Signals of the West Bottoms

Several weeks ago I posted a blog concerning the frustration of trying to install signals on my West Bottoms. After two weeks of hit and miss, they are in. Here is a picture (poor iphone quality) of a local pushing a GBW boxcar into Weber Paper crossing the MOPAC. SLSF is protected buy a dwarf signal and the MOPAC mainline by a two position pole signal. Hard to tell, but the LEDs do work and switch opposite red/green.

This is really a great thing about this hobby. My early track wiring looks like I did it with a welder. After several tries I am now wiring LEDS with about 1/16 inch of connector to work with. There have many things in the last two years that have started this way, going from it can't be done to wow that was satisfying. The pole signal almost went in the trash several times, but now I am quite pleased with my efforts.

John

 

Jim:

The bridge is straight Walthers, cut to fit the space. The KC PCC car going across is next to the old Rudy Patrick building. I have a picture of this circa early
1950's and tried to duplicate it. I remember riding those street cars downtown; buying clothes for school at the Jones Store, eating a the Pioneer Grill or Italian Gardens. And of course a peek in the window at Joe Falk's toy store and maybe go in and pick up the new 1934 Ford coupe from AMT if I can come up with $1.50.

John

 

Tom:

Nothing fancy here. I hooked the signals up to a spdt switch. The signals are from Oregon Rail Supply. The dwarfs are pretty easy, just hooked 22 guage wire up to the prongs, negative is in the center. You have to use a resister (supplied) on the negative lead. The outside prongs are for red/greeen, you determine which one by trial and error. The pole signal is hooked up the same, except you are dealing with guage 30 something wire which will drive you crazy. No detectors or anything like that. The MOPAC is a main line and always greeen. When a Frisco freight gets to the dwarf it must stop and sound it's horn. The tower operator (me) throws the switch and turns MOPAC to red, Frisco to green. After the Frisco passes it is reversed. There is also a KCT crossing south of this crossing (to the right) protected by dwarfs. So switching in here can be a challenge not blocking the crossings or streets.

John

 

Jim:

I am planning my first op session in January. Here is what I have in mind. The session will last 90 minutes. We will not be on a fast clock, slow operation is the key.
However I will start a stop watch (my iphone). Prior to the operaitng session I will randomly pick maybe 5 two minutes blocks where the MOPAC must remain clear.
So let's say my first block is at 12 minutes into the session. If an operater stops at the dwarf at 11 minutes and blows his horn for clearance from Tower 2, he will have to wait until 14 minutes to get the green signal since 11 minutes would be cutting it close to get across. There will also be a couple of trains on the KCT crossing to the south to avoid.

I am also looking at fusees at the major streets and padlocks on the switches that must be unlocked before being thrown. With that, setting scale speed limit of 10 mph and using Preiser figures as crew members to drop and pick up it could take some time for a simple three car train. That is my goal. Not for everyone, no crack limiteds here, just gritty railroad work in the trenches.

Yes, my locomotives (Walthers FM's) are DCC sound equiped.

John