| As
delivered, Southern Pacific's SD9's carried a wonderful array of lights
on each end. On top of each end was a red oscillating light which
was arranged so that the lights on both ends would turn on if the
brakes went into emergency. Under normal operating conditions,
the red light on either the front or back could be turned on
manually. Below that was a dual lamp white oscillating light
connected so that only the front or back could be turned on at any
given time. If the white lights were on either end and the brakes
went into emergency, the white lights would go out and the red lights
on both ends would illuminate. Below these lights is a dual beam
headlight on each end. At some time prior to 1968, the red and
white lights were removed from the rear end and by 1994, the front
oscillating lights were also removed and the wiring either
pulled or cut. We intend to put the lights back in place once
again so that it will look right when restored to its original
configuration as the 5472. Removing lights such as these is not
uncommon due to the problem with maintenance of these 50 year old
appliances. |
| Below
are some photos of
the project of restoration of the lights and wiring. The photos
in the second row are of the resistors that control the Gyra
lights. They were missing and the wiring was cut. After
that is the control box which deals with which lights are on under
emergency braking conditions. And finally, the inside of the
control stand box which has 4 switch positions. It has Off,
(white) Dim, (white) Bright and Red. There is a toggle switch on
the side of the box which allows the engineer to turn off the
oscillating motor on the white light and "jog" it into a desired
position to aim the lights. There is also a red light which
indicates the red light is operating. The rest of the photos are
of the painting and installation of the front lights. Click on any thumbnail
for a larger image. Use your browsers "back" button to get back
here.
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| Luckily, over the past 10
years, we had collected a number of dual white and red light assemblies
which will be installed on the locomotive. Dan Furtado
volunteered to clean and service the mechanisms of the lights we are
going to install. |
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| The rear Gyralights
present much the same challenges as the front but without the wiring
for the resistors. When the rear lights were removed, all
of the wiring between the terminal board and the lights was pulled out
along with the conduit that protected the cable. |
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| We received a great
surprise when PLA member Jim Evans turned up 2 Mars oscillating red
lights for the project. The rear end was the first to receive its
proper light package. When finished with the rear work, I
returned to the front and replaced the Plyle red light with a Mars. |
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| In addition to the
Gyra lights, we are changing the headlight housings. The one on
the rear end (photo 1) is the correct housing but it is upside down and
broken. Photo 2 shows the incorrect housing on the front end
which will be changed. Photo 3 is the replacement housing for the
front end. A replacement door was applied to the rear end. |
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