Realistic HO signage at turnouts

[Richard1952]

I am looking for HO realistic signage at turnouts / switches to identify the switch number (15 switches total) for throwing by Digitrax DT6D or other throttle.
I want to label the signage with the actual switch number as I run multiple trains around the layout but make the effort unobtrusive.

 

[ctclibby]

Richard: I have not seen anything of that type in this neck of the woods for house switches. CP's have the either the Mile Post or location name on the bungalow: IE CP233 or West Libby; this is BNSF territory, other RR's may differ ... you get the idea.

I don't see why you could not roll your own and do something that makes sense to you. Small and easy to see that makes sense?

L8r

 

[cv_acr]

Well, this is inherently "model railroady" so I'm not sure any examples of "realistic" signage is going to be in the offering.

Tracks are all identified by some numbering, and the switch stand(s) leading to a track "may" sometimes have the track number stenciled on the target, but not always.

Controlling switches via radio-control is very rare and only found in specific examples. Most switches are simple hand-thrown switches, or they're interlocked switches which are controlled from a tower or remote dispatcher panel.

 

[trailrider]

Generally, signals on main lines only have numbers if they are part of block indicators, Interlocking signals probably are not so clearly defined. There are a number of possible configurations. Say we have a main line and a diverging track beyond a switch (which is what the railroads call, what we call turnouts). A train approaching the switch from the point end might be shown a single green light if the points are aligned for the main. If the points are aligned do the diverging route, an additional lamp on the other side of the support might show green, with the light on the main side showing something like red-over-yellow. The lights on the diverging side might also have an amber (yellow) or even red over green, indicating the engineer should slow somewhat as it enters the diverging route. If the diverging route is to a siding, there might be some other combination to order slow. At the same switch, a train approaching it from the frog end might show green-over-green or maybe red-over-green if there is no oncoming traffic and the points are aligned to allow an approaching train to come ahead. If the points are align for the diverging route, the oncoming signal for the main would be red-over-red for a positive stop, to prevent the train from running against the thrown points, or a train about to enter the diverging route.

There are a number of other combinations, depending on other orders required. Different railroads would probably have different configurations. My interlocking turnouts are connected to the track and in several places, power is cut off for a distance to stop an oncoming train when the signal is set against it. I saw a book on signalling at a LHS, but, didn't buy it as I am already set up on my layout.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Green board all the way!

 

[cv_acr]

Say we have a main line and a diverging track beyond a switch (which is what the railroads call, what we call turnouts). A train approaching the switch from the point end might be shown a single green light if the points are aligned for the main. If the points are aligned do the diverging route, an additional lamp on the other side of the support might show green, with the light on the main side showing something like red-over-yellow. The lights on the diverging side might also have an amber (yellow) or even red over green, indicating the engineer should slow somewhat as it enters the diverging route.

That is definitely not how any interlocking signals would be configured.

Each signal controls one track, and each track only ever has one signal controlling it at any point. It can fan out into 10 or even 100 tracks beyond the signal and there will only ever be one signal on the entering track. They may have multiple heads on one post, that are all read as a unit to provide the "indication" (what the signal tells you).

The [one] signal for trains approaching from the points end will show either "Clear" (or "Approach") for straight through, or "Slow Clear" (or "Slow Approach") or "Diverging Clear/Approach", whatever that looks like in the particular railroad's rulebook. Or "Stop" if the signal hasn't been cleared by the dispatcher or tower operator, and/or the track is blocked.

There are definitely not lights on the main side and lights on the diverging side at the points.

Now at the frog end, there will be two signals... as again each track has one signal, and each signal has one track.

 

[ctclibby]

That is definitely not how any interlocking signals would be configured.

Each signal controls one track, and each track only ever has one signal controlling it at any point. It can fan out into 10 or even 100 tracks beyond the signal and there will only ever be one signal on the entering track. They may have multiple heads on one post, that are all read as a unit to provide the "indication" (what the signal tells you).

The [one] signal for trains approaching from the points end will show either "Clear" (or "Approach") for straight through, or "Slow Clear" (or "Slow Approach") or "Diverging Clear/Approach", whatever that looks like in the particular railroad's rulebook. Or "Stop" if the signal hasn't been cleared by the dispatcher or tower operator, and/or the track is blocked.

There are definitely not lights on the main side and lights on the diverging side at the points.

Now at the frog end, there will be two signals... as again each track has one signal, and each signal has one track.

Just to add:

There is also a 'Lunar' aspect which indicates "Diverging Slow" and/or friends in the case of a non-bonded siding. If taking the diverging route, the point end aspect would be Red over Lunar. That is for BNSF in my neck of the woods, no idea if other RR's use Lunar or not.

Frog end could also have 'Advance' heads below the 'Home' head.

L8r

 

[J.Albert]

Signals vary depending on where you are and upon what raiilroad you're running.

Going down the River Line in NY state from Selkirk, you could start out with color lights, then down in North Jersey end up seeing PRR style position lights.

On an Amtrak run from Boston to New York, you'll start out in Boston with color lights, spend time on the Shore Line using cab signals WITHOUT block signals, then at New Haven enter Metro North, which uses ground-based "traffic light" signals that have only 3 aspects (Proceed Cab, Stop Signal, Absolute Block) the rest is cab signals, then enter the Hell Gate line (using PRR style positions lights, they may have changed that since I retired), and finally into the Penn Station tunnels and station which uses color lights again.

In the Northeast, I don't ever recall seeing "lunar white" as an interlocking signal. If you were diverging onto a non-signalled track, you'd get a "Restricting" -- single low (dwarf) yellow, or (on a high signal) yellow UNDER one or two red units.