Atlas Signal System

[NYCentral1]

I see that Atlas is releasing a "simplified" signal system.  How do you think this product will be?  The actual signals look nice, but thats a pretty modern type model isn't it?  I wish they would make a semaphore or something you may have seen in the 40s and 50s...

[C&O Fan]

Where did you see this ?

[jrbernier]

  The Atlas signals are a Type G signal, good for many Rock Island and NYC installations from the 50's onward.  Semaphores would be in use through the 40's, but many lines replaced them with color light signals like the Atlas model or searchlight signals in the late 50's/early 60's.  And a lot of semaphores lasted into the 70's and beyond!  They are neat, but are very expensive to power.  The Atlas signals look great(I saw samples last year).  The 'logic' Atlas also sells is for DC layouts, not DCC.  However, the actual signals should work with DCC signal circuits as well.  They should be available by the end of 2006...

Jim

[NYCentral1]

Well, I was targeting my layout to be around 1951 or 52, are you saying that those signals would have been "new" around then, or a few years after?

DC wouldn't bother me, I think it would be neat to just have a block system where the signal would turn red when something is in the block and green when it's not...just a cosmetic accessory to enhance the experience.

Oh, here is the link for the product:

http://www.atlasrr.com/Trackmisc/hosignals.htm

[jrbernier]

  I am no expert on NYC, but I have seen these signals back in the 60's/70's - the actual dates the NYC started using them could vary from line to line.  The Rock Island had them on the 'Spine Line' until the C&NW/UP purchase of the line and the signal system was converted to the vertical color light system they currently have.

Jim

[wjstix]

I think the type G signals go back to the thirties - but the problem is really where they were used. To me they seem to be very "eastern". Yes the Rock used them but otherwise they were primarily seen in the northeast US I believe. I'd like to have seen the type with the three lights stacked on top of each other in a vertical row, green-yellow-red...or maybe Atlas could offer that version too ??

[jrbernier]

  The Atlas signals started out as 'O' gauge signals made by Custom Signals: http://www.customsignals.com/.  Atlas has since announced 'searchlight' signals in 'O' gauge.  I am hoping we will see additional signal types in multiple scales.  As far as the 'Eastern' type of signal, the company is located in New York State....

Jim

[rrinker]

  While it's nice to have yet another source of Type G signals for my Reading railroad, it appears the Atlas ones are no cheaper than the ones from NJ International. Oh well, no one ever said signalling was cheap.
  Atlas has always been in New Jersey.


                                             --Randy

[Dave Vollmer]

You Reading guys ought to be eating this stuff up!  That's the first thing I thought of when I saw this system at the Atlas booth at a show earlier this year.  I thought "Boy, if I were modeling the Reading..."

Somehow I probably won't hold my breath for Atlas to bring out N scale PRR position-light signals...

[rrinker]

 Yup, first NJ and now Atlas. I won't be using the Atlas electronics, for one I already have DCC, and two, I can make a more realistic signalling system with Digitrax SE8C boards and JMRI PanelPro. The Atlas system makes it easy for a DC user to have an animated signal system, but a true APB system it is not.

                                                              --Randy