Why do trains have 3 lights?

The rearlights on locomotives, multiple units and railcars. To ensure that the rear of the failed train is always visible, all trains are required to display three red lights at their rear: two tail lamps plus the red portion of the destination roller blind.



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As wireless technologies advanced in the 1960s, freight railroads began adding extra locomotives to the rear of trains to give them enough power to climb steep hills. This is how distributed power was born.

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Tail lamps on trains have been around since the 1800s, originally powered by oil and later by batteries, they consist of a red lamp or flashing light attached to the very rear of a train to warn other trains of their presence.

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Trains cannot collide with each other if they are not permitted to occupy the same section of track at the same time, so railway lines are divided into sections known as blocks. In normal circumstances, only one train is permitted in each block at a time. This principle forms the basis of most railway safety systems.

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Only freight trains have locomotives on both sides and sometimes in the middle also. The reason for that is traction to push or pull heavy loads.

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If the train is heading in the direction in which the locomotive end of the train is facing, this is considered 'pulling'. If the train is heading in the opposite direction, this is considered 'pushing' and the motorman or engine driver is located in the alternative cab.

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The railways use a train detection systems which can tell signallers exactly where every train is and how fast they are going. There are also systems that can automatically stop trains if the driver doesn't take the correct course of action or passes through a red signal.

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We paint certain parts of the rail white so they absorb less heat – and expand less. Typically, a rail painted white is 5°C to 10°C cooler than one left unpainted.

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The pantograph is located on the roof of the train and collects the electricity needed to power the train. Since pantographs make direct contact with the overhead power lines in order to obtain electricity, their usage environment is always changing due to the speed of the train and external weather conditions.

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