Chad,
Welcome to CPF /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink2.gif
I'm an Engineer on the UP and I was a conductor for 10 years on the CNW before that. Our trainmen are required to use a lantern for giving hand sign, but the trainmen that are on remote control jobs are furnished headlamps. If you are allowed to use a flashlight, you are going to need a light with long runtime. Some of our trainmen carry a small EDC light for times when they can't get back to the engine before dark or to back up their lantern.
I recommend either a
Surefire A2 or a
Surefire L2 or
Surefire U2 as your primary light.
Here's Quickbeam's review of the
A2. The A2 runs for about 50 minutes on high and about 20 hours on low. Low is enough light to walk by. The A2 on high has fairly good throw and the low beam is a flood beam.
Here's Quickbeam's review of the
L2. The L2 runs about 45 to 50 minutes on high or about 8 hours on low before it starts to dim. The low of the L2 is brighter than the A2 on low. The L2 has a flood beam on high or low.
Here's Quickbeam's review of the
U2. The U2 has a tighter beam than the L2. It has six brightness levels. It runs for about 1 hour on level 6 and about 40 hours on level 1.
You can get 123 primary cells for $1 each from
The Battery Station's CPM members only special page.
The U2 can use
Pila 168A rechargeable cells available from
J.S. Burly's
The inside diameter of the A2 & L2 are to small for the Pilas to fit.
You'll probably want a holster. I prefer
RipOffs clip on holsters.
There are a lot of small back up lights. The
Infinity Ultra is a 1AA light that runs for 10 hours on 1 AA battery. The
HDS is another option.
edit: Be sure what ever you order is in stock before you order, other wise you might wait for months for your light.
The
Opalec NewBeam is a cheaper alternative that you install in a
MiniMag. It has about the same brightness as the Surefire A2 on low and it runs for 10 hours before it starts to dim. A red LED light will come on as a low battery indicator.