The Pyle National 360 degree Warning Light

...Also known as the Pyle 15360, was a fixture of US railroading throughout the 60s and 70s. The beacon was a product of Pyle National; manufacturers of amphernol connectors and locomotive lights since the turn of the century.

The 15360 was a cataloged beacon that was put into service on numerous mid-western and western railroads until they were discontinued from Pyle's product line in the 80s.

It utilizes a "Gyralight-Like" motion....unlike other beacons that physically spin the bulbs, or use solid state electronics to flash halogen or xenon strobes, the 15360 reflected it's light. Inside the upper dome of the beacon is a single Par-46 bulb. The light shines down on a stainless reflector. Bent into a 90 degree angle, the reflector is mounted on a aluminum stud at it's center, tilted 45 degrees. This leaves the beacon with two slanted reflectors, facing 180 degrees apart on a 360 degree area of visibility. The stud and reflector are all connected to a 12v motor, located in the bottom of the beacon. Connected to a gear, this would make the light produce approx 100 flashes per minute.

The lights came in many different configurations, including the 15360-ZBYG, the standard amber 74 volt locomotive beacon. The lights came in 8 different voltage ranges, from 6 to 110vdc, and 110 to 250vac. In addition to amber (yellow), the lights were also offered in red, clear, green and blue.

Original bulletins and patent info on the 15360 would leave it to be said that the light was first put on the market in the mid 1950s. The earliest of these beacons had standard "Gyralight" model number tags affixed to them. It wasn't until later production that the model number tags were changed to reflect their designation as the "Pyle 360 degree Warning Light".