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Modern Image Signalling, Position and Types

14624 Views 70 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  jk1, 
J
Hi,

I have searched and located this thread topic before and seen the books that have been recommended. I however am still struggling to get to grips with adding modern signalling to my layout! I was hoping that a few kind people would take my included track plan and help me roughly position standard type modern image signalling (hopefully readily available on the market) in a reasonably prototypical position! I am also not very good at understanding the types so an indication to the type of signal in that position would also be very helpful. I have also uploaded a few photos (although blurry) of the layout at present!

Many thanks in advance to those that can help!

Jason








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J
John, I have added some information directly relating to your post questions and this is included below. I am sure that some of the sidings are not prototypically set out as I am no expert! I therefore am not going to get an entirly prototypical signal system but then again I am only looking to get the correct feel and types of signals that would normally be present on a modern image layout. I am also only looking to use the standard light signals available on the market.

Many thanks for any help you can give

Jason
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J
it is all fixed and wired in! to be fair i very much enjoy creating model railways but i am by no means someone who runs and operates with any form of realism but just for my enjoyment! depending on how drastic the alterations i would consider anything from those who know better! I would rather alter now whilst the track is not ballasted! Wiring and track pins can be removed and replaced! It is all DCC so alterations will not change anything just change droppers.
Jason
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J
thankyou John for taking the time and helping me! looking at the layout diagram i can see the problems you are describing! im unsure how exactly your alterations are to be made mayb a quick sketch might help me once ive uploaded some more photos. I am at uni and the layout is at my parents house. I am returning this weekend and on friday afternoon will be able to take them to aid you. I look forward to seing your recomendations.

Regards Jason
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J
ill try! the square on bit might be difficult as the room is in a barn and the roof slopes across the layout not far above! i am studying a BA in Architecture (First Year) so im fresh to the uni stuff although work load is stacking up already!

Jason
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J
i am having fun trying to get a good picture for you! due to the roof issue im stitching some photos together! Hopefully be able to get them up tonight.

Regards
Jason
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J
Ahh thats interesting! I think ive managed to stitch them together fairly well! if you compare with layout diagram should all match ok! Ive put a couple of images in as well of the layout from further away to get an idea of length and the roof problems i have for taking plan shots! I look forward to seeing your ideas!

Regards
Jason




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J
the stitched image hasnt come up very large! its not very good quality if you save the image either... what other ways could i post it so you could download it at a larger file size?

Jason
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J
if you find it isnt a big enough file size to zoom in on i could email you a full size version. im sure we could sort it out! Many thanks for your help

Jason
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J
Looking first at the complicated alterations to the 'east end' of the layout, i have drawn a detailed close up diagram of the point layouts as 'current'. The alterations to the south bay and loco line are very easy to alter. The change to a facing cross-over are a little more complicated given the space between other points... I am obviously looking at this from the 'alteration' side rather than rip up and start again! I certainly feel though that the three main alterations should be done and i can see the operational benefits! Below are a few diagrams that are hopefully self explanatory. Thankyou very much for your help, its good to be able to hear other peoples opinions and ideas as it develops a better design!

Regards Jason






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J
all of the points apart from the medium radius point as indicated is either a left or right hand standard large radius peco point code 100... these are Radius: 1524mm (60in)
Angle: 12 degrees Length: 258mm (10 1/8in)

SLE88 or SLE89 (peco product code)

Thankyou for your help, this has gone more indepth than i imagined but is looking to solve some very useful issues

Regards Jason
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J
i had another look at it this afternoon... (im meant to be a really busy architecture student!) and came up with this idea which involves alot less alterations and no 3 ways!

Regards Jason
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J
thought i would also add the other 'end' of the line with the additional cross over details... not knowing exact radius figures of track work i will need to check this when i return home again next

regards jason




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J
yes thats no problem John. Its a bit annoying being away from the layout but the upside is i can produce building kits and other items here where i cant get distracted by 'running trains'! Many thanks for your help, the subject is well over my head!

Regards Jason
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J
Yes the curved points are the Peco 'Double Radius' SL86 & SL87. I dont have any loose ones at home but i do have them on the peco photocopy sets. I will phone home and get a set scanned and emailed to me asap and forward them onto you John. I like Edwins idea as i can use points I already have!

Regards Jason
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J
well that went fairly well! my mother is not very good at using the computer! after a 30min. step by step over the phone i managed to get a scanned image emailed to me! i have now emailed it to you John. Its about 500 pixels across... my Photoshop CS3 works in pixels not dpi i think it should be a workable size. Many thanks for the trouble you are taking in helping me out! When i next go home i will have my work cut out with alterations!

Regards Jason
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J
the outer rail of the curved points (straight line) measurement is 10 inches or 25.5cm roughly! I had to ask over the phone.

I will have a look at the above in a minute when i have finished cooking my dinner!

Regards Jason
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J
thankyou John, that does seem to get over the problem! I am out today but later on this afternoon i will have a go at drawing up the solutions and posting them as a whole track plan to try and get a 'finished' layout! In the second picture i cant quite make out which points are curved! Could you just add a note on it for me! Many thanks for your help, its much apreciated.

Regards Jason
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J
right i have had a good look at the layouts and linked it all together. The drawings arnt as good as my past ones as i have run out tracing paper! I will look at the exact moving of the points when i am home at the begining of November.

The line is not to be electrified with over head wiring. Its going to be 'generaly' based around local running in Somerset, so locos etc are all desiel powered.

Thankyou for your help on this I can see it coming along and has certainly improved the layout design!

Regards Jason




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Sorry I haven't replied in a while! Have been held up completing a project over the weekend for uni, being marked today so I can relax! Thank you for all the information, I have a basic understanding now to where, why and what signals I should use! I tried to save your diagram and view it larger but it distorted too much, I have re-drawn the track plan with tracing paper this time and have added your numbers to it. Please correct me if I have miss placed some signals! I have also altered the position of the North Bay point to the east and therefore hopefully corrected the signals as suggested.

I have shown on the diagram my intended final layout, subject to completing the first section! This may help with decision about S12.

I was thinking of the Berko/Eckon range, the prices seem reasonable. Traintronics signals are available from express models which the website is here:

Traintronics

Traintronics signals are a bit pricy for a student, and my modelling skills will allow me to purchase the kit versions of Berko/Eckon signals (which ever way around the kits are!).

Thankyou for your help and suggestions.

Regards Jason
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