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First Signal Bridge

I successfully built and installed the first working signal bridge in Nicholas.  It's an Oregon Rails bridge, and I added extra signal heads for both eastbound and westbound traffic.  For wiring I am using old Cat 5 network patch cables that were removed from an old datacenter and discarded.  I cut the connector off one end, wire it to my S/MINI, then use in-line connectors to create longer runs.  So far I've only needed to join three cables.  It works great!

Signals

Michael,

Here's one area where you are definitely out of my realm of experience. While I appreciate the look of good signals, especially ones that operate, I've never really been that interested in having them on my layout. That's probably due to a lack of knowledge, and even more so to a lack of funds! 

Having said that, your signals look great. I'm also always amazed at how clean and well organized all your wiring is. Excellent job!

Thanks for giving me credit for splitting up the blog posts, but it's undeserved. I can't remember who, but doing that was suggested to me by a fellow MRH reader when I first started making posts myself. Personally, I think it's a little easier to digest than just one long post that goes on page after page.

Bridge in action

Do you think you could put up a video of the signal bridge in action?

I like the looks of your modeling and wiring.

Thanks for sharing.

Nicholas West Signal Bridge

Hi Jim,

It took me a while, but here is a short video of the Nicholas West Signal Bridge in action.

Initially the switch is set for the main, with a green indication, and the arrival track shows red.   Both indications are red once the train is past the bridge.

I then throw the switch and back the train into the arrival track.  The signal changes to Yellow for the arrival track, showing a slow indication if I were to pull back onto the main.

Finally, I throw the switch back to the main, which changes the arrival track to red, and the main to green.

Thanks

Michael,

Thanks for the video, I like it.

Working on Signal Bridge for N Cabin

I'm working on my next Oregon Rails signal bridge for Nicholas "N" Cabin.  I follow a different assembly order than is printed in the instructions.  I'm thinking of making a separate Blog when I build the next one, if this one turns out well.  Fingers crossed.  

So far I've wired the signal heads and completed most of the bridge construction.  Here's where I am at the moment.  In the second photo, all the wires have been run through the bridge and out the bottom, and the bottom girder glued in place to hold them all in.

Looking great

I did a great web search for Oregon Rails (sort of hoping for an O scale version) and found these kits are very reasonably priced and look great. It hadn’t occurred to me what it would take to make the heads light appropriately and ended up reading all of Rail Logic’s pdf of the various systems. This may be more than I want to get into but I can certainly see the appeal. 

Will the A&SC have a CTC console at some point and have you looked into how these masts will be lighted? Several others on this site are doing similar signal bridge projects and the wiring looks way over my head! 

@Neil

Hi Neil,

Yep, if you look backward a few comments you'll see videos of the previous two signals in action.  In fact, I had the signalling hardware and software all figured out before I even designed the railroad!  I'm using Bruce Chubb's C/MRI hardware interface to connect all the signals to my computer.  Then I'm using JMRI to run the signal logic.  

C/MRI is great stuff!  https://www.jlcenterprises.net/ I'm using the detectors, and I built resistor wheelsets.  Then I have two S/MINI's for inputs (from the detectors and switch machines) and outputs (to the signal LEDs).

JMRI is great for the signal logic.  http://jmri.org/ No programming to speak of.  I drew a layout panel, added signal heads to it, and then adjusted the automatic logic to suit my situations.  In fact, when I changed my layout plan, I just moved and edited the plan in JMRI to match, and the signals still work!

I created a spreadsheet to match up all the variables.  It sounds daunting, but it's really not that complicated.  It's just like wiring a layout for DC on multiple throttles.  You do something once, and then repeat it a zillion times.  So if you can figure out how to wire one LED, the rest is just duplicating.

A word on the Oregon Rail signals.  I think they are terrific, and reasonably priced.  They are working great for me. Unfortunately, the gentleman who owned the company passed away a short time ago.  I have heard that product is hard to come by now, but since I bought a large supply last year I can't verify that.  I hope not, or not for too long, because these are really great signals!

@Neil - CTC Machine

Oh yes, you asked about a CTC Machine.  I'd LOVE one, but I don't think the size of my layout really warrants it, plus most of the layout is a branch line.  So I'm planning just ABS signals.  But . . . never say never!

I do have two local panels, one for "N" cabin in Nicholas and one for "AC" Cabin where the Ashley Creek branch leaves the main.  These panels allow the tower operator to override the ABS and set direction of travel East or West.  I'm thinking, in operations, the "dispatcher" (probably me) would use these to set signals for arrival and departure of Eastbound and Westbound trains from staging, or to override the normal flow of the timetable and control the pace of the operating session.  Maybe . . .

Here's a picture of the AC Cabin panel.  The lower switch will control the signal direction.  Center position is for Auto ABS Signalling.  The cabin model will go where the paper is pinned down.

And here's a picture of the JMRI Layout that controls the signals via the computer

Nicely Done

You designed the signal system before the layout was started?! Wow. I seem to just get started and the monster grew. Now, looking back, I wish I'd given more things careful thought but have never reached this level of completion before.

I look forward to seeing your progress. Someday I'll do a road trip (after the airplane to the continent, of course) and visit my favorite roads. You and Paul (brother from a different mother?) are definately on the list!

Better Man than Me!

Michael,

I read all this stuff about signaling and my brain freezes and gets all mushy. I've never had the desire to do signals on my layout, but if I did, I'd sure like to have them turn out as good as yours! Great job!

I'll second Neil's thoughts as well. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods, I'll definitely be making a call to stop by and see this amazing layout first hand!

Always look forward to your updates!

Always Welcome

Thanks for the compliments guys.  You're always welcome her in O-H-I-O!  And right back at you for a visit.  My wife has been bugging me about a trip to Hawaii . . . 

Nicholas East "N" Cabin Signal Bridge Installed

Check!  (although I forgot to turn the power on for this photo, and I'm going to install an equipment cabinet, and . . )

Note that I moved the TTTO signal in front of the cabin.  As the story goes, it was originally in front of the station, but as traffic grew and more mines were opened, Nicholas warranted a nifty new brick signal cabin and the TTTO signal was moved there.

Here we go again

I'm getting ready to start laying track up the branch to Ashley Creek.  To do that, I have to get the electronics in place to wire the track and signals.  And to do that, I need to install the next (and last) CMRI S/MINI Node and track detection mother board.  So . . . here's a start . . . I'm going to pre-wire everything this time at my workbench, and then all I'll have to do under the layout is connect wires to the terminal strips.  That should be much easier!

Awe!

Michael,

I stand in awe of your work! The signal work on your layout is top notch. I'm not planning to do any signaling on my layout, but if I ever do, I know who I'm going to contact!

All wired up.

Paul - thanks for your kind words!

Yesterday I had off work for inclement weather (it's great working for a school system), so I spent a good part of the day finishing the new signal board.  This will control all the signals for the Ashley Creek branch.  I've spent a lot of time on the floor, wiring the other board, so this time I did as much wiring and labeling as I could at my table.  Hookup should be a lot quicker this way, and the board looks much neater too. 

My wife helped me mount it to the wall, so now I just have to connect it to the previous board and I'm ready to lay track and wire up the branch!  I can't wait to switch some coal mines.  

Reboot

Michael - Hope you don’t mind that I resurrect this thread. After quite a while now, I have moved forward on a new layout based on a portion of the Oahu Railway (OR&L) partly due to my injury and partly to try some signaling and prototype modeling. The signal board above looks amazing and complicated. The OR&L used semaphore signals so now the question of how to display the correct aspect must be solved.

Since the lamp color never changes but the signal head rotates a colored lense instead,  I wonder what if a switch motor could be controlled to stop at the three positions using l similar hardware. 

On a separate note I am still waiting for the balance of the components for my DCCOD project. How this is integrated into JMRI is still foreign to me but baby steps.

@Neil

Hi Neil,

I'm excited to see you're moving forward with your DCCOD project!  It's really not too bad, once you get going.  It's a lot like the old DC Block wiring for multiple throttles.  You wire one, and then all the others are just repeat, repeat, repeat . . . 

Just checking, did you mean to post your question to my thread, or to Rick's?  

I haven't wired semaphores, but it HAS been done.  One way is to use the Tam Valley 3-Way Servo controller.  It works with CMRI.  Here's a link:   https://www.tamvalleydepot.com/products/dual3way.html

I'll be happy to help as you get started with your CMRI implementation.  It's an awesome product.  I was in Grand Rapids MI, where the creator Bruce Chubb lives, just this past weekend.  I had hoped to stop by and see him and his layout, but the schedule didn't allow.  I still hope to get up there to operate some time soon.

Chubb

Michael - I have been following Bruce in the press for decades and finally wrote to ask questions about CMRI. He replied really fast with advice and articles from the past. Really nice guy. 

Tam Valley! Thanks. My receivers for the dead rail engines are from Duncan but hadn't thought about him for signaling. Btw Semaphores in O scale are killer expensive! 

My post just got edited to say "Michael". Sorry. Rick and Paul have/had great layouts and are are also favorites to follow. The layout has been stagnating while I fret over the wiring. Not that I hate wiring but have never jumped in this deep. Thanks for offering to help. I'll need some encouragement at very least. 

O scale Semaphores

Neil, I hope you move forward because animated O-scale Semaphores would be freaking awesome!  I thought about using some, but they're so small and fiddly in HO.  My eyesight isn't getting any better, and I'll be lucky to get my signal lights installed!  Dang floaters!

Anyway, the whole DCCOD, S/MINI, Servo - Semaphore thing is DEFINITELY doable, and will be very cool indeed.  The hardest parts, and they're not hard, will probably be connecting the S/MINI to your PC (if you do an S/MINI) and calibrating the servos.  The Tam Valley probably makes that easy.  Next hardest is setting up the JMRI signals, but the best thing there is go slow.  And, go through the tutorial by Robert Bucklew.  It's awesome.   https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203992175-JMRI-Panel-Pro-Tutorial-by-Robert-Bucklew

Michael: Thanks for the link

Michael:

Thanks for the link - perfect!

These looked great from NJ International but at Fifty Six bucks a pop, I want icecream on mine. There must be another option. 

O-Scale Semaphore

Hi Neil,

I've seen your work and you're very handy.  I'm thinking in O scale you could roll your own.  How many do you need?  Are you thinking two aspect or three?

Here's a train-order semaphore I built for my N&AC.  Admittedly it is non-working.  But with a little extra effort it could be functional.  I'm thinking make the signal blade out of brass sheet instead of paper, and install colored lenses.  Add an always-on surface-mount LED to light the lens.  One brass wire would connect to the servo.  And then control the servo from JMRI/CMRI.  

Signals and Order Boards

Michael:

I hope you don’t mind my using your post for my own education!

The question de jour is the difference between Order Boards and Signals. I hadn’t thought about this until looking at the pictures I’ve collected (following your suggestion to diy one). There were probably 6-8 signals in the area leading up and through the wye. The station had an order board that looked different. As far as I can tell this was just the arm but there simply aren’t many good pictures. These are all upper quadrant type so could have been similar. Any ideas?