Why use LEDs?
When installing lighting in a locomotive you have the choice of either lamps or LEDs. There are reasons to chose one over the other. Factors to consider are life, cost, size and ease of installation. Lamps have been with us for a long time. LEDs are newer and the technology of LEDs is changing for the better. The first visible color LEDs were red followed by yellow and then green. In the last few years white LEDs have also become available. The first white LEDs had a blueish tint that did not look like an incandescent locomotive headlight. Recently the Golden-White, Yeloglo and Sunny-White LEDs have changed this. These new LEDs produce colors that are closer to that of an incandescent lamp. These new LEDs are now installed in some of the new locomotives, supplied with some decoders and available through many model railroad suppliers. The cost of LEDs is just a bit more than the cost of lamps, but well worth it over time. When installed correctly an LED will outlast the locomotive. LEDs
