allblack Wrote:
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> You can't dim the headlight while ditchlights are
> on. It's all one switch that illuminates the
> ditch lights only when the head light is on
> bright. One can drop the headlight breaker and
> run with ditch lights only but this is totally
> against the rules and would be great fodder for a
> lawsuit in case of an accident.
>
> I never had much of a preference between high and
> low lights.

At least on Amtrak units there is a "DIM + AUX" position on the switch that allows dim headlights with the ditch lights on. This position may not exist on other units. Its not often used since headlights and ditch lights are to be on bright except when meeting another train. But, there is also a clause that allows dimming the headlight when necessary for safety, so it might be OK to run dim headlights and bright ditch lights in heavy fog or snow, but I'd flip up to bright approaching a grade crossing just to cover my you-know-what.

Barry Draper