Model Railroad Guide to Signals and Interlockings Review

In this video I review the book Model Railroad Guide to Signals and Interlockings by Dave Abeles, published by Kalmback Media.
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[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Here is a review of another must-have book for model railroaders--Track Planning for Realistic Operation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGiohYuoYp16i9E

[@michaelmorgan7893]

Agreed. The Colorado Model Railroad Museum has a beautiful layout with a fully operating signal system. Makes it come alive.

[@brianburns7211]

Thank you for your review of the book. Having been a railroader for over twenty years, knowing how signals are designed to function is not a problem. For me it is about deciding what hardware and logic software to use. I’m looking at the plus and minus attributes of them.

[@tseckwr3783]

I, too, am very interested in Railroad Signals and how they work. Just started into the sections regarding model railroad. I agree with the comments about the editing which makes it hard to keep track. Edit the problems Ron details and the book will be a real winner.

[@kraigsickels3918]

Ron ..... my wife bought me that book for me 😁 and l very happy with it. I have a model railroad and always wanted a working signaling system, what a great book!!!!

[@andyambrose2921]

Best value for money book I have bought for ages. It's a real education.

[@HillBillyRailRoad]

Good morning brother that book is the best thing for helping us out

[@randydobson1863]

HELLO RON ITS IS RANDY AND I LIKE U VIDEO IS COOL THANKS RON FRIENDS RANDY

[@larrymoore6640]

I'm one of the ones that like the little details in a model railroad. It would be so nice to have a layout with a signaling system that works as one unit.

[@jolliemark6294]

Wasn't going to get this one. But after hearing just what is in it I guess I'm going too have to pick this one up too....thanks for sharing 👍😀

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

I think you will not regret it.

[@StanFerris]

Hey thanks, Ron! I haven't ventured into signals on my HO layout yet, although we use them at our 7.5" gauge club. Sounds like a great resource.

[@michaelgrant9293]

Hi Ron, thanks for this review 👍. I find signalling an absolutely fascinating subject. I will definitely be buying this book. My dream is to have a fully signalled layout with functional interlocking (dream on 😞). I am very interested in how track occupancy could be dealt with in N scale (given the lack of weight in N and that track circuits are not an option due to the insulated axles of our models). Best wishes fron the UK 🇬🇧

[@brianburns7211]

Some model signals work based on electrical current draw sensors. Of course the locomotive draws current. To deal with the carriages or wagons, there are wheel sets with small resistors across the axles. They draw enough to make the sensor sense current, but not enough to create a dead short circuit.

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Seems like a great reference book I'm going to have to look it up because this is something that I'd like to add to my next layout

[@dennisnicholson952]

I placed a preorder on the Kalmbach website a few days ago, Ron. It's supposed to be available sometime this July.

[@stimpyueediot]

I do not have a model rr but i always see the lights on the train tracks and i always ask myself what's with the red and green lights. guess i have to buy this book lol

[@brianburns7211]

Unfortunately the meanings of the combinations of red, yellow, green, and lunar colored signals mean different things on different railroads. Some have different sets of signal rules on different parts of the system. NS uses one set on former Southern, N&W, and Conrail lines. Similarly CP has one set on the SOO Line, D&H, and the Canadian lines. Speaking of Canada, they have a universal national rule book. Everything is standard across the country.

[@marksawyer5299]

Great review Ron. I'll get this book as soon as possible. I have a 15'X25' layout in the works and I will use this to plan my signaling.

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

I just bought a bunch of the Model Railroader books, but there are still a few I need to get.

[@wilzdart]

I bought the book but was hoping it was going to show the wiring set up but really did not for my Digitrax system. The book is very good and a lot of information.

[@olebond0071]

And the spacer 3 1/4 inches is this enough space for autorack carrier's? Which I plan to buy soon. Please let me know thks Bob

[@rjl110919581]

thank you detail video

[@derekalexander4030]

Thanks for the review Ron. Well done. Does the book cover the components of particular dcc systems like Digitrax or NCE and how to separate and control the blocks? Does it go into jmri at all and how to set up the signals in that? Thanks.

[@olebond0071]

Hi Ron. I like ur videos and enjoyed this one. I have a question for u from a different video. I am using AnyRail 6 on my current layout design HO scale, and have a helix in it. The spacer on the helix

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

When you use the helix tool It asks you for certain info and does the math on the rest. If you give it a vertical climb and grade, for example, it will tell you the space between turns. As for the space needed for autoracks in HO, I'm not sure as I'm not in HO. Measure one, but don't forget to add the thickness of your wood and the track plus some headroom when figuring total rise/turn.

[@elprofeneurus1183]

Thank you for your videos Ron. I saw all of them. Do you if this book is avaible on e-book? Daniel from Argentina.

[@dkaustin98]

I’m model an era of 1900 to 1920. Will I get anything out that book for the money spent?

[@darenhamill9881]

Hi

[@mikehowey4869]

Sounds like a very helpful book, can you recommend a helpful book on planning a modern freight yard?

[@lukepossiel1140]

How do you know where to place track signals ?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

There is no short answer to this question, but the book addresses this.

[@brianburns7211]

It depends on the type of signaling system that you choose to use. The simplest is automatic block signals, or ABS. These simply tell whether a block is occupied or not. They are placed apart mainly based on train speed and stopping distance. They usually have number plates on them, which correspond to the milepost location, with an odd decimal for signals in one direction, and even for the other. Their most restrictive indication is to stop, then proceed at restricted speed. Restricted speed means to stop within half of your range of vision. Some companies omit the stop, but just require restricted speed on a red signal. Ron spoke about interlocking signals. They are designed to avoid conflicting movements. They can protect a diamond crossing, multiple tracks joining into one, or crossovers between multiple tracks. They are protected by signals without numbers. These signals are absolute, and cannot be passed without permission.

[@lukepossiel1140]

@@brianburns7211 what I am having trouble with is having multiple turn outs in one spot. Also how many signals I need and so on.

[@brianburns7211]

@@lukepossiel1140 It sounds like you have a junction with several routes in and out. The easy answer is that every track leading into a controlled point needs a signal which allows entry into it. The next part is harder. A train entering a controlled point not only needs to know that it can proceed, but also how to. There is one on my prototype route where a movement can continue on the main track, or onto one of two sidings. They can also enter the yard. Depending on which route is lined, a different signal indication is also automatically displayed, based on switch positions and also based on whether or not the succeeding blocks are occupied. In my example, a movement would get a clear signal if lined to continue on the main, and at least three blocks ahead are clear. The yard routing would require a restricting signal, which requires running at a slow speed, while being able to stop before any obstruction. If lined to the siding, the signal displayed would be dependent on the prototype. As I mentioned in my last reply, all railroads use their own signal rules, except in Canada, which is under a federally mandated set of rules. The northeast and Canadian roads use what is called speed signaling. If you’re going to take a route through a diverging route over a switch, then the signal tell you how fast. For example you could go faster on your layout through a #8 switch, which is more gradual than a #4. Most other parts of the US use route signals. They tell you that you’re going to take a diverging route. The speed is determined by being listed in the employee timetable. I hope that I have not gotten too deep and confused you more. If there was a way to draw diagrams, then it would make better sense.

[@josephsaunders4201]

Is this book something that can be used for 3 rail O gauge sets?

[@kenshores9900]

Ron, I like the color that you chose for the trim on your layout. Good video.

[@IMRROcom]

I do want this book, I just forgot to order it