Well guys, we went to visit a good friend today and check out his awesome RR. It’s fully signaled and the appeal signals add to the illusion is calling us.[:)] His layout uses Digitrax boards to drive the signals but he had plenty of Circuitron parts laying around so he put them on us at a firesale price! We’re the proud owners of three BD-1 Block Occupancy Detectors, four SD-1 Signal Drivers, one SD-2 Semaphore Driver, one SD-3 Signal Driver and one PS-1 Power Supply. It looks like the Platte Canyon Sub is gonna get lit! I’ve got MUCH reading and research to do. Do any of ya’ll have any suggestions for signaling our RR using the Circuitron boards??? Any advice on signals in general? I’m thinking of using Oregon Rail Supply or Tomar signals, anyone have any suggestions there? Thanks!
i have no advice on how to get signals for your layout (sorry, im looking for answers for your question too)
all i can say is that signals create a huge awe, and makes the railroad almost go from model to reality (though an odd reality)
minds work in mysterious ways
welcome to the signalling subhobby
[:D]
Two words for you, Randy Rinker!!
He’s the man.
Ken.
I’m going to do some research on prototype signals. The Circuitron literature make the hookup part of signalling sound pretty easy. I’m looking forward to this!!! It’ll have to wait for a while though till I can get the signals themselves. More $$$ out the door…
Oregon Rail Supply sells a pack of “dwarf” signals. There are 10 in the pack, and the price comes out under $3 a signal. They are single-LED units, but each LED has 3 leads and will light either red or green depending on where you apply the voltage. The signals also come with current-limiting resistors.
I’ve wired a few of these to indicate the position of a turnout when approaching from the frog end. I wired a latching relay in parallel with the switch machine, and then I control the signals from that so they will stay on even when I’m not applying power to the switch machine coils. (These are PECO and Atlas machines, so they are momentary contact, and don’t have auxilliary contacts.)
The signals themselves are about 3/8 inch high, and are designed to be ground-mounted. I’ve stuck a couple up on a tunnel wall and on a cut stone retaining wall, and they work fine there, too.
www.signalssystems.com he gave me alot of advive ,but im looking into getting the track side signals to go from green ,yellow ,red ,then green again ,and to to get the crossing sinals to turn on and off ,as the train approch and desends,using just D.C have alot to find my self
carl
MR did an article about signaling spread over 2 or 3 issues six months or so ago,
MisterBeasley, I’ll check out the ORS dwarfs. They might be just the ticket around our yards.
Carl, correctly biased signals were what so impressed us on the friends layout. It really adds realism to a RR. My understanding is that the boards we’ve got will do just that. I’m excited about them.
Steve, I’ll check the back issues!
Thanks guys.
Would someone send me the url for OREGON RAIL SUPPLY please?
Ole’irish
I’ve been looking for Circuitron online, came up with nothing on Google for a company site. Could it be that they don’t have a web site??? [:0] That’s hard to believe.
Try this…
DiscountTrainsOnline sells the Oregon Rail product line. They have pictures of most of the items. Better prices, too.
Thanks! I’ll check them out.
basic 3 color light signals need 1 detector per block, you will be block-separating your layout.
A signal driver will have 2 data inputs, and one out.
one in for red and yellow, the out for the yellow send to the next advanced signal.
Signals can be very basic, or pretty complicated, depends how far you want to go with it.
Different lines had varied signal practices, but basics are all the same.
Signals add a stronger sense to a layout, we all look at the trains, but we can’t forget the layout scene.
Man, you are so right. A Circuitron BD1 will drive bi directional two aspect signals on each end of a block. The third aspect (yellow, approach) is where it gets complex. That requires a separate signal driver for each signal and added $$$ and wiring. I want three aspect signals but if little grande man would stand for it (he’s already experienced the ultimate), I might just settle for two aspect. [:0] We’ll see. I think we’re gonna go all the way!