Who has Working Signals?

sJohn the relays are all 12v.  The higher voltages refer to how much current the contacts can handle.

Marty

I use MTH signals throughout controlled with an isolated rail off of gargraves track and DZ-1008 relays.  The z-stuff relays are a good value and run off of an AC fixed voltage terminal on the transformer.  While I like the z-stuff signals with the sensor, the isolated rail method works better for me as I have portions of the track that cannot be seen.  The red signal is a clue to me that I parked something out of sight and not to venture there until that route is cleared.  All of my reversing loops are similarly protected to prevent accidents in those hard to reach places.  My only regret is failing to use gargraves track throughout.  Two portions of my hidden track are left over tubular track that cannot be isolated for detection without a major tear down.  

I have nothing but good old Lionel  and Marx Post-war crossing gates, signals and Automatic Gate men.  They all operate flawlessly with isolated track sections.

Martin, So your saying the relay coil is 12 Volt But contacts are rated for 24 Volts,Yes ?

But your Picture the shows the coils said 24 Volt.  I will go back and look again. Ok then.

Thanks,John

Martin,

 In your write up you said  24 volt OK.  No problem.  

I use mostly MTH signals with an isolated rail and small DC relays wired with a full wave bridge. At junctions I use DZ 1008 relays with DZ 1000 switch machines to aline the signal aspect with the route. In some places I use Z-stuf signals to simplify wiring

I have tried quite a few,  in the end,  keep it simple for me.....  I use the Gargraves / Z-Stuff that have the built in sensor.   Just provide voltage (variable I believe,  I am running it on 12vac),  set it next to your track (install probably a better word,  2 screws) and you are good to go.

See at about the 2 minute mark on my Go Pro video to see one in action.   I now have three on the ACCR.  Like them a lot.........  

I've seen the Z-Stuff semaphores operate on a modular layout, and they look very realistic and have a prototypically slow motion.

NJ brass scale block signals. Hooked up to under table switch motors. Also I have been buying scale brass working crossing gates with sound that haven't been made in year. They are slow moving and the best ever made for "O" gauge. I have four sets now. Don

I had working signals on my layout both scale and traditional.

I used the 153 as an indicator for switch position .. just wired directly to switch.. green= through .. red= turned..

  the scale signals and crossing gates were activated by the 153IR which is the coolest thing to come along in years. Plop it down and hook it up and bingo! I used insulated rails also but not since I found out how to use the new IR activation.

I have Custom Signals on my layout.  I am in the process of wiring them.  Terry Christoper made me a circuit board to make it a little easier for me.

Norm

The reason for using 12v to operate the relays is because that is their operating voltage.  I just use my lighting circuit.

Marty

I have just one crossing signal.  It consists of an MTH crossing signal, a Walthers crossing gate and an ITT bell.  It is operated by DPDT momentary contact switch using kid finger power.  Whenever a kid comes over to watch the trains, I give him a job to make sure the crossing gate is activated whenever a train approaches the crossing.

I have a complete working prototype b&o signal system the signals were customer made by nj international I use a computer control system with  digitrax to work them similar to ho scale it took me 2 years to adapt it to o scale I will post pics of the system I love operations of a layout and it was one thing I had always wanted so if you can find any ho clubs that was my first start they were a wealth of knowledge it seems they do a lot of prototype signal systems   hope this helps

A few years ago I tried z suff activators and had nothing but trouble with them. Light would bounce of white walls and set them off. Finally pulled all of them. Have they improved? Don

I haven't had great luck with sensors either, but I haven't tried Z Stuff's.  I have used Lionel's and they worked for crossing signals, but they didn't act prototypically enough to satisfy me.  Maybe I just didn't invest enough time trying to adjust them?  I think you can set the timer and sensitivity and that would help.  But I am looking for the signals to indicate where the train is in the blocks.  If the signal is red, there is a train in the next block, yellow two blocks away, and green at least three blocks away.  I haven't figured out how to do that with sensors, but it should be doable.

Art

I do I do!!!

Oh, you meant model signals.

Current Z-stuff I just recently purchased and installed (link to a video in a previous post in this thread) have the sensor built in.   I had white walls,  now painted blue,  worked fine both ways..........   but the sensors are in the signals,  not separate.   We may not be talking about the same.

These are very reliable,  simple to install,  no brainer (important for me - smile)

Mark

I having been building my layout for a couple of years now.  One of my goals was prototypical functioning signals.  I use Atlas switches and their 6924 non-derail circuit board.  To those boards I connected PRR signals and boards sold by Custom Signals.  I have what Art is looking for in block occupancy two blocks forward and all of the appropriate signaling based on switch position.  It was a project but I am glad we did it.

dick

To: Flyboy Maybe some pictures of your Signals would be nice.

Thanks, John 

I will take some pictures and post them this weekend.

dick

Flyboy,

I would send you pictures but I'm away. But I have a small you-tube video.

Please type in ( O Gauge Subway Transit Signals )  It was only test video to see how add longer Video's down the road.

My Signals work just like the real ones that they have in the New York City Subway Systems........

Thanks, John 

Art,

I too wanted prototypical block signaling operation on my small 8x12 layout.  I chose to only add signals to my mainline and passing siding interlockings due to cost. They are activated by using isolated rails, this is nice because the system will detect one car in the block or a long train in the block.  I will say that I am very happy with the operation of the Atlas/Custom signal combination.

     As far as having any Legacy signal issues with any of my locos, I have not experienced any. Below are a few videos. First video testing of block occupation,  Second video is  grain train occupying the block.  As the grain train moves through the blocks you will see the aspect change to approach and back to stop. The signal never shows clear because the train is too long, and we are looking at the signal from the opposite direction. Enjoy the videos.

Hi, Please go to my you-tube Video 

Mark Preussler makes some signals in O scale and H.O. of an unusual Griswold prototype somewhat unique to the the Midwest (CNW, Soo, etc) but seen as far west as Washington state. The operating ones are expensive because of the hardware, but they're so unique I had to have a pair. I liked them so much I bought two sets -- one early and one late (fixed position stop sign).

Here's a prototype in action at approximately 50 seconds in.

I wish I had room for a layout, but until such time, I just get mixed signals fro the wife!

Don

I set one up tonight. simple setup walwart for power. 7.5 volts to a power block then 2 wires to the circuit board. 4 wires out to the signal and infa red sensors mounted in the track. the lights are timed 10 seconds per color. wish I could set it a little higher.

We are using Custom Signals on our club layout. We are in the early stages of installation.

Tr18,

Very nice Layout. That's what a layout should look like.

All switches protected by Signals and  Home signals.

This my layout on you-tube video below its only a small test video.

Thanks, John 

Chugman, I would start here first:

http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/signals/signals.htm

I read through this a few times when I set up my Custom Signals PRR heads on my old layout, which was not long after I put just a couple of intermediate ones in. Al's site helped me understand block occupation vs. routing vs. speed. The setup on my old layout and the setup I have now (just a bit more complicated) isn't perfectly 100% proto but it's mostly right (I think!).

Of course, Terry was a big help at Custom Signals. He even helped me a little bit with my new layout. His site is still up and I recommend reading everything on there and downloading the .pdfs. The Custom Signals/Atlas boards allow for a few methods of block status and routing input too.

Norm - I have three Atlas signals installed as a test and they have worked great.  Terry is the one that recommended all my signal blocks for bi-directional operation using my track plan.  Steve Horvath of Atlas also helped a lot.

Thanks for the link to the signal facts, it will be a big help in understanding prototypical operations.

Art

John - The layout looks great and so do the signals.  Please tell me about the signal bridge.  I need then in several locations for three-track installations.  I have considered Z Stuff as a starting point, but they would require major modification to work within the Atlas/Custom Signals control system.  My son built a four-track one out of brass that was a copy of the current ones outside Chicago's Union Station for a customer of his.  It turned out great but was very expensive and time-consuming to make.

Art

John - I watched your video and it is interesting.  I have never paid any attention to subway signals before.  They look very different than traditional railroad signals because of their tall thin shape.  They would be cool to have on an elevated subway layout.  Do you have elevated tracks on your home layout too?  On the video of the real subway, it looks like they place the signals really close together too.  On your video, after the cars pass I see the signals start to change in a different pattern than I have seen of railroad signals?  They start changing at the bottom and come up while the middle signal stays the same?  Does that mean you can proceed with caution?  How are they different that railroad signals?  When can you proceed?

Art

One thing I didn't do was set mine up for two way traffic. I also don't have any intermediate blocks as all of my blocks begin and end at control points (xovers, etc.). I sort of cheated and used intermediate (single head) signals to protect trains running against switch points, only because I didn't really need/want restricted or limited aspects when a train stays on the main. This may or may not be fully correct. Just something to think about I guess. Signalling is pretty fun.

I'm still a little unsure of what to do about bi-directional too.  I am thinking I will only use it on my upper, single-track branch line.  It has reversing loops at each end so traffic is always changing direction.  Plus my interchange tracks that connect this upper branch line to the lower double-track mainlines is also bi-directional.

Another thought is to save money and lower complexity, I may only put signals where they are most visible.  We had wanted to be able to follow signals during operating sessions, but I now think that was too aggressive and not practical.

Operating signals is a really cool feature that even non-train people can enjoy watching in operation.  And they can relate it to seeing them on real railroads even though most have not paid attention to them before.  But after seeing your layout, they might notice them in the future.

Art

My layout has just four signals at the crossover.  Rest of territory is "dark", then again I can see everything from a central point and I only have one train running at a time anyway.

With regard to the relays, the 24v at 10amp is the contact rating, not the operating voltage.   And with regard to reverse signaling, I would think it is possible with double throw double contact relays as pictured.  I am only using one side of the relay for forward signaling. But another signal could be connected to the other side to control another signal or a accessory...

Marty

John

Thanks, we are on Long Island.

Our next open house is late June, 26th, 27 and 28th. Directions and show times can be found on our website.

Art

The bridge was made from two Lionel postwar bridges which were cut up and kit bashed to make one wide one. The vertical shaft holding the target heads was also removed from the signal base and then mounted on the bridge