HHP-8 horn/bell/ditchlights

[Slenderman7676]

From various videos on youtube, it looks like the HHP-8s horn does not automatically activate the bell and flashing ditchlights in addition the ditchlights can be turned on and flash independently of the headlight setting as seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7REvDHiqDxU

it would be great if it is possible to add these mods into OpenNEC to make the HHP-8s lights behave simillar to reality.

[YoRyan]

Good eye. Is this behavior standard for Amtrak/NEC equipment? What about the Acela, which was intentionally styled similarly?

[noahb642]

The operating manual is probably your best bet here (someone requested it via FOIA):
https://www.governmentattic.org/46docs/AMTRAKopManHHP-8hselocomotive_2000.pdf

According to that doc, the bell should be activated when the horn is actuated. As for the independent operation of the ditch lights, the manual seems to indicate that they can only be turned on if the headlights are on the bright setting, but I would not be surprised if Amtrak modified their behavior to make them independent of headlight setting later on in revenue service.