On behalf of a researcher doing research and documentation on gyrating railroad headlights, we are looking for any and all Mars Lights systems in preservation. They need not be in place on a locomotive--we are specifically looking for collectors or operators (attention Bennett Levin!) that may have such units in storage or in their hardware collections.

It appears that a great many of these units were modified over the years, and it is proving difficult or impossible to find un-modified units to document. Also, he's interested in what modifications were made for what reasons--one being the change from red-and-white bulbs (one of each) to all white bulbs.

For the record, we know about the Indiana Transportation Museum's F7s, and the CB&Q's E5.

Please reply off-list to LNER4472@bcpl.net .

LNER4472@bcpl.net

SP #3873, a GP-9, working for the San Diego Railroad Museum at Campo, California.


San Diego Railroad Museum

> SP #3873, a GP-9, working for the San Diego
> Railroad Museum at Campo, California.

Jim, I would double check that. I suspect that unit has a Gyralite from Pyle-National rather than a Mars light. 19 of my GP40's and ten Kawasaki cab cars at MARC are equipped with Gyralites, which could very well be the last new installation of movable warning lights ever, in light of the ditch light regulations.

While I was a foreman at the Steamtown Foundation, I acquired two Mars lights from Naporanno and made one good one, which was (re)installed on the NKP 514, using the original wiring diagram from EMD. I do not know if Steamtown NHS has maintained it.

Steve


SZuidervee@aol.com

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's ex-Baltimore and Ohio office car has a Mars light. I can't say when it was installed on the car.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
envlink@voyageronline.net

> Jim, I would double check that. I suspect
> that unit has a Gyralite from Pyle-National
> rather than a Mars light.

OK - too technical for me - best guess - Steve is right.

Hello Steve

You'll be happy to know that the Mars light was recently repaired (1999?) and worked last time I saw the engine out.

As for mars lights, durning my breif infauation with antique fire trucks I remember seeing items known as "The light from Mars" attached to the front of a few in photographs....

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net