Atomic Systems

The locos mentioned in the subject line as well as several others (ie Bristol standard 5MTs and others) have headlamps, but they don't light up. How do I make them do that so I can see better at night or when it's raining?

Headlights are just marker lights to show the position of a train to signalmen.
There are not intended to light the route ahead.

High intencity headlights were only introduced in the 80s - mainly to illuminate level crossings on country lines.

All train crew had to know where they were in the dark before they were allowed to sign the route. The guard in his van couldn't even see ahead but he still had to apply his brake at the right location.

They probably need switching on in the eng.file.

ianmacmillan wrote:Headlights are just marker lights to show the position of a train to signalmen.
There are not intended to light the route ahead.

High intencity headlights were only introduced in the 80s - mainly to illuminate level crossings on country lines.

All train crew had to know where they were in the dark before they were allowed to sign the route. The guard in his van couldn't even see ahead but he still had to apply his brake at the right location.

What if I want lights anyway? Is it something in the headcodes?

Hello,
you can switch the light on - even if it's not realistic - by adding a "sphere of light" part to the lights section in the eng file. (Maybe look at an engine having such a part.) Don't forget to make the number of lights bigger, and be careful with the brackets or there'll be error messages.

Keep on steamin'!
Dietmar

Hi All,
The lamps on these locos are FreightAnims so all the different Head Code combinations can be represented by changing 1 line in the engine file. As per the readme in the Trainset folder for the locos.

As such I do not believe it is possible to have the lamps light because FreightAnims do not have engine files so can not have Light Statements.

Cody,
As Ian has said. What you see is how it was and MSTS is a Simulator.
If you really want lit Lamps. Find an equivalent loco with light statements in it's engine file. Copy the lighting statements, for the lamps only, and paste them into the lighting statement of the loco without lit lamps.
You will of course have to select the FreightAnim that matches the lamp positions of the one you copied.

Even then the actual position on the loco Fore and Aft may not be exact.

Yes it is pain but can be done. REMEMBER BACK UP ANY FOLDER YOU WORK ON FIRST.

Good luck
Doug

Hey everyone,

This is hiro51 from a new user.
I see how realism plays its part here. All I really want is for the lamps to illuminate even if they don't actually light the track ahead of me. Would I need to do anything different with this said?

Here's an idea.

A US style headlamp as a freight animation on an invisiwag.

Like this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWDyOwfanmU