Quote:
Originally Posted by meurglysIII
Thanks John, I really appreciate your taking the time to help with this. I was thinking the same thing, ie to start with the signals on the platform ends, and yes I am intending to use colour light signals. Would these just be 3 aspect signals to indicate a clear route ahead?
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If anybody wants to get a really good overview into how modern signalling works, you can download the current Module S1 of the rulebook at this link...
http://www.rgsonline.co.uk/Rule_Book...%20Iss%201.pdf It's in PDF format, and although it applies to 2009, it's not changed that much from the days of 'Blue'.
As a
very rough rule of thumb to how signalling is done on the 'big' railway, distance between signals is determined by the running speed of the line, and the number of aspects is determined by how busy the traffic is.
In the UK there are basically two types of signal;
1) Controlled - which you find at junctions or anywhere that one train's movement may conflict with another's. Signallers make the decisions (known as 'Regulating' trains).
2) Automatic - When a train is chugging merry along a line with no junctions, the only concern is that it doesn't overrun the one in front it. Automatic signals, as you might guess, are worked by the passage of trains themselves.
Most mainline signals have a plate below the lamp assembly showing which type they are.
So if you're conveying the idea of a high speed mainline, Four aspect signals spaced well apart are required. Conversely, if you're modelling a quiet branchline, then Two aspect would suffice.
And of course, you can change the number of aspects throughout a line. If the linespeed/traffic increases or decreases you can vary it as it goes along accordingly. For example a line branching off a mainline might have 4 aspects to begin with, but as it gets slower it goes to 3 aspect, until it's on 2 aspect at the back of beyond. Additionally any signal leading into a bay platform ony needs to be 2 aspect, since only a single yellow can precede a set of buffer stops (which must display a red light).
And although you said that you don't want to signal your sidings, you could have fixed position light signals for authenticity.
This is a handy link here..
http://www.signalbox.org/signals/semaphore4.htm
You could use either mechanical discs or colour lights. It wouldn't be too hard to make them out of LEDs (in fact if you're a bit reticent I might even put my money where my mouth is and have a try at making a set of LEDs for you. It's a challenge I keep meaning to have a go at).
Anyway, I hope this is some help to you.