Update from Chugman (Start of total layout signal system (1/1/24 - Proviso engine facility - New Pictures)

We now have all the signal board clusters installed below the layout.  I will try to get a few pictures of some of them soon.  When I look under the layout with all the lights on the Atlas signal boards and interlocking boards, it looks pretty cool there too.  There is getting to be a lot of wire under the layout!

Here are some pictures of some of the newly lit up signals.  The first is of the bridge on the "race track" in the middle of the Eola yard.  It is looking West and protects two crossovers, but it is just lit up as the interlocking and logic connections haven't been made yet.  The single mast signal on mainline #1 just before the Mannheim Road highway bridge is placed there so we have a longer track for mainline meets. If we had made this signal bridge a three-track one, that track would have been 4 or 5 cars shorter.  You can tell the yard tracks form the mainline by the ballast colors, grey on the mainlines and black in the yard.

The next picture shows the bridge at the East end of the Eola yard.  It controls the first two crossovers and the entrance to the Eola yard.  It wasn't lit when I tool this.

This picture shows the signal bridge that controls the West entrance to the Eola yard at Chicago Junction and the interchange track to LaGrange.  The bottom signal on the left is "flashing yellow" and the still picture didn't catch it.

The other side of the Mannheim Road bridge can be seen in this view.  It is mounted to the side of the bridge as many real signals were.  The three tracks are from left to right: mainline #3 with the first switch leading to the interchange track to LaGrange and the second switch (not protected by the signals) to a siding to the grain elevator, mainline #1 is the middle track, and last is the yard lead into the Eola yard on the West side.

The logic cables and the interlocking boards are not hooked up yet, so the signals aren't indicating properly yet in these pictures.

One more good work session, and we are hoping to have enough done on the lower level to begin "practice sessions" for operators.  Goals will be to learn the track plan, become familiar with the signals, and identify problems  and issues.

Art

Oh, now there’s the photographs!  I was just a minute too early.  Suffice it to say Alan’s signal bridges really look like the prototype!  I like the visual interest of items mounted on bridges with the conduits in view.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Oh, now there’s the photographs!  I was just a minute too early.  Suffice it to say Alan’s signal bridges really look like the prototype!  I like the visual interest of items mounted on bridges with the conduits in view.

Between Alan's 3D design and printing of the heads and railings and Jim's rebuilding and reconfiguring the Lionel 450 signal bridges, i think they do look pretty good.  The adding of the laser cut walkways for the tops of the bridges brought it all together.

Thanks for you support and interest, Mark.

Art

Here are some pictures of some of the signal cluster boards that we have installed.

The first two show the Atlas signal cluster board for Proviso East which is installed close to power supply panels for this end of the layout.  This board has all the wiring and cables connected, but the final dressing up of the wiring has not been completed yet.  It gives an idea of how busy and full of wiring some areas are becoming.

The next picture shows the board at East Eola #1.  This board has 3 interlocking boards, but does not have the switches connected yet or the logic cables.  Next to it on the left is our other power control board that powers Lionel and MTH as well as wi-fi.

The next board is one in the middle of the Eola yard and the "race track" 3-track mainline.  It only controls one single head mast signal.  It has occupancy and power wired only so far.

This board for West Eola #2 is quite busy.  It has 3 old Atlas signal boards, 6 new Atlas signal boards, and 3 new Atlas interlocking boards.  It has power and occupancy hooked up, but needs the switches and logic cables attached yet.

It's great to have all the boards built and installed under the layout. 

Art

Wow Art you are moving along nicely.  Well organized wiring like you have is key to a complex system like you have - nice team work on this project!

@Chugman, the scope of this project is amazing -- thanks for documenting it so well.

PS: And including the date of the latest update in the thread title is appreciated.

@Rich883 posted:

Wow Art you are moving along nicely.  Well organized wiring like you have is key to a complex system like you have - nice team work on this project!

Thanks, Rich.  We have found that you can't standardize or label too much with complicated wiring.  Tracing a problem is so much easier when everything is properly documented.

I really like your coal barge that you posted.  Looks very realistic.

Art

@Pingman posted:

@Chugman, the scope of this project is amazing -- thanks for documenting it so well.

PS: And including the date of the latest update in the thread title is appreciated.

Thanks, Carl.  It is beginning to remind me of the old saying "How do you eat an elephant?---One bite at a time."

Art

Do you ever have one of those days where you wondered why you got out of bed?  Or a day where "Murphy's Law" seems to be in charge?  Last Friday when we were working on the signal system we lit up the signals on the upper level Bristol passing siding for the first time.  We had checked them all out before we installed them, so we just assumed they were still working.  These two signals were both double-headed mast signals and were in the hardest area to install that we have had.  They are in "outcroppings" that I made on the sides of the retaining walls on this upper level passing siding.  The wires had to be "fished down" through two layers of benchwork to get down to the signal board clusters underneath.

Here's the first one located at East Bristol.  The top head is working but the bottom one isn't.  We must have broken a wire when we pushed them through the openings.

The next one is the same type of signal and will protect and indicate switch position at the other end of the siding at West Bristol.  You can see that the bottom signal is dark just like the other one.  This has the additional problem that you have to reach over parts of the engine facility to get to it.

I guess you have to look at it as "if it was easy anybody could do it."  LOL

Art

Art

I don't like the "out-rigger" that you are calling an outcropping.

I designed this for you instead:

A 3D print that will fit over the block of wood supporting the broken signal mast, that wood would be painted black.

PUSHY aren't I!!!

Alan's design looks great!  That makes sense it would be anchored to the concrete wall.

@AlanRail posted:

Art

I don't like the "out-rigger" that you are calling an outcropping.

I designed this for you instead:

A 3D print that will fit over the block of wood supporting the broken signal mast, that wood would be painted black.

PUSHY aren't I!!!

I never intended to leave them the way that they are, but hadn't gotten it done for several reasons.  The first was that my band saw threw a rubber tire and I was planning on using that to make an enclosure that would look like a poured concrete box that would have ballast in it surrounding the base of the signal.  The tires for my band saw are no longer made by the manufacturer, so I had to get some universal ones online.  Then we discovered the signals weren't working and we have to pull them out and start over.

With all that being said, I would love to have you make me covers for them!  I will send you measurements soon.  Thank you very much!

Art

@Mark Boyce posted:

Alan's design looks great!  That makes sense it would be anchored to the concrete wall.

Mark, I have learned never to argue with Alan over architectural details.  I don't remember ever winning, but I think one of our discussions turned out to be a draw, which I considered a win for me.  It was about retaining walls and I finally found some pictures to support my side of the argument.  LOL

Art

Art, you consider a draw as a win for you!  😄 😄

Art- the broken wires were bound to happen at some point in this project. Been there done that.....

The fact that they were in hard to access area makes perfect model railroad sense.

I like Alan's steel mount design but I would agree that a concrete shoulder on a concrete retaining wall would be acceptable as prototype. Rebarr is the miracle of concrete construction.

Keep up the good work.

Bob

Forgot the large anchor bolts into the concrete walls

Jim was able to fix the signals and returned them this afternoon and we put them back in place.  They are now both lit up and are ready for connecting to their respective Atlas signal and interlocking boards.

This is the East Bristol signal.

And this is the West Bristol signal.

It's great to get them in service, now they are ready to be connected to the boards to make them show switch position and occupancy.

Art

I have been working on a number of things other than signals in preparation for starting operating sessions and an open house.

I love doing scenery and have come to look at it as being done in phases.  What I mean by that is that when you first start on scenery it is Phase 1.  That would be the creation of land forms like mountains, hills, lakes, rivers, and just basic scenery items.  It would include ballasting the track, buildings, bridges, and etc.  The when you have that somewhat under control it's time to go back and add more detail which I call Phase 2.  Adding trees, weeds, grass, people, details on buildings, maybe lighting, and etc.  Phase 3 is when you go back and "super-detail" things and give them those special touches.  Special signs, track-side details, billboards, and etc.

One of my Phase 2 details is adding grass, weeds, and etc. to my freight yards to set them apart from the mainlines and make them look more realistic.  I used Woodland Scenics foam roadbed under my mainlines, but nothing in my yards to give them a slightly lower profile.  I did use the same size rail, but hope to further set them apart by adding grass and weeds between the yard tracks.  I used grey ballast on the mainlines and black ballast in the yards for further separation.

Here is the west end of my Eola yard before I started this new process.  There are three mainline tracks on the left my version of the "Race Track" and four yard tracks on the right.

I started on the East end of the yard with the grass, weeds, and gluing the ballast down.  This is before the glue has dried and it may look slightly different after it's completely dry.

I want to add a little more detail and am not sure what it should be?  I plan to look at my yard books for ideas.  Anyone have any suggestions?

Art

@Chugman posted:

I started on the East end of the yard with the grass, weeds, and gluing the ballast down.  This is before the glue has dried and it may look slightly different after it's completely dry.

I want to add a little more detail and am not sure what it should be?  I plan to look at my yard books for ideas.  Anyone have any suggestions?

Art

Looks good Art.

One word...junk, lots of it. Rail yards are littered with left over parts and pieces of everything from old RR ties to wheels, broken couplers, old 55 gal drums, etc.

When I did my small yard I took an old piece of track and stuck some spare trucks and wheels on it and placed it between 2 tracks.

Bob

Yes, Art you will need lots of junk, weeds and barrels of stuff!!! Here are some recent pics from my daily commute into Chicago.

Ditto, RSJB18...

I think every set of clearances I received had one order for "ties and footing" since there seemed to be ties laying everywhere we had ground work.

@RSJB18 posted:

Looks good Art.

One word...junk, lots of it. Rail yards are littered with left over parts and pieces of everything from old RR ties to wheels, broken couplers, old 55 gal drums, etc.

When I did my small yard I took an old piece of track and stuck some spare trucks and wheels on it and placed it between 2 tracks.

Bob

Thanks, Bob.  Great suggestions, I'll start looking for junk and clutter.

Art

Several years back, the MTA and LIRR did a major clean up of the ROW and tracks through Jamacia Station. I don't recall the exact number but the trash hauled away was measured in tons (double digits).

Bob

@bigtruckpete posted:

Yes, Art you will need lots of junk, weeds and barrels of stuff!!! Here are some recent pics from my daily commute into Chicago.

Thanks, Pete.  The pictures are very helpful and gets me thinking.

Art

@Rob Leese posted:

Ditto, RSJB18...

I think every set of clearances I received had one order for "ties and footing" since there seemed to be ties laying everywhere we had ground work.

Thanks, Rob.  I just cut some more ties and will stain them more of a used color and spread some between the tracks.

Art

Art

Maybe you have good maintenance guys employed that keep the tracks and trackways mowed, clean and tidy.

@AlanRail posted:

Art

Maybe you have good maintenance guys employed that keep the tracks and trackways mowed, clean and tidy.

That could go along with my having trains with no graffiti in my little "perfect world" downstairs?  They say that one of the advantages of having your own model RR is that you can do whatever you want. 

Art

@Chugman posted:

That could go along with my having trains with no graffiti in my little "perfect world" downstairs?  They say that one of the advantages of having your own model RR is that you can do whatever you want.

Art

If you were modeling an earlier era, the mainline would be groomed like a golf green; with cinders and ballast.  Yards a bit less.  I think a depression or WWII era layout would have a lot of junk, coal spillage picked up, but I wasn’t living then to know for sure.  I would think the only ‘graffiti’ would be chalk, again I wasn’t there.  That’s how I like my layout.  You are right it is always your layout!

Here are a couple pictures of the West Eola yard after I added the grass and weeds.  The next steps are to add ties, junk, clutter, storage containers, and etc.

Also hoping to get some more done on the signals this afternoon.

Art

Still working on a lot of little things to get my layout ready for prime time.  I've been doing touch-up painting, adding ballast around signal bases, putting railings on signal bridges, and etc.

Another thing that I have been working on is making my Eola yard look more realistic.  I added grass and brush and glued down my ballast.  The latest thing is adding junk around the yard.  So far I've added ties, rusty old trucks, wheels, and couplers, barrels, skids, and etc.  I also added a couple short shipping containers that I weathered to take the shine off of. 

Here are a few pictures of the progress so far.  Every time I take pictures, I see things that I didn't notice before the pics.  Something too shiny or too clean?

I see that I need more weeds, tall grasses, junk in the back of the pickups, take the shine off the pickups, and Private Property signs.  What else am I missing? 

Art

Art

you might want to remove the thumbtacks from the couplers!  And cut the trucks into pieces and broken parts.

I thought maybe I could slip that one past you.  LOL  I was in too big a hurry to get that stuff painted a rust color and I realized real railroads don't have truck mounted couplers or thumb tacks.  That will have to be phase two.  Thanks for your keen eye and not letting me get by with too much.

Art

That’s a great start. Do you have any forklifts or material handling equipment you can rough up and rust up to park between the tracks? Maybe a wheel loader painted up in MOW colors.

@Chugman posted:

I thought maybe I could slip that one past you.  LOL  I was in too big a hurry to get that stuff painted a rust color and I realized real railroads don't have truck mounted couplers or thumb tacks.  That will have to be phase two.  Thanks for your keen eye and not letting me get by with too much.

Art

Art, where I live, weeds come up everywhere & cover over desirable & undesirable  stuff quickly.  
Rich

@Chugman posted:

What else am I missing?

Art

Art, looking good!  To answer your question, it looks to me like you need lots of weeds coming up around/under the "stuff".  I doubt there's much precision weedwacking going on in a railyard.

@bigtruckpete posted:

That’s a great start. Do you have any forklifts or material handling equipment you can rough up and rust up to park between the tracks? Maybe a wheel loader painted up in MOW colors.

Pete, that's a good suggestion.  I think I have an extra forklift somewhere if I can find it.

Art

@trestleking posted:

Art, where I live, weeds come up everywhere & cover over desirable & undesirable  stuff quickly.  
Rich

Rich, I agree and will start working on that.  Weeds are definitely missing so far.

Art

@PSM posted:

Art, looking good!  To answer your question, it looks to me like you need lots of weeds coming up around/under the "stuff".  I doubt there's much precision weedwacking going on in a railyard.

I wish I could get them to grow on my model railroad yards as easy as they grow in my real yard.  Have to get my weed program into high gear.  Thanks for your ideas.

Art

Had lunch with Alan today and received his latest 3D prints so I can finish adding the railings to the signal bridges.  And he gave me the printed covers for the signal box extensions for the upper level Milwaukee Road branchline.  Hoping to have another big work day on the signal project this Friday.

Art

I started working on the covers that Alan made for my signal extensions on the upper line Milwaukee Road branchline.  Alan felt that I needed more correctly styled covers so he made me some with his 3D printer.

Here is the first one that I painted and prepared for East Bristol.  It is test fit, but not permanent yet.  What do you think?  I have to decide how high to mount it and then apply ballast on the top side around the signal.

Art