Upgrading signals

Check out the Custom Signals (now manufactured by Atlas).  They had a cooperative agreement on the developing and marketing of the signals.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/custom-signals

Ericstrains did a tutorial on them several years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y31p1AiPaWA

Jan

If you can get Custom Signals even the Atlas ones I'd go there.

I was 3D printing signals until I saw the Custom ones.

I am of a varied opinion. I have MTH / Lionel / Z-stuff  and Atlas O signals. First off, all but Atlas O can be triggered by IR Detectors. Atlas O operates via circuit boards under the layout and isolated sections of track. You can substitute an IR detector for the isolated track if you want but the circuit board is still needed.  Z-Stuff has a built in IR detector so all you need to do is connect to power and you are done. I like to cover the sensor with black electrical tape and connect to a detector more up line.

Depending on what you are looking for:
1. cantilever signals -  I like MTH. They are solid and easy to connect and can accommodate  4 lights.

2. one or one over one signals - I like Lionel but have standardized on Z-stuff. Lionel is usually silver colored and Z-Stuff is black. I like the black. Z-Stuff comes one color - yellow ( I think Pennsy style) are 3 color.

3. dwarf signals - I use theses to indicate turnout position - I like  Z-Stuff 1011R followed by MTH.

4. If you are operating a eastern style model railroad you may be interested in NJ Signal Co.

I have most definitely standardized on Z-Stuff IR detectors. They are small and with the 1075 one can connect Z-Stuff/ MTH/ Lionel and even Atlas O through the circuit boards. Only glitch is that you may have to raise them slightly to get the IR beam on target. I usually set them on top of track bed. If you standardize on Z-Stuff then you can use the 1060.

You can design a proto typical signal system that works on track detection and switch turnout position using the Atlas/Custom signal signals. I have over 70 target lights on my layout. Not inexpensive, however once I got the wiring correct, they work beautifully.

@Joe Fauty posted:

2. one or one over one signals - I like Lionel but have standardized on Z-stuff. Lionel is usually silver colored and Z-Stuff is black. I like the black. Z-Stuff comes one color - yellow ( I think Pennsy style) are 3 color.

FYI, PRR 7-bulb signals should be all yellow.

These are very good insights as I’m still in the planning and procuring phase. Can anyone provide some video? Thank you.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

FYI, PRR 7-bulb signals should be all yellow.

I typed too fast - the 1060V is pennsy style is 7 lights all yellow. The 1050v is three light and three color (left this out in post)

OK Joe, all is forgiven. 😂

If you use the Custom Signals, you can design your signal system so it works prototypically, as opposed to just Clear (green), Approach (yellow) and Stop (red).

As an example, if you line a main line switch to the diverging route (for a crossover or a siding) you can program the system to show an Approach Medium (yellow over green) to show your engineers that they need to slow to medium speed (30 mph) at the switch. When leaving the siding, the signal could show Medium Clear (red over green) which tells your engineers that they need to run no faster than Medium Speed (30 mph) until their train clears the switch.

You can add a lot of operating interest and fun with prototypical signals.

@Rich Melvin posted:

If you use the Custom Signals, you can design your signal system so it works prototypically, as opposed to just Clear (green), Approach (yellow) and Stop (red).

Which "custom signals" are you talking about here Rich?

Custom signals were and still are better than anything sold else ware including MTH, LNL or Atlas  or WeHonest

I have a few of his early multiple head signals that are angled not straight forward

His crossing signals were the best as well.

You will never find another crossing signal having that level of detail, like having an engineer's viewport!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Which "custom signals" are you talking about here Rich?

I should have been more clear. I'm talking about the "old" Custom Signals that I guess Atlas now sells? A little computer programming and they can act just like the real thing.

My custom signals in action. I have 3, 2 and single aspect versions.

I created a plan based on my layout, then used XLS to create a mounting board that includes all the control boards with wire labels. The custom signals website clearly explains how to wire the various boards together.

You then connect all the power and common wires to each board, so all the boards on the panel are powered from two directions (in case a wire breaks). The wires are colour coded, red and black for power and common, yellow for switches and green for track occupancy detection. I labelled each end of each wire to match the wire name on the printed plan.

You then use 4 conductor phone wire to connect all the signal boards, and to connect the signal boards to the signals on the layout. Be sure to use a high quality phone plug.

I then slide the board under the layout. I have a long wire connection so I can take the panel out from under the layout and place it on my lap while sitting comfortably in a chair. This lets me do any trouble shooting and repairs in comfort. Very important design feature.

This method allowed me to do all the pre-wiring down in my work room. Up in the train room, I simply had to add the phone wire from the board to the signal on the layout, and bring in all the switch and occupancy wires to the terminal strip on the top of the panel.

This was a very fun project, and produces a prototypical signal system that works like the real thing. If you run a red light, bad things tend to happen.