Why did steam locomotives in the UK not have a light on the front of the engine?

Question

Steam locomotives on almost all railroads throughout the world had a headlight on the front. Why not in the UK? It would seem that it would be a required safety item.

Answer 1

I'm not an expert and the following is no more than a guess, but I suspect that the fog on that island nation is the greatest problem, and a light would do nothing but blind the engineer, so instead of a light, they probably have developoed a more sophisticated system that don't require visual confirmation.

Answer 2

Diesel and Electric trains didn't have headlights full headlights either up to the late 1960s early 1970s. Since then all older trains have been retrofitted. Newer trains are fitted with an addtional high level light

Answer 3

The issue is not unique to steam engines, nor england.  

Most European locomotives are (were?) this way.

I suspect that railroading there grew up in populated country, where people learned to stay off the tracks, and obstrutions were not commonplace.  Remember railroading was developed before electricity, and lamps were used to mark the front of the train.

In the US, with much open country it was desireable to have a light which shines ahead for the engineer to stop short of an obstruction(ist).

Answer 4

Because they were made in poland

Answer 5

Pilgrim makes a very good point.  Running in heavy fog with the headlight ablaze does limit the engineer's ability to see.  Still, it seems very odd that the headlight was not used as it is indeed an important piece of safety equipment.