For years the lights used for both steam locomotives and Diesels have been most inadequate. They varied in voltage from 1.5 VDC to 16 VDC. This made for very poor operation and many times the light bulbs would fail rather quickly.
Even though many manufactures of Brass Locomotives and Plastic Locomotives still use the electric light bulb the circuitry is far more complicated and allows for some error in judgment. The manufactures of all locomotives are trying to standardize the type of voltage required to run the lights or in other words set the standard at 1.5 VDC.
This is fine and well needed but there is a better solution to the problem. The electric light bulb is generally low in light out put and still will fail more often than not. The best solution is to go to the LED (Light Emitting Diode) which produces far great lumens and is less vulnerable to electrical fluctuations. There are a variety of LEDs that will work with an HO locomotive.
The standard sizes are 3mm to 5mm in diameter. The basic colors are clear with a slight blue out put or the slightly yellow or soft output. The LEDs come in a variety of colors. The new Kato plastic models out of Japan use an amber light for their new engines. Because of their brightness the light being emitted is excellent.
The change over from the standard light bulb to the LED is simple and easy to do. The wires coming out of the LED are stiff which makes it easier to solder to the wires and it has a tendency to hold the LED in the correct position when installed into the locomotive. The modeler will find the addition of the LED to his or her locomotive to be superior to the traditional method.
Joy Ball has been involved in the restoration and maintenance of a variety of Brass Model Locomotives. Through her years of expertise, Mrs. Ball has perfected the art of train restoration often spending countless hours preserving vintage Brass Locomotive to the running condition of even the newest Brass Model Replicas. It should be noted that the above article was written by Joy