The stretch of train track running through out county, since I was a child in the 50's, has had signal poles running along side the track. These pole have at least three cross bars and each bar has 10-12 glass insulators supporting the many signal wires. Lots of wires! A given pole carries 20-30 wires. Only last year did UP finally take them out, apparently using a newer system. Even when I worked for Union Pacific, I don't remember anyone other than the signal guys knew much about how any of it worked. I can only assume it carried semaphore and switching signals. I would like to do the same on my layout. My layout is on a hollow core door and because of the way I must store it, I can't have anything on the bottom. I "could" cut holes in it for wiring but would rather not any more that absolutely necessary. So far, I must cut one servo size hole for my turntable and another to hold my DCC-EX command interface. If I could keep the 14 groups of switch wires up top, it would save a lot of cutting. So this is my plan so far. Just today I read about CDU's. I will duplicate that function via software. I tested each switch as I installed them today and noticed they probably don't like to be continually energized. Any thoughts on this? Keshka
You can buy telegraph poles on amazon... https://www.amazon.com/24pcs-Model-Scale-Telegraph-Telephone/dp/B09W9KC7JW?th=1 you can by N scale 'EZ Line'... https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/paint_tools/ezline/EZLine.html That is if you have the patience to string all those wires...
------------------------------------------------------------ PERFECT! Thankyou! (yes I do! (grin)) Those will save a bunch of work. I have been printing stuff with my 3d printer but those poles are too small and end up a smear.
The wire would have to be incredibly fine, and stranded, to hang naturally from the poles. If you start with a 2" base layer of rigid foam insulation board on top of your HCD, then the underside of the foam board gives you room to cut channels for wiring under your layout, without having to punch holes in your HCD. You could use a small wood-working router to cut those channels, or a hand router plane, or just cut them with a knife (esp. for V shaped channels). Then you can use fine thread that should hang more naturally from the poles. Of course, you would NOT want to glue the base foam board layer to your HCD... This is my plan for wiring my HCD layout. "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
There were dedicated positions on each arm. The signal department would have had blueprints for these. Signal circuits, dispatcher lines, company phones and....
