Locomotive Ditch Light Controller

ELCON, Inc. of Minooka, Illinois, manufactures an electronic system to control Ditch Lights and Warning Lights applied to freight or passenger locomotives or cars used in inter-city service. The ELCON Ditch Light Controller operates two standard locomotive headlight lamps. These are generally mounted low and wide just above or below the locomotive underframe at the front of the locomotive similar to automobile headlights. Ditch Light beams are aimed to converge 300 to 400 feet ahead of the locomotive. The alternate flashing of these low mounted lamps affords greater frontal visibility for grade crossing safety than any other form of visual warning
The ELCON Ditch Light Controller operates on the locomotive's 74 volt DC supply. The lamps are 200 or 350 Watt, 30 or 74 volt, PAR 56 sealed beam lamps, the same as used in standard locomotive headlights. In addition, the system operates with standard headlight dropping resistors, minimizing additional inventory. The lamps may be mounted to pedestals, hangers or boxes for attachment to the locomotive. As an alternative, the lamp housing may be mounted directly to the locomotive end sheet