Layouts and layout building

Hi Guys

I have a number of old 50's electric semaphore signals which scale out quite well and work.

I intend to use them hiding the base could be a bit tricky   wiring the signals is straight forward as they are twin coil solenoid operated so wiring the signals and pairing the ones that should be paired is easy with a CDU

But how do I wire it so that stop stops the train and if possible caution slows the train neither is mentioned in the instructions, I guess that was not an issue back then

I know how to bypass the IRJ so a train that should ignore the back of the signal does with a diode.

But how do I do the rest of it.

regards John Busby

 The signal wont stop the train, however if you can wire a break contact into the track prior to the signal and put a gap in one rail you probably can get the train to enter the stop section and stop. If memory serves an old rheostat also set for low voltage eased the slack run in during the stop for those engines without flywheels. So when the signal is thrown for green, the dead zone comes alive and you proceed.

 That would be about it. In essence you have 2 dead sections, only the one furthest from the signal isn't dead, it's got either a fixed resistor or a rheostat so the train first slows then stops in the second section. Of course when the signal clears it's going to take off. I don't know where my copy is but I think there were some ideas in the old Practical Electronic Projects for Model Railroads book in which a variable device like a PTC resistor was used so that the train woudl slow to a stop and also slowly start up again. There may be commercial cirsuits that doa  gradual start/stop as well. The rest of it is easy - contacts or a relay wired with the machine that operates the signal would simply switch the 'dead' section between getting power from the adjancent block or having it go through the controlling circuit.

                              --Randy

Thanks

Looks like I need to find a copy of the mentioned book and maybe some older model railway books on wireing printed before all this new electronic stuff

regards John Busby