Model Railway | Layout Signalling | Dean Park 277

#signalling #modelrailway #deanparkstation In this video from Dean Park Model Railways I show you how EASY it is to add more realism to your model railway layout by installing Coloured Light Signalling using Heathcote Electronic boards and CR Signals. Model railway signalling has NEVER been so EASY! And it looks great as you operate your model trains. Let me know what you think of the British Rail Transport film intro sequence too! There are Plenty of Hornby Intercity 125 action as well as other rail transport on the layout. If you enjoy Rail transport modelling you'll like this!
Check out the model railway links below: westhillwagonworks.co.uk/?aff... www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk/l... www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/

[@barra8771]

Very educational as always, I was half expecting Bodie and Doyle lookalikes to come bursting out of somewhere at the beginning 😂

[@jamesbradshaw4675]

Love the 1980s Intro Dave great video 👍

[@DeanPark]

I do like a groovy 80’s intro... if you liked this I’ll be trying to better it in the next video!

[@simaesthesia]

Quality, man! That intro rivals Everard Junction's contributions :D Really interesting video, Dave. Thanks.

[@DeanPark]

Everard junction? Who’s that? 😆

[@REDARROW_A_Personal]

@@DeanPark What was the music you used for the Intro?

[@DeanPark]

Apt theme :-)

[@REDARROW_A_Personal]

@@DeanPark Thanks for Replying and the Heart.

[@Tony20031948]

Thank you Dave, Just what I need very well explained

[@danielmcintosh9327]

Always excited for the new videos😀

[@onnomulder9775]

Very interesting video Dave! Thanks for sharing. Cheers Onno.

[@FarlandHowe]

Well explained. I like your demonstration setup. I am a big fan of signals that work on a model railway. Mine is loaded up.

[@andrewpalm2103]

Love the industrial training film music at the beginning. It sets the atmosphere for the video! Cheers from Wisconsin.

[@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932]

Hi Dave, great explanation.

[@graememorrison5456]

Quality David the best model layout on KZbin by far 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@chelmswoodjunction]

Hi dave Great video as always and glad I watched it as I did learn something from it. Keep up the brill work you do look forward to the next update. Peter

[@HeathrowAircraft]

Love watching your films Dave. You are the best! 👌

[@DeanPark]

Cheers glad you enjoyed watching :-)

[@DungeWoodRailway]

Hi Dave Great video, I've steered clear of signals but will now have a look at the Heathcote boards again. You've certainly made it seem simple enough. Thanks Cheers Paul

[@DeanPark]

Cheers. It is simple, if it was complicated I would t be able to understand it 😆

[@DungeWoodRailway]

If its electrics, it has to be idiot proof for me lol They seem to have taken this into account when they made the boards. I like the CR Signals signals too and I think I'll be giving my son my Berkos and buying some new ones, just need to figure out what I need. Cheers

[@MikeyJG]

Brilliant!! Awesome explanation Dave

[@going2thedogs]

Thks Dave. Realistic signalling certainly improves a layout & using the mass sequencer adds realistic operation too.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers. Yeah they are great pieces of kit.

[@gregoryhale2202]

Hi Dave, great intro music to start this video, Congrats on a straight forward explanation of this excellent signaling system. Cheers Greg.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers Greg... a nice 1980’s tune. :-)

[@PedalBox]

Extremely good! Super useful and easy to follow. Exactly what you need for something like this.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers. Glad you found it useful. Great feedback. Thanks. Dave

[@kevinmottram9491]

That's a nice, realistic, set up you can make there. And you explained 'how to' very nicely too, thank you.

[@DeanPark]

Yeah it’s really easy and realistic

[@NQY-flyer]

Nice video Dave very well explained.👍

[@grahammummery5732]

Exvellent instructions! Thank you Dave..

[@AmeryJunction]

Great quality intro very nice , great stuff as always

[@DeanPark]

I love a cheesy 80’s style intro 😆

[@cellarton]

Thanks ! Enjoyed that. I have a similar setup but with sensor signals from train tech. The next step is cool- you can activate ABC braking so that the trains stop automatically at a red signal. Regards Matt

[@Easternspotteralfie]

Great video mate!

[@dagrailfan772]

This video is epic. The intro was amazing and the detail in your layout is insane. You’ve even inspired me to start my own layout and get an old modal railway from my grandparents!!!

[@DeanPark]

Hi thanks! So glad you enjoyed and it’s great to hear you’ve been inspired. It’s a fantastic hobby. Good luck. Cheers. Dave

[@crocodile414]

Brilliant introduction. I've been thinking about using these, thanks for the demonstration, really useful!

[@DeanPark]

Go for it, they’re great,

[@cedarcam]

A good clear explanation of this system which can give realistic looking results. I know it has limitations as others have mentioned but with careful planning it does work and a great addition to any layout. Some colour lights were used from the 1920's so not only suitable for modern layouts.

[@DeanPark]

From the 1920’s?, wow I never knew that.

[@cedarcam]

@@DeanPark I was surprised myself when I found out. I think it was on the Southern railway where they were first used. Old workmates had told me about some in my area that were worked by a wire from a lever in the box like a semaphore signal. The wire pulled an arm on a contact box at the signal to change the aspect which was lit by dry cells batteries.

[@cedarcam]

@@DeanPark I just checked in my book and the first stretch of mainline with 3 aspect signalling was between London Marylebone and Neasden on the LNER in 1923 Some of the equipment was in use until 1989 when it was replaced with more modern signals

[@tjfSIM]

Very impressive set up you have there Dave - thanks for explaining it so clearly as I’ve often wondered how this is achieved.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers. Thanks for watching and getting in touch.

[@roncarter5532]

Thanks Dave. Lots of good info in your video, as always 👍 Will be looking at these soon. Ron.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers Ron, glad you enjoyed it. Dave

[@roystudds1944]

Really interesting video and a lot of interesting comments too. I’m miles away from considering signals at all. I’ve got one colour light signal in the station wired up, basically to remind me that the power is on the layout before I leave the room. Did try to get another colour light signal working but pulled it up in frustration in the end. Roy.

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

Excellent introduction on how to set up these devices and add signalling to a layout. Could you not do away with the sequencer and have a normal detector at the end, and have that wired back to the other boards, so that the lights remained in their true aspect, sort of like a basic block detection. The one drawback I see with timers is that with different trains you'll never get the timing right, for example if set up for a fast passenger service, the lights would reset too soon when a slow goods service is used.

[@alisoncrocker9919]

This is epic! Thank you. 😃

[@DeanPark]

Cheers. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@leonidbier]

I've mentioned this before. This lay out shouldn't be private, but in a publice space. Wow, what a details and more!!! Greetings from Amsterdam!

[@DeanPark]

You’re very kind :-)

[@ewoodrailway]

Great video Dave, thanks

[@DeanPark]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed watching

[@farmerdave7965]

Greetings from Colorado

[@davidstrains4910]

Good video Dave you have done a good job there

[@DeanPark]

Cheers David! :-)

[@Madonsteamrailways]

This is brilliant stuff!! I shall be using two aspect signalling because it’s prototypical for the Epping Ongar Railway. My layout will be Ongar Station in 00 gauge.

[@clivecobbold6815]

Hi Dave another great video mate I really enjoyed it every interesting your layout is looking great mate stay safe and well mate goodbye for now clive in N.lreland

[@DeanPark]

Cheers Clive.

[@trainmanbob]

i found that a very clear explanation of what to do. Sadly I am all working semaphore signals due to the period and area I model. Love the new music!! Cheers, Bob

[@DeanPark]

Cheers Bob.

[@dylansheppardmymodelrailway]

Good vid dave loved it 👍 👌 😀

[@DeanPark]

Cheers :-)

[@dylansheppardmymodelrailway]

I have channel now mate see what ya think

[@garylong7599]

Dave I have used the heathcote boards and Clive made some specials for me as well. They also do a reversing module so that if you have any bi directional sections it will switch signals in other direction to red automatically

[@DeanPark]

Yeah. I’ve one bi directional. I just set the signals to red depending on direction of travel. Clive is good. Cheers Dave

[@vincentweatherly9991]

Although I don’t have a layout yet, most signals in my state are 6 aspect (sometimes 7) so figuring out them will be fun once I have a layout and move to signals

[@DeanPark]

Wow 7 aspect! That’s a lot of lights!

[@vincentweatherly9991]

@@DeanPark it's 2 3 aspects stacked together and the 7th is for shunting movements. Even colour combo meaning something different

[@barryturner2916]

Hi Dave, thanks for sharing how to set up realism lighting, can this be done if you are DC set-up? Clear and easy to follow, take care and stay safe..

[@martinlampert4721]

Outstanding! Indeed so simple! Can they be hooked into DCC so trains stop/slow down automatically? Also learnt why signals have the feathers :)

[@nicholasham6943]

I'd think you'd have one of their automatic train controllers for that. I don't know if they would work with DCC though. Just know that these can be powered via a DCC power bus using a bridge rectifier.

[@mtty1988]

Signal questions. Can work 2 trains ie if another comes change also can it be linked to another set signals so all say 4-6 are all working together in a 3 aspect system. Can I run a platform starter in the sequence

[@simianzo108]

Firstly great Video!!! I have 2 questions which are probably very obvious but my brain just can’t get it right. Question 1: How does the signal board know if the junction is set to turn off the main line so it can light the feather? Question 2: Can the board that has a signal and a feather still be able to communicate with the signals ahead? Keep up the good work 😀

[@westerleighwerek1493]

Many thanks for the posting Dave, very informative. What brand of signals do you use as it's something I need for my layout, superb system made to look easy! Cheers, Mike, Bristol.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers Mike. I use CR Signals. Easy to use, good quality brass hand made.

[@alanmusicman3385]

Very good video - lots of useful information and all clearly explained. Many thanks. What are your thoughts on infra-red sensor train detection versus some of the other block occupancy detection approaches such as those offered by DigiTrax and others?

[@am5p8]

Would the Block Occupancy detection system work in a more realistic fashion i.e. if the track ahead of a signal has a train on it, the signal remains red ??

[@alanmusicman3385]

@@am5p8 Well, in my understanding on the real railway (in mainline locations anyway) a red light actually means that only the block ahead is clear but that the one beyond THAT is not clear. Where double yellows are used they indicate one or two blocks ahead are clear but the 3rd block ahead is NOT clear. Green means three blocks ahead are clear. I think I remembered that correctly.... probably! That system is of course concerned with the fact that a full-bore express train (or a long goods) can take anything up to a mile to stop, even under emergency braking. On a model railway of course stop distances can be tiny if needs be, so operating to true proto practice is (a) going to waste a lot of space and (b) arguably unecessarily complex. Also the consequence of collisions are far less drastic (though with the cost of models now...). True block detection is probably more robust against situation like where you lose vehicles off the back of a train without knowing it or where someone runs an outsize train that spans two blocks.... but is it worth the extra cost versus a simpler IR detection system as shown in the video? Thus, my question.

[@cedarcam]

@@alanmusicman3385 The signal aspects on the real railway show as these do except there is a 200 yard safety distance called an overlap that has to be unoccupied before the signal behind the one showing red can change to yellow. Some signals do not change to red until a train is 200 yards past it and if the sensors on these were placed further past the signal using the extension leads they could be made to work like that. Of course a scale 200 yards is far too long unless you have a enormous amount of room so a reasonable distance would be 2 1/2 to 3 coach lengths past the signal

[@alanmusicman3385]

@@cedarcam Ah, yes that makes more sense than my previous understanding. Many thanks. As you say, applying that system to a model layout needs to take into account space available. Our trains stop a lot faster though so not a huge big deal.

[@StewartBarnard]

Very interesting, will these boards work well with the eckon/berko signals ? Providing you use the supplied resistors ? Many thanks Stewart

[@DeanPark]

I don’t see why not. They only serve to send a electronically signal to the leds on the signal.

[@StewartBarnard]

@@DeanPark thanks Dave and for the use of a feather on a route diversion was that by the point motor polarity switch or by some other method ?

[@Xantec]

@DaveClass47 are you and everard junction competing for the best start sequence lol. Nice to see the progress on the layout. (great start sequence too!)

[@DeanPark]

Who’s everard junction? 😆

[@StewartBarnard]

Evening dave, Just a question regarding the feather operation when you fire the point, how do you get the feather to work with the point throw ? Thanks Stewart

[@DeanPark]

Hi, I use a peco twin micro switch. This is connected to the point motor, in place of the usual accessory switch I fit. Being a twin switch one part changes the frog polarity and the other flicks between lighting the feather and switching it off, depending which way the point blades are set. Plus when the train passes the sensor for the signal the feather goes off automatically when signal flicks to red. Hope that makes sense?

[@adrianohaha7659]

Very informative and well explained. Just out of curiosity, do these also send some kind of feedback to a train controller software, to stop other trains going through a red signal? Cheers

[@DeanPark]

No idea! Being run on 12v Dc I wouldn’t think so.

[@philparrish8892]

thanks for making the signals easy to understand, Dave. Would semaphore signals work just as well on that electronic system?

[@DeanPark]

Cheers Phil. I think he does boards for semaphores... check his website. Thanks for watching. Dave

[@philparrish8892]

@@DeanPark Thanks - I will do that.

[@HorsehayRailwayModeller]

Hi Dave, I do like the look of these signals. Would you recommend them to others or do you have any issues with them? I'm looking for some detailed colour signals and am thinking of giving cr signals a go. David

[@DeanPark]

I have enjoyed about 8 years of pretty much trouble free operation of these signals. They are good quality, hand made and cheaper than say that of ‘absolute aspect’ signals (which are also excellent). Cr signals is a one man business, so specific signals may take time to deliver, as he often makes special signals to order. They also work fantastically with the heathcote electronic boards.

[@HorsehayRailwayModeller]

Thank you, some may make an appearance on my layout soon 👍

[@HorsehayRailwayModeller]

@@DeanPark custom order placed with Paul today.

[@paulbb27]

Thanks for this Dave , I’m planning on doing something like this for my layout , have a couple of 2 aspect signals so far , I’m thinking of wiring them both to a mas sequencer so when the home signal is passed it goes to red but the distant goes to yellow at the same time , would that work??

[@DeanPark]

If it’s two signals in a sequence I think two boards might work better, one for each signal. I’m no expert, drop Clive at Heathcote a email. He will sort it out. Sorry I can’t give you a definitive answer. Dave

[@paulbb27]

@@DeanPark no worries dave 👌 keep up the good work !✅

[@princeofsheffield]

I was wondering about this. You’d think (operationally speaking) you could just wire them together as it’s only ever ‘green and green’ or ‘yellow and red.’ And the distant doesn’t change as the train passes it like in 3 aspect so wouldn’t need a second sensor either.

[@nicholasham6943]

Clive at Heathcote electronics is very good indeed. You certainly made it a lot easier for a novice like me to understand. How did you go about wiring the MAS sequencer RI? If you don't mind me asking. Just that I got the four aspect side working but don't know how to connect the feather or the unit to my point.

[@DeanPark]

That is quite hard to explain on here, but there is a connector block at one end of the board, that is where the RI is Wired. Email Clive he will have a diagram on how to donor, which is better than I can’t type here 😆

[@nicholasham6943]

@@DeanPark Yeah that's no problem. I did email him about it and got it all working now. Like I said I've never really done multi aspect signaling before but pleased I have and know how to go about wiring things now. Thanks again for the reply and the helpful video. Again this and your video on points with DCC shorting have really helped a lot. Especially with some of the longer wheel based models I have like 47s and 56s.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Do you use aspects plus feather signals at all?

[@GBDT]

A novice here Dave, The video is easy to understand so thanks for that. Just one question. Does the system you've just shown actually stop the trains or is there something else that is needed?

[@DeanPark]

No it won’t stop the trains, although there are electronics that may do that. Contact Clive at Heathcote. He’s a board for everything!

[@chrisuddin9760]

Hiya, Please Can You Help?, I'd like to know what grade or gage of square brass mesh you can use around 4 aspect signals?. I'm looking for some for my OO scale ones but I don't know where to get it from or what to use that looks correct. Many thanks, Chris.

[@DeanPark]

Hi the signals are made by CR signals. I don’t make them.

[@johncresswell9843]

I've just got some heathcote boards. What interested me with your feather was how did you switch it on was it via your point frog wire or a seperatly on off switch? Regards John

[@DeanPark]

I fitted a peco twin micro switch to the underside of the peco point motor. This also requires a specific heathcote board for Route indicator (RI). So when the point is flick the light goes on for the feather.

[@johncresswell9843]

Thanks for your help, regards John

[@lapiswake6583]

Love the intro. I did my final year project at uni on signalling my model railway, building my own signals controlled by an arduino. But this setup seems so much simpler.

[@DeanPark]

Cheers. Yeah it’s so simple. Dave

[@TheGodsrighthandman]

But do the modules cut power to the Signal Block track or is it only designed to 'look' the part?

[@DeanPark]

The train can pass a red light unless you drive properly:-)

[@TheGodsrighthandman]

@@DeanPark Ah, right you are. I believe Charlie over at Chadwick Model Railway is scheming to have a working Block System on his, but he's gone the whole A-Z gamut on DCC so anything is possible . . . Should be interesting to see once it's done.

[@georgethomas7814]

For me the issue is WHAT if the track is partly bi-directional. For example a branch line that shares part of the track with a loop. Great plan for a loop and the detail is brilliant the only thing missing is cost.

[@DeanPark]

You’re looking at around £20 for a board. Check out the website in the description and all the costs are there. Cheers.

[@MM-vt1ir]

You made look easy Dave! Are you restricted to how many signals per module, or can you use as many signals as you require (each direction)? Cheers. Iain

[@DeanPark]

The board just send a signal to the lights.. can’t see why You can’t do multiple signals per board.

[@MM-vt1ir]

@@DeanPark cheers David 👍

[@kelvinVAUGHAN]

at what point should you fit the circuit boards? before ballasting or after

[@DeanPark]

I do it Before. Then when ballasting stick a bit of blue tac on top of the two small sensors to stop them getting ballast and then pva in them.

[@kelvinVAUGHAN]

thanks

[@westwonic]

Great, simple in principle, but who thought up the IR board names?

[@DeanPark]

It must Stand for something? My guess is it ‘infra red…..’

[@westwonic]

Sorry, I was referring to 'mas sequencer'......

[@ModelRailway]

Excellent video again Dave! I’ve also used the Heathcote boards and found the reliability and functionality to be very good. I also used the extended wire version for each board. I also like the ‘RR’ function to set signals back to red ... like platform starter signals etc. Have you interlocked yours with the turnouts? I used Gaugemaster GM500 relays connected to the turnouts to feed the ‘RR’ of signals protecting junctions ... and I also used the relays to feed the ‘R’ and ‘S’ send and receive of each board ... to set route indicators, also so that signals can follow each set route. I’ve got over 30 multiple aspect signals so took a while to design and wire up but well worth it! 👍

[@DeanPark]

Hi, yeah some of mine (especially the route indicator ones) are linked to the turnouts using a micro switch.

[@richardbaker1782]

I’m guessing your layout takes place in 1979?

[@redwoodcityintheuknscalera7179]

i did mine with arduinos and got exactly the same results hell of a lot cheaper too

[@DeanPark]

Not everyone has the time, desire or Ability to Learn how to do that and make their own.

[@thelibrarian46]

Are any of the rooms in some of the houses near the railway approaching Dean Park, advertised on Spare Room. Com?