I’ve seen references to using telephones for operators and dispatchers. How do these “closed circuit” systems work? Is there a how-to article somewhere?
Thanks!
It wouldn’t be too hard to create an open “party line” with normal telephones. Then all you would need is a way to signal each station, sort of like an intercom.
There are old commercial phone systems that have these features built in. I have a system like this in my house, but am considering picking up another for my layout. There is a lot of this kind of stuff for sale on eBay.
Another option that is popular is little 2 way radio sets. These can be picked up at Radio Shack, and I suspect on eBay as well.
I’m sure there are a lot of different ways to do this.
Thanks,
My layout is set “pre-radio” (1920’s), so the easiet option won’t work - story of my life!
Well first of all your home phone runs on 24volts DC which should be easy to power. I have a friend who got some old wall phones and stationed them at various locations. Then he installed a separate buzzer system and uses the morse code for the first letter of the location as a call sign for the person there to pick up the phone. The phone system is always on and is like a big party line so if more than one person picked up they would immediately be part of the conversation.
It would certainly be fun to find a few antique phones (the old ones where you talk into the microphone on the stand or box and hold the separate earpiece to your ear) for such an operation–for that added touch, a dispatcher with a phone on a telescoping metal arm like one sees in old photos of dispatchers’ offices!
Or, for the ultimate in low-tech realism, get some Morse code sets and start tapping! Put that Morse code merit badge to work!!
Check out the following article.
Telephones on the Huntington Northern
Railroad Model Craftsman, April 1999 page 78
Author: Joseph Birsa