Ralphmp
Registered
That tip came to me from Greg.Ah! That makes sense.... kinda
Thank you
Signals!?
- Thread starter Tony Hunter
- Start date
AlanL
Registered
I wanted working signals on my railway they are an esential piece of infrastucture. There didn't seem to be any signals available at the time that were to my style and affordable. So I made my own using styrene sheet and tube.
I also wanted working signals that will change to red as the train passes and then reverts to green automatically. I first thought of using timer relays but they are relatively expensive and power hungry. In my searches for timers I came across a timer chip 555 and learned how it could be used to control the signals. I made a test circuit that worked and then had a batch of circuit boards made because I required so many on my railway. The signal in the photo is self-contained with the circuit board in an enclosure beneath the signal. This signal is remote, no nearby buildings to hide the electronics. It runs off track power and is activated by an isolated length of the running rail, about 6 mm long just behind the signal. If you zoom in you will see the black wire on the left rail. This eliminates the need of reed switches and magnets beneath the trains and the system is 100% reliable. I am a train-watcher rather than an operator so watching the signals change to red with the passage of a train adds to the enjoyment.
The signal head might look difficult to make but I made the process easier by using jigs. The first signals that I made were more detailed with a maintenance platform and a ladder but in the concept of my ground level railway I felt that the extra work was not justified. They were too tall and I re-made them shorter and without the extras.
Alan
I also wanted working signals that will change to red as the train passes and then reverts to green automatically. I first thought of using timer relays but they are relatively expensive and power hungry. In my searches for timers I came across a timer chip 555 and learned how it could be used to control the signals. I made a test circuit that worked and then had a batch of circuit boards made because I required so many on my railway. The signal in the photo is self-contained with the circuit board in an enclosure beneath the signal. This signal is remote, no nearby buildings to hide the electronics. It runs off track power and is activated by an isolated length of the running rail, about 6 mm long just behind the signal. If you zoom in you will see the black wire on the left rail. This eliminates the need of reed switches and magnets beneath the trains and the system is 100% reliable. I am a train-watcher rather than an operator so watching the signals change to red with the passage of a train adds to the enjoyment.
The signal head might look difficult to make but I made the process easier by using jigs. The first signals that I made were more detailed with a maintenance platform and a ladder but in the concept of my ground level railway I felt that the extra work was not justified. They were too tall and I re-made them shorter and without the extras.
Alan
Gizzy
A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....
On my previous railway, I used Playmo signals and a Bachmann Gantry which worked from Type 2 switches attached to the point motors.
My old thread no longer has the pictures unfortunately....
www.gscalecentral.net
My old thread no longer has the pictures unfortunately....
The Logging, Gravel & Brickworks Railway
The train can now be shunted down the main line, over the crossover and along the run round loop to the siding....
www.gscalecentral.net
