Question on Custom Signal signal operation

First off your diagram is fine, very clear. There are two basic types of signals, block signals and interlocking signals. You are dealing with both here.

The four double heads are the interlocking type, controlling the double crossover. If the top head on all four, is green (clear) then the crossover is set straight, and the parallel tracks can both be used. If one of the crossovers is set diverging, then the signal facing the train would be set to approach diverging (red over yellow) or for simplicity red over green if yellow isn't available. The two signals on the route not being used would display red over red, absolute stop.

The CPL would be a block signal, and indicate the track condition ahead. You could even have have it indicate an approach aspect (yellow) in advance of the diverging route.

RRMAN

Based on your diagram, it isn't clear to me what purpose CPL serves. As BB said above, it is a block (intermediate) signal intended to indicate whether or not the next block is occupied. The double targets signals such as RT Front also do that in addition to indicating which way the switch is thrown. Also, the Custom Signals system is designed to see two blocks ahead.

How much distance is there between CPL and RT Front? It should really be its own isolated block for this to work the way I believe you want it to.

If that were the case then, it should work like this.

Train travels left to right and crossover is set to main non-reverse routes.   All four signals are green over red. Train enters block LFT front, causing LFT front to stay green over red, and RT front signals drop to red over red, and CPL goes to yellow.  When train enters block RT front, CPL drops to red.

Thanks Elliot and John.  As you see I updated my information this morning, as I realized in the middle of the night I had some info wrong, but didnt want to crawl out of a warm bed to change the info.

And as I wrote, these are for show and tell (had more than one tell me the red light should be on top), and the " rubbernecken sichtseeren keepen das cotten-pickenen hans in das pockets muss; relaxen und watchen das blinkenlichten."

Not sure what CPL means but technicaly it should be 4W because it is protecting block 4West
on your way to the switch. So, Jack 1 on the SWD TSC(turnout switch controller) should be
connected to J2 on the CPL/4W BSC(block signal controller) These circuits are in series so
J1 always goes to J2

Attached is the wiring diagram from Custom Signals.

Joe

JoeTheBro posted:

Not sure what CPL means but technicaly it should be 4W because it is protecting block 4West
on your way to the switch. So, Jack 1 on the SWD TSC(turnout switch controller) should be
connected to J2 on the CPL/4W BSC(block signal controller) These circuits are in series so
J1 always goes to J2

Attached is the wiring diagram from Custom Signals.

Joe

 

CPL is Color Position Light.  Vertical green lights is clear, diagonal yellows is approach, horizontal reds is stop.  I believe these were used by Norfolk Western and others as double insurance of signal aspect and indication if one light burned out.

I wired the boards exactly as Custom Signal shows.  I bought the new-never-opened CPL at a train show estate sale table, placing it on layout for maximum visitor visibility, behind the RT front double head signal, and connected SWD TSC J1 to CPL J2. CPL J1 is unused. CPL Din connected to block 4 track detector (Atlas 7935).

Can't remember, but I think the arrows point to the direction the signal is looking(direction of

travel). So swap the connections so that CPL BSC J1 connects to SWD TSC J2.

Joe