Track Signals

[jhuntjr]

Our Club is rebuilding the layout and want to add signals with the intent of automating them in the future. Can anybody point me to a good resource that describes the placement of signal stands?

Thanks for your help.

Jerry

[Southwest Chief]

This two links might be a little helpful,

ATSF Signals

North American Signals

[cuyama]

jhuntjr

Our Club is rebuilding the layout and want to add signals with the intent of automating them in the future. Can anybody point me to a good resource that describes the placement of signal stands?

There are a number of different types of signaling in real life, such as Train Order Signals, Automatic Block Signalling (ABS),  Centralized Traffic Control (CTC), and signals at Interlocking Plants, to name just a few. Each of these is quite different in terms of signalling logic and has different signal types and placement.

These websites have a good basic descriptions of many signal types and uses:
http://www.trainweb.org/signals/
http://www.lundsten.dk/us_signaling/

A comprehensive book on the topic is Railroad Signaling by Brian Solomon

There is also a YahooGroup devoted to Railroad Signaling

The Layout Design SIG published a three-part series on signaling in the model in Layout Design Journals #41, #43, and #46.

Of course, many modelers are really looking for more of a cosmetic installation of signals, rather than fully functional with detection and true signaling logic. In that case, the placement can be more flexible and you can just choose to somewhat mimic a system such as ABS or CTC.

Logic Rail Technologies has a neat Signal Animator and Block Animator that cosmetically suggest full signalling, but with a very simple installation.

[gandydancer19]

Here is another link that simplifies things:

http://waynes-trains.com/site/Signals/Model-Railroad-Signaling.html