Some even come with colorless plastic covers instead of the tradional red plastic lens.

The Wisconsin Central Railroad, now a part of the Canadian National system, is one of the leaders in the use of LEDs in railroad applications.

They have replaced electric switch lanterns in some of their yards with LED arrays. The application shown above is in the switching yard in Neenah, WI.

Another use of LEDs on the railroad is in the equivalent of traffic lights, so called block signals. Many times these signals are in very remote locations. The next series of photos show one location, the passing siding at Vernon, WI, just south of Waukesha. Vernon passing siding is about 160 miles by rail from Stevens Point where the dispatcher remotely controls the Wisconsin Central signals and switches so that trains can meet or pass each other.

The dispatcher has cleared the right, mainline signal for a north bound train.
The south bound signals automatically go red.

The north bound train appeared a few minutes later.

The crossing just north of the Vernon passing siding, Oakdale road, Waukesha County highway XX, is protected by LED flashers.