Block signals?

[yallaen]

I know you can buy the block signals/dwarf or "pot" signals..and some of them have yellow indicator lights as well..

How realistic can you make these work in blocks? For example..in real life..if I"m running on a clear signal, and there is a train stopped about 6 miles ahead...I'll get an advance approach (flashing yellow), then an approach (solid yellow), then an either stop/proceed or stop (depends on where the red signal occurs; intermediate signal would be stop/proceed, a control or "A" absolute block would be stop)

Not wanting to get that nitty gritty..but can you wire up so it goes green..yellow..red in the blocks?

(couldnt sleep, hence the post time lol)

[daan]

It depends on which signals you want to buy. There are signals that have on board sensors to switch the signals and rail power, those are prewired. A signal without electronics can be hooked up to any kind of control you have in mind, so can be switched as you want it to happen.

You'll need at least 4 blocks to get it working and also need a resistor for the yellow state of the signal to slow the train down. Normally in toy train world they only know red and green iow stop or drive and no "slowdown" phase, so you'll have to figure things out by yourself with the yellow part.

The red signal on a block (block 1) will have to trigger the yellow signal in front of the red block, so block 2 shows yellow and switches the power via the resistor. The block in front of block 2 will show green (block 3). You'll have to use relais and may be there are electronic controls for sale for this (but h0 probably). In Germany there is a company named viessmann who makes such signalcontrolling modules ( http://www.viessmann-modell.com/pdf/5210.pdf ) is the link to the manual for the controls (also in english). German signals are very complicated and their module can handle main signals and slave signals with one module (I don't know if "slave signal" is the correct word, in europe we use main signals for the blocks and slave signals to indicate if the main signal behind it is free, slow passing allowed or blocked, I guess that means yellow on your main signals)

Probably those signal controls are for sale in the usa as well from a different manufacturer, but I guess others can help you on that. A difference is that in europe we don't use flashing lights in signals usually.

[Roger Bielen]

I'm not sure but I think Atlas has the system your looking for.