tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26391908.post826883134300865164..comments2024-03-27T09:44:09.432+00:00Comments on Peckforton Light Railway: Modelling motivationsGE Rikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825168874175339847noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26391908.post-920935840348304132016-05-20T07:46:18.500+00:002016-05-20T07:46:18.500+00:00(previous comment deleted because the link didn...<i>(previous comment deleted because the link didn't work)</i><br /><br />Thanks for that detailed response, Tim. Since writing this post, I've actually instigated a signalling system - <a href="http://riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/how-i-constructed-19-semaphore-signals.html" rel="nofollow">http://riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/how-i-constructed-19-semaphore-signals.html</a> - but there's plenty of useful info here on where they should be sited. Because of their delicacy, I don't deploy the signals every time I run trains, but when I know I'm going to get a few days of decent weather I put them out GE Rikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01825168874175339847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26391908.post-64893642303812800582016-05-20T07:42:23.622+00:002016-05-20T07:42:23.622+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.GE Rikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01825168874175339847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26391908.post-18339125709367638242016-05-18T17:45:24.147+00:002016-05-18T17:45:24.147+00:00A "Signalling System" could be lots of d...A "Signalling System" could be lots of different things, not all involving red arms nodding up and down on white posts. For your prototype and era some form of "staff and ticket" system would be typical, although with the complexities of your layout (with parts of the model line representing 3 different prototype "sections") you might need a Mobius Staff. You wouldn't need much in the way of signals (you could get away with none at all if your loop points were locked by the staff) but if you like 'em have 'em! With my professional hat on I'd say that all the many, varied, complex rules surrounding signals can be boiled down to a few simple guidelines.<br /><b>1) Put a signal where you want a train to STOP.</b> If there's no signal a train won't stop, so it's the red aspect that matters. This would mean putting the signals on the approach to any pointwork, facing (a "home" outside a passing station) or trailing ("starters" to let a train depart). The latter need to protect the "fouling point", so a train stood there isn't going to get clonked by another entering the loop in the other direction.<br /><b>2) Only tell the driver what he needs to know.</b> If you like signals it's easy to overdo it, with every possible move in every condition covered until it all gets a little overwhelming. Typical narrow gauge/ light railway practice would be to only provide a signal for a movement made by a passenger train, or running moves off passenger lines. So that cuts out shunting discs, subsidiary "calling on" arms and all sorts of fiddling around. Junction signals would only be needed where there there really are multiple directions to choose from- most passing stations have a definite "up" and "down" and only right-direction moves are signalled.<br /><b>3) Make sure the driver can SEE the signals.</b> A lot of fun can be had with this, getting your eye (or a camera) down to drivers' eye level to see if the signal they're approaching is clearly visible. Railways went to some lengths to ensure this, and there are lots of simple but interesting ideas to model: sighting boards, brackets (including underslung), banner repeaters, or even placing the signals on the "wrong side" because that puts them on the outside of a curve so improves the sighting.<br /> Distant signals come into this too- only marginally useful for narrow gauge & light railways but they do add a welcome splash of colour. The rules said you didn't need them unless the home wasn't visible from a quarter-mile away, and also they didn't actually have to work. A non-moving "fixed distant" arm can serve as an advance warning to a driver on the approach to a terminus or crossing place, since every train has to stop there.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17213636225447366491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26391908.post-15252704814556041932011-03-26T17:05:18.637+00:002011-03-26T17:05:18.637+00:00Thanks for the comment James. It is indeed difficu...Thanks for the comment James. It is indeed difficult to think of any other hobby which entails electronics, mechanics, woodworking/joinery, metalwork, resin casting, historical enquiry, surveying, gardening, landscaping, bricklaying, concrete moulding, working in plastics, sculpting, painting and the art of weathering. Not to mention the maths of ratios and scaling.GE Rikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01825168874175339847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26391908.post-74321285827750389202011-03-24T21:33:34.769+00:002011-03-24T21:33:34.769+00:00Spot on! This is exactly why Model Railways are su...Spot on! This is exactly why Model Railways are such an incredible hobby in any scale - it's that combination of a whole variety of model making skills, historic research and combining it with some artistic interpretation that makes the best and most memorable railways. I'd definitely include your line in that list :)James Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09612994249392438901noreply@blogger.com