RI No. 258 U28B
photo by: Brian Paul Ehni (Houston, TX - Oct. 1976)
crop of above photo
RI No. 631 E6
photo by: Dick Tinder (Winter 1969)
Dick (photo above) said his opinion is that the lights were a precursor to what are called "ditch lights" these days and that RI was just experimenting with trying to improve visibility.
Brian (photos above) stated that he remembered seeing a locomotive with these lights at night 25 years ago - and that the lights alternated, as do today's ditch lights. He said he heard that the lights were more of a visibility test item.
Those lights up in the corners were relatively late add-ons that were not there when built. They showed up in the '70's. They were not normally on when running, if I remember correctly.
Both of those units you linked to (URLs sent) were considered U28B's by the RI, and the location of one of the photos looks like it is the Silvis deadline. Some U25B's (like #209 and #228) had these lights for a while, too, but they were not on the majority of either of these classes of units.
The Rock Island had its hangups (like no dynamic brakes) and they were not big on motor-driven lights in anything other than F/E units. Why they tried this experiment is beyond me.
Looking at the size/shapes of the housings, I think we can rule out any mechanical mechanisms being involved. If they did flash, this would strike me as a real departure, as the Rock Island just didn't go in for Gyralites/Mars/Oscitrols on their other hood units. Very strange.
I did find a photo in Phil Hastings' book "Remember the Rock," showing #228 crossing the Cedar River in 1979, and the lights are on the unit at that time. Unfortunately, you can't tell what is going on as far as illumination, but it looks like neither are lit up, while the dual headlight definitely is. Also in the book is an early 1980 partial shot of #209 (or so it says) with the light, but it is trailing, so no information is gained there.
In Louis Marre's book "Rock Island Diesel Locomotives," there is also a partial shot of #243 showing the lights (in 1975), and unknown unit shot in 1970 according to the caption. Diesel Era Vol 4, #3 shows 209 with the light in 1975, Vol 6, #1 shows a rear view of a unit with the lights (also in 1975). It looks like #225-238 went to the Maine Central, while #242, 244, 246, 248 and 254 went to Transkentucky Transportation ( a dealer, I think). Maybe they still exist? Engines #201, 203, 210 and 222 were rebuilt to slugs, and #207 and 208 were retired by 1980. Engines #212 and 221 were rebuilt to U28B standards after wrecks. Units #200, 202, 214, 216, 218, 219, 220, 240, 241, 247, 249 and 256 were cut up at Silvis, IL in 1981. They are long gone. As for the rest, I don't know their fate.
Obviously, the lights were on some units by 1975, and if the caption is correct on the one, by 1970.
Two of everything on the Rock (the "Noah's Ark" of American railroads), but a few more than that as far as these lights are concerned. Another interesting twist is that I can't find any shots of RI EMD power with them!
Griff Hamilton
I remember thos lights in the late 60's/early 70's on U25B and U28B engines. I never saw them lighted, but a friend told me they used them at grade crossings and they would alternate similar to what some ditch lights do when the horn was blown. It seems that they were gone before 1977......
James Bernier
Sounds like a high-mount predecessor of the flashing ditch lights, but the thought of the Rock going to the trouble of putting an electro-pneumatic switch in those things...
On the other hand, they did try the electric toilet in some units, too.
Just think if the Rock had put two on the corners of the roof and two on the pilot, then alternated the four of them. It would get motorist's attention if anything could. Frankly, I liked the Chicago Central's "flash at the crossing" ditch lights, and I still think they are a good idea.
Griff Hamilton
