Operating two trains

[davidam]

Bob I think I have found a solution for my problem. According to the Greenberg book Lionel made a number 253 signal that works the same as the 132 stop station if I can find two of these my problem is solved. Thanks for your help.

Dave Marconi

[lionelsoni]

Those are dwarf color-light signals, not semaphores; but, in any case, I don't have any other information about them and I couldn't find any on the Lionel web site.  I guess we'll have to see whether anyone else here can help.

[davidam]

You have it correct, two intersecting loops, no turn outs. According the booklet I insulated 3 sections of track using fiber pins in the center rail, put a lockon on the insulated track connecting terminal 1 to terminal 1 of the 153c contactor, terminal 2 to terminal 2 of the semmaphore. Terminal 1 of the semaphore goes to terminal 3 of the contactor, terminal 3 of the semaphore goes to terminal 2 of the contactor. Terminal 3 of the contactor also goes to post A of the transformer, post B & U go to terminals 1 & 2 of the power lockon. The semaphores are 6-2115 dwarf signals.

Dave Marconi

[lionelsoni]

I think I understand that you have two intersecting loops, with no turnouts, and that 153C contactors and semaphores (model number?) are somehow involved.  I don't have an "Assembling and Operating" booklet later than 1952; so it would help me to understand what you're doing if you could quote the relevant text from yours.

[davidam]

I am in need of help. I am trying to set up two interconnected loops using tubular track with two 90 degree crossovers and running a train on each loop. I followed the directions on page 23 in the Lionel trains booklet that came with my sons trains I bought in 1965. The only change is the 153c contactor is under the track on the 90. Niether train stops and the lights on the semaphores are both on. The layout is similar to the one shown on page 733 of Greenberg's Repair and opertaing manual minus the switches. I assumed that by putting the contactors under the track of the larger loop that when the train passed over them the train on the other loop would stop as it approached the crossover, it does not. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.