First Ditch Lights

I believe these first temporary ditch lights were used on passenger trains through the mountains and would be added/removed east of the Rockies. Most "F" units later had brackets above the pilot that removeable lights could be attached to. I've seen lots of photos of those, but I don't think I've ever seen a photo of the 2x4 frame you describe in the early trials. Sounds interesting, but ugly.

Permanently mounted lights started to become more widespread in the 1970s, and were made mandatory in the 1980s. (IIRC current rules state that movements must not exceed 20mph over public grade crossings if there are no ditch lights on the front of the movement.)

Bad wreck on CP made them mandatory

CN did indeed give birth to ditch lights in the 1960's. They were removable/temporary, and used specifically on trains running between Jasper AB and Prince Rupert BC, as this route was notorious for landslides (and subsequent derailments/wrecks). The ditchlights were aimed, as you'd imagine, to the immediate left and right of the right-of-way, and were developed so crews were able to spot any potential land/rockslides that much sooner. Depending on curves, time of day, etc.. they might only give you a few extra seconds, but those few seconds might be crucial for a train crew to bail before an imminent impact.

The ditchlights became mandatory on all Canadian railways after a report was issued by a government inquiry that called for their permanent installment, regardless of mountain-territory or not. Interestingly, the wreck was not caused by a landslide.

The inquiry was called after a 13 June 1974 wreck occurred on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Train 658, an empty coal train, with units 5626, 5520 and 4506 (SD40-2 / SD40 / C-630M) derailed the trailing truck of the 5520 and all of the 4506 by the Wild Horse Creek bridge (MP 93.9 Cranbrook Sub). In the wee hours of the early morning a large flow of water breached a nearby dyke, and caused water to reach the top of the right-of-way 200ft from the western side of the bridge. The result was the 4506 dropped a significant distance down the bridge abutment and caught on fire, however the crew aboard the 5626 were able to escape the carnage without serious injury. CP 4506 became their first "Big Alco" to be retired, still wearing her as-delivered maroon and grey paint. Here is a photo of her before and after the wreck.

The mandatory inquiry found that CN's ditchlight innovation would have allowed the crew to spot this waterlogged section of track, where as standard headlights offered little warning. CP began installing temporary ditchlights on 15 different locomotive models for testing in 1975. Later that year the Canadian government mandated their use across the country.

To end the story, the US Surface Transportation Board adopted ditchlights in the early 1990's; interestingly this was in the name of better grade crossing warning for motorists. However the invention was all about better detection of compromised right-of-ways in mountainous territories, and yes it was Canadian National that thought of it first.

Cool

My first experience with trains was in Hinton, where I was born in the early 70s.  My first train trip was to Vancouver, however, I was too young (2 years old) to remember, but it started my love for trains.  In kindergarten, we got to take a day trip from Hinton to Jasper and back on the train.  Been hooked ever since.

thank

Thank guys for this information

Chris, you said "interesting

Chris, you said "interesting but ugly;" when I first saw these lights on the front of the engine, the 2 by 4 boards I asked my grandfather what those ugly things were, that's when I learned about ditch lights, and those ugly ones were ground zero of ditch lights.

contact rsn48

Hi rsn48,

Amazing story about the early ditch lights. I'm researching a new book about the history of the railroad in Canada. Could I possibly get in touch with you directly? My email is watson.amie @ gmail.com

I think it was a different wreck

Interesting discussion, but I think it was actually a different wreck on CP that triggered the regulations about ditch lights.

Again a CP coal train derailment, but at mile 74.9 of the Thompson Sub (a little west of Spences Bridge BC), during the night of March 17 1984 was caused by a rock slide onto the tracks. Note this was about 3 months before the accident on the Cranbrook Sub. The lead locomotives and several cars derailed and landed on Highway #1 about 75 ft below the CPR. Interestingly, one of the locomotives involved was another "Big M", M-630 #4552, it was basically wiped out, and was cut up on site. SD40-2 #5602 was also involved but was subsequently repaired. It took several days to get the wreckage cleared and the highway reopened.

Anyway, the Transport Canada investigation found that the crew might have had sufficient warning if additional lights such as CN was already using had been used to light up the right of way and allow better vision into curves. Ditch lights were subsequently mandated in the mountain regions and began to become common on CP in the fall and winter of 1976 (the time lag between the accident and regulation probably was the time taken up by the investigation and reporting). Based on photographs, by the fall of 1977 almost everything CP in the mountains seemed to be sporting ditch lights. It took a little longer in the east. As a matter of course, CP put ditch lights on anything in road service by the implementation deadline in 1980, but CN didn't start doing it east of BC/Alberta until the early to mid'80s. Remember that the regulation initially only applied to the western mountain regions.

My understanding of the Cranbrook Sub accident was that the bridge was undermined, and gave way as the engines were crossing it. #4506's fuel tank was torn open during the derailment leading to its untimely demise.

Regards,

Mike MacLatchy

interesting history

the first ditch lights I recall on the SP were on the new SSW GP60's whatever year those came out.Their flashing did help them show up at grade crossings, gyra lights were easy to see too but probably harder to maintain? .DaveB

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no lights, no problem!

Up here on the CN in Alberta, I must not exceed 25 at public crossings at grade, without lights. I'm sure that is CROR, not just CN.

Nice to know if your maximum track speed is only 25 per!!