I saw the pictures from the trainshow thread. Does anyone like these? What type is appropriate for which railroad? My experience is that they are like telephone poles and quickly get snapped off at the base when you clean track. The only thing worse is telephone poles with wires. Maybe someone can post a picture? I don't think it is on the Atlas site yet.
Chessie: Scroll down these pictures by Col26: http://www.trainboard.com/ultimatebb.php/ubb/get_topic/f/9/t/007037.html#000000
The Atlas N scale signals are similar to the Sunrise Enterprises Searchlight Signals. I use the sunrise signals on the JJJ&E. They are the Santa Fe type. The Sunrise Bi-polar leds are very nicely made and well detailed. I haven't had problems with the signals snapping off. Sunrise Enterprises has very nice N scale signals. Stay cool and run steam....
I haven't given signals a lot of thought as of yet, figures some day I may get around to it. With a big manufacture getting involved it should result in lower prices with mass distribution. Ultmately this should allow less advanced modelers like myself to exspand our horizons. With all our advanced materials today I would think a more flexable telephone pole would be a popular item. I think the first thing we learn in this hobby is telephone poles snap EASILY! We NEED flexible telephone poles.
Signaling is really easy to do if you have good signal boards. Logic Rail Technologies makes great signal boards that work with all types of signals. I use their signal boards for Sunrise Enterprises searchlight signals. Here is the site: Logic Rail Technologies - Signal Boards Logic Rail Technologies is out of Houston Texas. Stay cool and run steam..... [ November 15, 2005, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: Powersteamguy1790 ]
Logic Rail Technologies also has some great information on general signal protocol: The General Code of Operating Rules for Signaling Stay cool and run steam....
We have detectors on our NTrak layout, so I made a 90d corner and gapped it at 45d so I could put in signals on the blue line. The detectors put out 12V, so I just used standard Radio Shack relays to do the logic. There are 5 relays on the single head mast, but it took 7 relays to do the double headed mast, since there is a switch between the two signals. It's VERY reliable, and immune to electrical surges (that's the same reason the real railroads still use Victorian era glass covered relays!).
Tony: Ther are many ways to design and operate a good signal system on a model railroad. Years ago I used to use standard Radio Shack relays on HO and O gauge layouts. I prefer the use of signal boards as they work well with DCC layouts. Stay cool and run steam.....
Hmmm, me confused. The signal board doesn't care if you are DCC or DC. It's the detector that has to know the difference, right?
Nice more Signals, now if only we could get some quality working Semephores in N Scale, that'd be a great boost!
Hmmm, me confused. The signal board doesn't care if you are DCC or DC. It's the detector that has to know the difference, right? </font>[/QUOTE]The detectors are built into the board and wired accordingly. Stay cool and run steam......
The pictures of the Atlas signals look like the tri-light type, not searchlights . . . but it's kind of hard to tell. Personally, I'd be up for searchlight style....
The ones Atlas had on display at Trainfest in N scale and HO scale were of the Tri-light type not search light, the O scale one they had there was of the search light variety: here's another pic:
Dave: The Sunrise Enterprises Searchlight N scale signals are very nice and well detailed. Stay cool ands run steam.....
