Signals on your railway / railroad

[John Busby]

Hi all
After completing the first signal for my railway all be it a very simple one.
(see you used what to make that thread in scratch building forum.)
Looking at both Garden Rail(UK) and Garden Railways(US) mags.
Many of the published lines don't seem to have any signals or indicators of any description at all.
Not even train order signals that would explain the absents of all other types.
I wondered if this is because the signals required canot be purchased or are too hard to make because parts are not manufactured by any one.
As this is the one lineside acsesory I thought every railway should have at least one or two of I wondered why no one seems to have any??
regards John

[cabbage]

This is my proposed signalling for my layout:



The signals are from Cambrian models. The lever frames from Model signal Engineers. The logic is mine!!!

regards

ralph

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby

Hi all
After completing the first signal for my railway all be it a very simple one.
(see you used what to make that thread in scratch building forum.)
Looking at both Garden Rail(UK) and Garden Railways(US) mags.
Many of the published lines don't seem to have any signals or indicators of any description at all.
Not even train order signals that would explain the absents of all other types.
I wondered if this is because the signals required canot be purchased or are too hard to make because parts are not manufactured by any one.
As this is the one lineside acsesory I thought every railway should have at least one or two of I wondered why no one seems to have any??
regards John

Allow me...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby

Hi all
After completing the first signal for my railway all be it a very simple one.
(see you used what to make that thread in scratch building forum.)
Looking at both Garden Rail(UK) and Garden Railways(US) mags.
Many of the published lines don't seem to have any signals or indicators of any description at all.
Not even train order signals that would explain the absents of all other types.
I wondered if this is because the signals required canot be purchased or are too hard to make because parts are not manufactured by any one.
As this is the one lineside acsesory I thought every railway should have at least one or two of I wondered why no one seems to have any??
regards John

Signals are a vital (literally from the Latin..."vita," as in lifesaving) part of a railroad's operations. I am yet to design signals because I am yet to have enough track and places to go to have them. In fact, I don't even have crossing signals up yet.

Eventually I will, but it is merely a matter of the "stage" I am at on my line. I must say that your type of signal, the one I posted, is of a type that I am going to explore. I think I will eventually end up with semiphores.

Capt Carrales

[RhB_HJ]

John,

One day I'll have signals, just like the RhB for that time period.

I have found that one reason for not having signals is the complexity (in the old days) to wire them.
Of course that is all a piece of cake today, you get a decent DCC system which can handle that type of assignment.

Then you just need to train the operator(s) how to read the signals - lots of fun depending on the prototype.[;)][:)]

[Puckdropper]

Model Railroader several years ago (somewhere like 6) had a fairly simple signal system in it that did block signaling automatically. It was a fairly simple circuit to build, using about 10 parts and could be used with LEDs. I think the T1-3/4 size (5 mm) of LED would be approximately right for the signal lights.

The biggest problem you'd have is train detection, which activates the signals. I built the curcuit on a bread board and as far as I could tell it worked properly.

[Anonymous]

We rely on 'line of sight'
When they hit something.We stop.[:D]

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by troybetts

We rely on 'line of sight'
When they hit something.We stop.[:D]

Troy, [;)][}:)]

Are you guys modeling British Mainline service??[;)][:o)][:o)][:0]

[cabbage]

I was going to use circa 1880 slot type signals. But on the day I was about to send the order -it snowed.

White is Right
Red is Not
Green is Gently Go...

So, (I took the hint ) and I changed my signals to 1890 style lower quadrant.. The basic system is a copy of the Great Western Railways ATS system circa 1920 -but uses NE555 timers rather than mercury drip switches...

For those who are not familiar with the tragedy of Abbots Rippon:

There was a snow storm, and the snow collected in the slot of the signals and the oil lamp caused it to melt and refreeze into a solid lump of ice.

There was a coal train going south.

The signalman pulled the levers to stop the train to allow the Scotch Express and Flying Scotsman through. The signal remained frozen in its box -thus the train saw 'CLEAR' and carried on. The Scotch Express plowed into the back of the coal train. The signals STILL showing CLEAR allowed the up comming Flying Scotsman to smash into the front of the coal train.

The signal man had placed 'detonators' on the 'up' line but the ice and snow allowed the Flying Scotsman to continue skidding on even after the brakes had been applied...

regards

ralph

[John Busby]

Hi cabbage
Now you have prodded my memory.
Have you got any idea where to start looking for information on
a Saxby and Farmer twin arm signal not sure of manufacture year but know they where still in use in 1896 in West Aus at any rate.
Looks a little like a US train order signal but has the operating lever at the base of the mast and is a sloted post with as far as i can tell from the one
useless picture I have.
regards John

[Tom The Brat]

I have block switching in the shop 'cause I wanted to be able to demo locos for customers without having to install anything. I've been thinking about putting a signal at each insulated joiner to show where it is and indicate if the block you're approching is switched the same as the block you're on.

However, that's in the future[;)]

[cabbage]

Try here:

http://www.modelsignals.com/

regards

ralph