grande man
Bonafied Grande Nut
Hi everyone. We're planning to possibly signal our RR. Some of you may have seen it in the Virtual Tours section, The D&RGW Platte Canyon Sub. We're only in the planning stage currently and as it stands now, I'm a bit undecided as to how to proceed. I think it's going to take a bi-directional, three aspect system to satisfy us. I know that the Circuitron BD-1's will drive two aspects bi-directionally from each detector. Should we settle for that? It would be easier/cheaper but not nearly so realistic.
Here's what we have so far. Circuitron BD-1 Block Occupancy Detectors (3ea), SD-1 Three lamp/color signal drivers (4ea), SD-2 Semophore driver (1ea), SD-3 Tri-color Searchlight driver (1ea), PS-1 filtered power supply (1ea). I got these components from a friend and they can stay for $100.
The D&RGW used signals like these and possibly others (semophores).
I know the Circuitron boards will drive these fine but would love to hear from someone with experience using/wiring them. I've heard they require more hard wiring than some of the newer systems. That brings me to my next point. I'm thinking that we'll upgrade our current DCC system to a Digitrax Super Empire Builder. There's many possibilities with the Digitrax system and I've seen it in operation ( on the friend's layout that gave us the Circuitron boards). It'll drive all three aspect and give a flashing yellow! Each BDL-168 board will handle 16 blocks! I think we'd need a SE8C signal decoder (32 signal capability) and a computer interface.
I'm not thinking of signalling anything that's not in veiw but obviously the whole layout would need block detection. At most we'll need maybe 10 signals. I'd like to do a train order semophore in town but it would have a separate facia board switch for control and wouldn't be part of the system.
The next possibility is Bruce Chubb's system. I've got the old back issues of MR to read about it but maybe someone can interject some info on it here. Bruce kinda lost me when he started talking about writing the code to drive the signals from a PC. It does sound like an incredible system though.
Like I said, this is all just planning at this point. If you have any expertise in the area, please help us out. Any general signaling info such as where to put them etc would be helpful. I know I'll need a minimum of three blocks to get all aspects. One bridge that has to be crossed is how to divide the blocks. When we operate, the railroad will be run as a point to point (with one short section run twice, this will complicate things). When we show the RR, we usually just do a continuous run. With the layout blocked for ops the signals wouldn't work for showing the layout. We may have to give it up and just do point to point. Visitors would get to see more variety with staged trains anyhow.
Any help offered will be apprieciated. Thanks!
Here's what we have so far. Circuitron BD-1 Block Occupancy Detectors (3ea), SD-1 Three lamp/color signal drivers (4ea), SD-2 Semophore driver (1ea), SD-3 Tri-color Searchlight driver (1ea), PS-1 filtered power supply (1ea). I got these components from a friend and they can stay for $100.
The D&RGW used signals like these and possibly others (semophores).
I know the Circuitron boards will drive these fine but would love to hear from someone with experience using/wiring them. I've heard they require more hard wiring than some of the newer systems. That brings me to my next point. I'm thinking that we'll upgrade our current DCC system to a Digitrax Super Empire Builder. There's many possibilities with the Digitrax system and I've seen it in operation ( on the friend's layout that gave us the Circuitron boards). It'll drive all three aspect and give a flashing yellow! Each BDL-168 board will handle 16 blocks! I think we'd need a SE8C signal decoder (32 signal capability) and a computer interface.
I'm not thinking of signalling anything that's not in veiw but obviously the whole layout would need block detection. At most we'll need maybe 10 signals. I'd like to do a train order semophore in town but it would have a separate facia board switch for control and wouldn't be part of the system.
The next possibility is Bruce Chubb's system. I've got the old back issues of MR to read about it but maybe someone can interject some info on it here. Bruce kinda lost me when he started talking about writing the code to drive the signals from a PC. It does sound like an incredible system though.
Like I said, this is all just planning at this point. If you have any expertise in the area, please help us out. Any general signaling info such as where to put them etc would be helpful. I know I'll need a minimum of three blocks to get all aspects. One bridge that has to be crossed is how to divide the blocks. When we operate, the railroad will be run as a point to point (with one short section run twice, this will complicate things). When we show the RR, we usually just do a continuous run. With the layout blocked for ops the signals wouldn't work for showing the layout. We may have to give it up and just do point to point. Visitors would get to see more variety with staged trains anyhow.
Any help offered will be apprieciated. Thanks!