Thanks all for replies. The layout in my first room is dedicated to 50-60s last century. Big steam engines, new diesels, GN & CZ.
The new layout I plan for modern engines SD70Aces (I have all NS Heritage units) and other modern locomotives such us Gevos.
Stix - Thanks for suggestions.
Before about the 1990's, US signals had to be above and to the right of the track. Now the signals can be on either side.
In your example, where two tracks on the green line join into one, you'd probably want the signal bridge on the other side of the tracks, with the signals facing the double track. Off the diagram to the left would be a regular two-headed signal facing the other direction. I would have the signals on the bridge be two-headed for each track, with the lower one on each track being a "dummy" signal which only shows red. The upper signals could easily be connected to the turnout so that one track shows clear (green over red) and the other shows stop (red over red). When you throw the turnout, the signals would change.
For the signal for the other direction - single track becoming double track - you'd normally have two heads which could show red or green. Green over red would indicate the train is going on one track, red over green would mean it's going on the other track. Normally green-over-red would indicate it's going on the 'normal' or most common track, which for going single to double track would be the right hand main.
The signal bridge is above the navigation bridge. (And the Navigation Bridge is above the Flag Bridge).
Leastwise that is how it was done when I was in the navy.
For your layout, you must first tell us what era you are in.
If modern, then you can build you own signal towers with 1/16th" brass welding rods. LION has made many of these. and they look, well, good enough, and that is all that him worries about.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Arras88I read a lot about your historic trains such as California Zephyr or GN Empire Builder. ...I am taking about signals bridges. I like BLMA products very much and I want to use two their items: - Modern Cantilever Left Hand Signal Bridge - Modern Triple Track Signal Bridge.
Those particular BLMA signal bridges are modern types that probably post-date any opeartion of the California Zephyr or Empire Builder. If you're interested in era-appropriate signals they can be had from BLMA and others.
Rob Spangler
http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12480.html
This book has some very good explanations about operations and signals
Ron High
Signaling is a subject all its own, like track laying or wiring. Here is a link that should help you. There is more information here than you want, but there are some good links about signal operation or how they are used that will be useful to you.
http://waynes-trains.com/site/Signals/GettingStarted/SignalsGettingStarted1.html
On most American railroads the signals are placed to the right of the track because the engineer sits on the right side of the locomotive. Most of the time a mast is used to hold the signal heads. If there is no room for a mast, then a signal bridge or cantilever bridge can be used to mount the signal heads on, which should still be just to the right of the track they control.
Also, not all American RRs use the same type of signals. Sometimes the aspects (light combinations) are not the same or don't mean the same thing from one RR to the next. Because of this, I suggest that you pick a RR whose signals that you want to model. For my layout, I used the C&O RR signals.
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.
Double head signals, known here as home signals controlled by a dispatcher, have Green, Yellow and Red aspects in each head. This signal would be approaching the facing points of a switch. The upper head displays the route condition of the main line and the lower head displays the route for the diverging track. So a route for the main track would be displayed with a Green over Red or Yellow over Red. The diverging route would be displayed with a Red over Green or Red over Yellow.
Trailing point signals on the signal bridge may only have a single head if they are not needed to display a route. so they would only have Green, Yellow and Red aspects.
The cantilever signal also only needs a single head for each track.
If you place a signal on the facing point end of the switch on the left it would have a double head.
Simple circuits using SPDT toggle switches would enable you to show either a Red or Green aspect.
Hi,Although I live in Poland I’m keen on American railway models. I want to extend my layout (one room isn’t enough for me) and build more modules. I am planning the track plan for a new room right now. I am quite familiar with American locomotives and cars. I read a lot about your historic trains such as California Zephyr or GN Empire Builder. However, there are some items which I would like to use on my new layout but I have no knowledge how they work at all. I am taking about signals bridges.
I like BLMA products very much and I want to use two their items: - Modern Cantilever Left Hand Signal Bridge - Modern Triple Track Signal Bridge.
But, I have completely no idea how rules about railway signals in US are. I don’t want to use a sophisticated logic for it. There won’t be occupancy detectors or blocks. It would be enough for me if I could just display a proper signal on every head.
I know that every light configuration on heads has a special meaning. I guess two heads (vertically) are for one track. Is there a manual how to read these lights? I would be grateful for a link.
There were only three light configuration on a movie on BLMA:1. Upper head – yellow Bottom head – green2. Upper head – red Bottom head – yellow3. Upper head – green Bottom head – redI think there should be also:4. Upper head – red Bottom head – red
I would be grateful for tips which signals I should display on my layout.Greetings,