Realism on locomotive lights / TS2015

[terot1234]

Just bought TS2015, have been simulating with original Train Simulator many years and also with OpenRails.

Am I doing something wrong when locomotive lights have no appearance on ground in TS2015 ? In Train Simulator they have, do not know about Trainz etc.

Thanks, TT

[Mountain Man]

Just bought TS2015, have been simulating with original Train Simulator many years and also with OpenRails.

Am I doing something wrong when locomotive lights have no appearance on ground in TS2015 ? In Train Simulator they have, do not know about Trainz etc.

Thanks, TT

No, you're not, and wait until it's a night scenario and you don't have loco lights.

On the "new and improved" version, the forward lights come with three settings, 1 for daytime, 2 for low light conditions and 3 for max intensity.

[terot1234]

Ok, thanks. Nice to hear. Do you know when that would be ?

[peterhayes]

You also have to remember that the lights on British locos are so that they can be seen and they do not in many cases illuminate the track ahead.
The US locos, in the main, do illuminate the track ahead and TaD used to make an enhancement for TS 2012 that improved on the default lights but that seems to have gone off sale now. IMO The default lights now are pretty good in later US locos.
pH

[Mountain Man]

Ok, thanks. Nice to hear. Do you know when that would be ?

The news routes available now have those adjustable headlights, for example Soldier Summit D7RG locos.

[Mountain Man]

You also have to remember that the lights on British locos are so that they can be seen and they do not in many cases illuminate the track ahead.
The US locos, in the main, do illuminate the track ahead and TaD used to make an enhancement for TS 2012 that improved on the default lights but that seems to have gone off sale now. IMO The default lights now are pretty good in later US locos.
pH

However, if you operate at night the engineer must have a clear view of the track ahead for legal purposes if for no other, so apparently the British do not operate after dark.

[terot1234]

Yes, I have understood that in Britain, at least earlier times, locomotive lights are for and to others to see that train is coming. Could be that traffic is minimized after sunset and starts again when sun is rising. My question was based experience on Microsoft Train Simulator where locomotive lights illuminate ground ahead.
Here in Finland it is a standard to have at least reasonable locomotive lights starting from old steam engine acetylene lights before generators and ending to new steering wagons gas discharge lamps. Have heard that one guy used car halogen lamp as museal steam engine tender driving light instead of normal incandescent lamp for better visibility when driving engine backwards.

[peterhayes]

MM

However, if you operate at night the engineer must have a clear view of the track ahead for legal purposes if for no other, so apparently the British do not operate after dark.

Not the case in the UK seeing the signal apparently is more important than seeing the track.
Steam locos in Britain had oil lamps for many years - they weren't throwing out much candle power.
What good are lights anyway by the time you see an obstacle you may not have enough time to stop if travelling at speed.
pH