I am new to the world of Model railroading…even though I work for the railroad… is it possible for track signals to be activated/controlled by the movement of the train?
Welcome Aboard!
You can have a working signal system; just get out your wallet - signaling is not cheap. Maybe that is why the prototype still has a lot of ‘dark’ railroad lines…
Jim
yep! You’ll need either some relatively fancy (to me anyway) detector circuits if you run DC. If you run DCC, the systems usually have some manner of “locating” the trains (decoder transponding, detection circuits similar to what the 1:1 scale trains use, etc).
The simple answer is yes, either by block detection or optical detection or computer controlled.
Block detection examples…
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/block_watcher.htm
http://www.digitrax.com/menu_detectionsignaling.php
Optical…
STEVIE O
Just to add to the previously stated options about optical detection, there is also infrared detection which will work in both daytime and nightime.
Dave
Working signals would be a nice addition to your layout. But it will be an expensive undertaking. A three color signal head, a detection module ( I use current detectors with a relay ), a signal control board ( I use relays ) could run up to $100 per signal. A double head and switch position detectors for interlocked signals adds a little more to it. Working for a railroad you could find a signal maintainer who may be able to help you with designing your system.