As a hoghead, I prefer the amber beacon on the roof for grade crossing safety because it can be seen from the side. Headlights and ditch lights are really only visible if you are in front of the train--already on the crossing--. I noticed this on night driving to work when a train I saw had a leased MRL unit that had both ditch lights and amber beacon on the roof, at a distance from the side---as I approached the crossing---the only thing I could see was the amber flasher on the roof. Since the Xing had no lights, and it was at night, I saw just how effective the amber beacon was. The head lights and ditch lights couldn't be seen until you were almost on the crossing. Sold me.