I imagine that the kind of detailing to add for trackside signal towers, lights and signs etc. is specific to the function and nature of the railroad at that point on the layout...as it is in reality.
However, I am rather bewildered when I go into a hobby shop or look through a catalog of various lights, towers, signals available. And the operating electrical ones are really expensive.
So I was wondering if there are some basic trackside signs and structures that are "generic" to a layout....like signs giving the length of sidings, electrical boxes of some sort, mileposts, height gauges, etc. etc. that I could add to my layout to give some nice detail without a great deal of expense?
As it is, I have some telegraph poles but I have not worked out where I could put a simple country road or asphalt road in yet. So I will not deal with rail and road crossing signalling just yet.
I would be grateful for any terms or even photos of what you might consider easy trackside detailing.
Even things like milepost signs, yard limit signs, whistle signs, and those sorts of things were often RR specific. Heck, even RR crossbucks changed from RR to RR!
Now with items like that you can sometimes use a "close enough" approach, but thats only if your prototype didn't use something very unusual or offbeat. For example, a standard crossing gate would be a poor standin for a wig-wag signal.
Here are some trackside details you might want to check out:
http://www.detailswest.com/trackside.htm
You can download the catalog from:
http://www.detailswest.com/Details%20West%20Catalog%202007.pdf
-John
Here's some generic things.http://www.ihc-hobby.com/cgi-bin/bsc.cgi?sn=V9763601236Y672035968846IF7X0U&id=4551
And Oregon Rail Suppy has some things that won't break the bank.http://www.oregonrail.com/
But as mentioned, most things are rail line/era specific.
pcarrell wrote:I don't mean to belabor this any more then necessary, but those signals are very specific. In the last link given it even names the road that they're specific to. Now, the lineside boxes, those are a bit more generic.
I meant the IHC stuff was generic.
Thanks for all the links and tips, fellows. That is what I was looking for.
Now, that I see some of the generic "stuff", and the concern for signalling that is road specific, is there a link or guide printed anywhere explaining when and where some of the signalling of the more sophisticated apparatus is/was used?
For example I see many kinds of two and three light pylons and several kinds of signal bridges etc. etc.. and some of the signal systems with I believe older style signal boards.
I am not "in the know" about railway details so I could benefit from a little lesson or printed guideline about "what goes where".
What's it all about, Alfie? It is pretty. Can I use it anywhere?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_signal
http://www.railroadsignals.us/
http://www.trainweb.org/signals/
If your talking about signals, they are kind of specific to the individual RR's. I will give you a couple of examples.
Our club is modeling the B&O in the early to mid 1970's. I am doing the signal work including building the signals, placement, and all the associated electronics. I didn't know very much about B&O signals before getting involved in this project, and it has been a constant learning process finding and gathering the information so that the system looks right.
I am also building my own home layout, which is a freelance RR, and I am going to add working signals to it as well.
These two railroads are going to use entirely different signal types. The B&O used color position light signals with marker lights, called CPL signals. My home system is going to use searchlight signals. Each is unique in itself. Each requires research to get them to 'look' right. The B&O is a real RR, so I have those resources to fall back on. My freelance RR will require me to find a RR that used searchlight signals, research that, and model something that will 'look' right for a railroad. Once I find the RR with the searchlight signals, I am going to have to be faithful in using those signals, even though my RR is freelance. Mixing and matching signal types just won't work or look right.
So for signaling and their details, you have to start by making a choice of what type of signals you think you want to use, and then stick with it. That includes the types of signals, the types of cantilever signal bridges, large signal bridges, and dwarf signals. Most railroads had their own designs for each of these. There are no 'generic' signal systems in the transition time frame. In modern times, there are fewer types to choose from.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Begin and end measured mile signs.
1 Mile = 5280 feet
5280/87 (HO scale) = 60.7 feet.
Measure out 60.7 feet of track, which may be multiple loops, and you now have a way to judge the speed of you train in MPH.
1 scale mile (60.7 feet) in 2 minutes = 30 scale miles per hour (60/2).
For what it's worth trivia....
rustyrails wrote:Begin and end measured mile signs.1 Mile = 5280 feet5280/87 (HO scale) = 60.7 feet.Measure out 60.7 feet of track, which may be multiple loops, and you now have a way to judge the speed of you train in MPH.1 scale mile (60.7 feet) in 2 minutes = 30 scale miles per hour (60/2).For what it's worth trivia....-John
You can get by with just one sign (or any other point along the right of way). Learn to estimate 5 seconds while counting. Then count number of 40ft cars (6" actual in HO) going by point in 5 seconds.
5 cars in 5 seconds = 30 scale MPH
4 cars in 5 seconds = 24 scale MPH, and so on.
Fred W
http://delray1967.shutterfly.com/pictures/5
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