: "Oscillating white headlight, on engines equipped, must be displayed by day and by night, except it must be extinguished when standard white headlight is dimmed or extinguished."
You just gotta love this site. Thanks for the terrific information folks. Spot on. Ethan, thanks for the spelling catch. I do know it is spelled Pyle, but my mind got on a horse and galloped off when I typed the note. My excuse is my age. I appreciate the speedy response folks. I am a bit new to the diesel world, but learning more every day. Best, Mike.
The voice in the video sounds almost exactly like mine. That freaked me out. I have found my voice doppelganger!
