Model Railroad Signals
From My Own Experience
On My Utopia Northern.

Signal bridge at Underhill North

For the past few years I have been experimenting with adding trackside model railroad signals to my HO layout. This has involved making my own signals from Oregon Supply kits, scratchbuilding signals and a brass signal bridge, assembling circuit boards and adding all the electrical wiring. It has also involved learning more about how prototype railroads used signals to control movement of trains.

I started by installing some commercial circuit boards from Logic Rail that use photosensors in the trackbed to detect passing trains. Not being completely satisfied with that setup (because the signals would time out after 30 seconds) I "graduated" to using current transducers (CTs) to detect the presence of trains and lighted rolling stock, ie, anything that draws current from the rails. I have been using Bill Hudson's circuits and he has been guiding me through the process.

If you're interested in adding model railroad signals and are a DIY kind of modeller and are prepared to do a lot of the work yourself, use this page as a starting point to my various and sundry projects. Signals are time consuming and complex and take a lot of wiring, but they're fun. It's great to see them changing even if you and your operators don't always follow the rules and "run a red" once in awhile. At least, my operators still ignore them half the time. My layout is still in the testing and learning stage so I don't mind. Anyway, here are some ideas for you to consider.

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