[railguy]

For several days, I've been experimenting with implementation of the flashing ditch lights on a locomotive with both front and rear ditchlights. I have managed to get the headlights and ditchlights functioning and flashing mostly correctly on both front and rear. I also have the light spheres functioning correctly on the front. These enhancements do, however, dramatically illustrate the need to "unlock" the restriction of light spheres that can be used on a locomotive or rolling stock. That is an artifact of MSTS that just needs to be dumped.

I can't put up the entire .eng file of my "subject" locomotive, but here is the light section dealing with the flashing ditchlights and related headlights. This likely could be adapted to other locomotives just by adjusting the locations of the various lights on the locomotive model. Here is what I've used:

Spoiler

  Lights (	19

                  Light (
                  Comment ( Front sphere of Lights Dim )
			Type		( 1 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 2 )
					Unit ( 2 )
					)
			Cycle		( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( 40FFFFCA )
					Position ( 0.0 3.0 18.35 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 400.0 )
					Angle ( 30.0 )
					)
				)
			)
                  Light (
                  Comment ( Front sphere of Lights Bright )
			Type		( 1 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 3 )
					Unit ( 2 )
					Horn ( 1 )
					)
			Cycle		( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( 80FFFFff )
					Position ( 0.0 3.0 18.35 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 400.0 )
					Angle ( 30.0 )
					)
				)
			)
                Light	(
			comment( Front sphere of Light front flashing ditch lights )
			Type		( 1 )
        Conditions      (
                Headlight ( 3 )
                Reverser  ( 5 )
                Unit ( 2 )
                Horn ( 2 )
        )
			Cycle	( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 1 )
			FadeOut	( 1 )
			States	(	4
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffef8f )
					Position ( -3.5 2.3 11.0 )
					Transition ( 1.0 )
					Radius ( 350.0 )
					Angle ( 20.0 )

					)
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( 80ffffff )
					Position ( 3.5 1.3 11.0 )
					Transition ( 1.0 )
					Radius ( 350.0 )
					Angle ( 20.0 )

					)

				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( 80ffffff )
					Position ( -3.5 1.3 11.0 )
					Transition ( 1.0 )
					Radius ( 350.0 )
					Angle ( 20.0 )
					)
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffef8f )
					Position ( 3.5 2.3 11.0 )
					Transition ( 1.0 )
					Radius ( 350.0 )
					Angle ( 20.0 )
					)
				)

				)


            	Light	(
			comment( Front Head Light Top Dim )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 2 )
					Unit ( 2 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.00 4.355 6.57 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Front Head Light Bottom Dim )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 2 )
					Unit ( 2 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position (  0.00 4.13 6.55 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Front Head Light Top Bright)
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 3 )
					Unit ( 2 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.00 4.355 6.57 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Fropnt Head Light Bottom Bright )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 3 )
					Unit ( 2 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position (  0.00 4.13 6.55 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Front Right Ditch Light Flashing )
			Type		( 0 )
        Conditions      (
                Headlight ( 3 )
                Reverser ( 5 )
                Unit ( 2 )
                Horn ( 2 )
        ) 			States	(	2
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( -0.8 1.86 8.85 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( -0.8 1.86 8.85 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.001 )
					)
				)
			)		
		Light	(
			comment( Front Left Ditch Light Flashing )
			Type		( 0 )
        Conditions      (
                Headlight ( 3 )
                Reverser ( 5 )
                Unit ( 2 )
                Horn ( 2 )
        )
		States	(	2
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffef8f )
					Position ( 0.85 1.86 8.85 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.001 )
					)
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.85 1.86 8.85 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)	
		Light	(
			comment( Front Right Ditch Light )
			Type		( 0 )
        Conditions      (
                Headlight ( 3 )
                Reverser ( 5 )
                Unit ( 2 )
                Horn ( 1 )
        )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( -0.8 1.86 8.85 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Front Left Ditch Light )
			Type		( 0 )
        Conditions      (
                Headlight ( 3 )
                Reverser ( 5 )
                Unit ( 2 )
                Horn ( 1 )
        )
        			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.85 1.86 8.85 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
	Comment( Rear Lighting Section )
           	 Light	(
			comment( Rear Right Light Dim )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 2 )
					Unit ( 3 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.11 3.94 -8.5 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Rear Left Light Dim )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 2 )
					Unit ( 3 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( -0.11 3.94 -8.47 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
           	 Light	(
			comment( Rear Right Light Bright )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 3 )
					Unit ( 3 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.11 3.94 -8.5 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Rear Left Light Bright )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 3 )
					Unit ( 3 )
					)
			FadeIn	( 0.0 )
			FadeOut	( 0.0 )
			Cycle		( 0 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( -0.125 3.94 -8.47 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Right Rear Ditch Light Flashing )
			Type		( 0 )
        Conditions      (
                Headlight ( 3 )
                Reverser ( 2 )
                Unit ( 3 )
                Horn ( 2 )
        ) 			States	(	2
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.74 1.86 -8.91 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.74 1.86 -8.91 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.001 )
					)
				)
			)		
		Light	(
			comment( Left Rear Ditch Light Flashing )
			Type		( 0 )
        Conditions      (
                Headlight ( 3 )
                Reverser ( 2 )
                Unit ( 3 )
                Horn ( 2 )
        )
		States	(	2
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffef8f )
					Position ( -0.74 1.86 -8.91 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.001 )
					)
				State	(
					Duration ( 1.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( -0.74 1.86 -8.91 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 1 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Rear Right Ditch Light )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 3 )
					Reverser ( 2 )
					Unit ( 3 )
					Horn ( 1 )
					)
			Cycle		( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( 0.74 1.86 -8.91 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		Light	(
			comment( Rear Left Ditch Light )
			Type		( 0 )
			Conditions	(
					Headlight ( 3 )
					Reverser ( 2 )
					Unit ( 3 )
					Horn ( 1 )
					)
			Cycle		( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( FFFFEF8F )
					Position ( -0.74 1.85 -8.91 )
					Azimuth ( -180 -180 -180 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 0.6 )
					)
				)
			)
		)

I also added the flash duration line to the .eng file right below the "DoesHornTriggerBell" line as follows:

ORTSHornLightsTimer ( 15 )

As of now, I'm using OR_NY_MG_R151.1 for my experiments.
<Admin's advice:
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[vince]

The GP-38 I use in the LIRR activity LILCO Coal has functional front and rear Spheres of light just not at the same time.
Also in the PRR-East v2 I modified the light section of the PRR B1 electric to give rear sphere when switched to Dim. Great for night switching.
Here's the GP-38 code:

Light	(
    		comment( Sphere of light High Beam )
    		Type		( 1 )
    		Conditions	(
    			Headlight ( 3 )
    			Unit ( 2 )
    			)
    		Cycle	( 0 )
    		FadeIn	( 0.5 )
    		FadeOut	( 0.5 )
    		States	(	1
    			State	(
    				Duration ( 0.0 )
    				LightColour ( ffffffff )
    				Position ( 0.0 3.5 18 )
    				Transition ( 0 )
    				Radius ( 400.0 )
    				Angle ( 15.0 )
    				)
    			)
    		)
        	Light	(
    		comment( Sphere of light Rear )
    		Type		( 1 )
    		Conditions	(
    			Headlight ( 2 )
    			Unit ( 3 )
    			)
    		Cycle	( 0 )
    		FadeIn	( 0.5 )
    		FadeOut	( 0.5 )
    		States	(	1
    			State	(
    				Duration ( 0.0 )
    				LightColour ( ffffffff )
    				Position ( 0.0 3.5 -116.0 )
    				Transition ( 0 )
    				Radius ( 100.0 )
    				Angle ( 35.0 )
    				)
    			)
    		)

regards,
vince

[railguy]

Vince,

I'm aware of that, and have used spheres that way in other locomotives. Here is the issue: Quite often, in prototypical operations in, say, switching, the engineer will leave the the front and rear headlights on, which requires a sphere at both front and rear (either for dim or bright). With the ditch lights on and set to flash on horn blow--either front or rear--that requires a ditch light solid sphere and a ditch light flashing sphere. On my example above, with OR sphere limitations, I could only have sufficient sphere entries for the front headlights and ditch lights.

As a secondary wish list, I would like to have sphere capabilities for truck lights and step lights. I have not heard an explanation of why sims like TSim20XX can have multiple light spheres all over the place, but OR can't, other than OR still trying to keep rolling stock, etc. backward compatible with MSTS. As far as I'm concerned, that ship sailed long ago.

[Weter]

Hello.
@Railguy
There was James Ross's explanation about two possible technics of making multiple spheres of light (search forums for "deferred" word), but, AFAIK, both ways have negative sides and we need to convent, how many spheres should be the limit.

@Vince and all
AFAIK, MSTSBin could flip the same sphere of light 180 deg, once cab is changed - no need to add any extra definitions.
But special code-numbers for Headlight (cab changed) should be defined...

[Laci1959]

My link

Hello.

It's worth watching the video. It works with tender steam locomotives with 3 entries as follows:

		Light (
			comment ( Dim )
			Type ( 1 )
			Conditions (
				Headlight ( 4 )
				Unit ( 2 )
				Control ( 2 )
				TimeOfDay ( 2 )				
			)
			States ( 1
				State (
					Duration ( 0 )
					LightColour (  BFF9CD84 )
					Position ( 0.0 1.5 5 )
					Elevation ( 0 1.8 0 )
					Angle ( 15 )
					Radius ( 15 )
				)
			)
		)
		Light (
			comment ( Dim reverse )
			Type ( 1 )
			Conditions (
				Headlight ( 4 )
				Unit ( 4 )
			)
			States ( 1
				State (
					Duration ( 0 )
					LightColour (  BFF9CD84 )
					Position ( 0.0 1.5 -11.8 )
					Azimuth ( 0 180 0 )
					Elevation ( 0 1.85 0 )
					Angle ( 20 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 15 )
				)
			)
		)
		Light (
			comment ( Dim reverse 2 )
			Type ( 1 )
			Conditions (
				Headlight ( 4 )
				Unit ( 1 )
			)
			States ( 1
				State (
					Duration ( 0 )
					LightColour (  BFF9CD84 )
					Position ( 0.0 1.5 -11.8 )
					Azimuth ( 0 180 0 )
					Elevation ( 0 1.85 0 )
					Angle ( 15 )
					Radius ( 15 )
				)
			)
		)

I came across it completely by accident. There are three entries where Type ( 1 ), see the code above. But I also have a version where four Type ( 1 ) entries are listed.

Sincerely, Laci1959.