I have recently got hold of some swich stands from Details West in HO. They come with circular and diamond shape targets and the instructions say they can be painted either red or yellow depending on location. Any suggestions on the best shape and colours to use (and why)? I model a free lance north west logging type line in about the 1920’s and most of the switches are located in the yards. Any advice or links to helpful website would be greatly appreciated.
The color and shape of targets varied from railroad to railroad.
Generally, red/green targets on high masts were used on mainline switches, and white/yellow, white/red, or green/yellow targets on low masts in the yard.
Sometimes, shapes where used instead. Some targets had two different shapes to indicate how the switch was thrown. Others, used one target, that when parallel to the track indicted the switch was normal, and when perpenticular to the track indicated the swtich was reversed.
So, it’s really up to you.
Nick
Here in Wisconsin, mainline switches have a green circle/red diamond. Most yards around here have small 2-color light signals.
Green goes straight! Oh wait not on this side of the yard!! This is true for Galesburg so sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for it. A large red target for thrown for diverging route is good and a small green ( or same sized) for straight through.
Adam,
Since you are freelancing a line, it appears you can pick what you want to do…! [;)]
Andrew
Out here in the great northwest we (pre=merger-mania) had 5 RRs w/ 2 shapes of switch stand targets (for mainline switches) 3 RRs used circular discs painted red (UP, NP and SP&S) and 2 had targets shaped like a sargeant’s chevron (pointing down). The GN’s were red with a white ball and the Milw’s were red w/ 2 white chevrons for a red, white, red, white and red pattern. In all cases the target facing oncoming trains indicated the switch was revered and the target edged that it was normal (for the main).