Next step Crossing Lights, arms and signals

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Now that the track is working well, the cars and loco’s are working well, Scenery is underway but is it ever really done? I want to start installing crossing arms for my roads with lights etc… Also any signalling lights required alongside the tracks in the yard and on the mainlines… I want to use LED lights…

Who provides the best realistic lights in these catagories? (Premade). Or is there a book of sorts which instructs me in both proper placement and scratch building of these. I will be spending the summer learning about proper locations etc. with the plan to get at it on the rainy days (can’t golf anyway) and planning for a major project for next winter.

That’s assuming we ever see summer up here!

2

MTH makes a nice crossing signal kit it has lights, speakers, sensors. I first saw it at LHS being installed. It is an awsome little setup for HO scale.

http://www.tandkhobby.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=80-10001&utm_source=shopzilla&utm_medium=cpc_feed&utm_campaign=comparison_shopping_feeds

Truck.

3

Tomar Industries produces some excellent products. Check them out http://www.tomarindustries.com/H-863.jpg

http://www.tomarindustries.com/signals.htm

4

Have you thought about what detection system you’re going to use…infrared, track detection etc.?? If track detection, it would be good if your track was already split into blocks based on where the signals are going to go.

Model Railroad Planning 2010 had a good article by Bill Darnaby entitled Signalling with Software that you might find helpful.

5

Thanks for the ideas and info… Yes, I suspect infrared detection is the way too go… My 18’ by 12’ layout was divided into 9 blocks when I wired for DCC.