signalmaintainer

Thanks for that, Mick! Is that an Abloy lock on the cabinet?

Great stuff, Mick. I especially like the sign!

Nor mine, either, although I've moved a lot of soil for Mrs. Signalmaintainer. What might be the purpose of that box on the pedestals in front of the signal mast, Mick?

Beautiful work, Mick. Are those insulators I see on the signal mast beneath the blade?

It's quite good, Mick. Did you turn the finials on a lathe?

A real gem, Mick. The "tear-drop" shaped spectacles are an interesting feature. Was that something common to most NBR signals? Sorry to not have seen and commented this earlier. I've been pretty much skimming through the forum lately what with one thing and another.

Tickled my funny bone, that did! Seems to me there's a Southern Pacific prototype to refer to on this. ...

Try the "Renton Rocket" on for size. Taken last June in Renton, Washington, by someone who calls himself "Railroad1970." This is on my beat, and the silverish cabinet to the left of the Main St. signage is the case for the crossing equipment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtdMAjHtqRU&feature=relmfu The Rocket runs five and sometimes six days a week to the Boeing 737 plant in Renton. The location shown here is the former Milwaukee Road mainline (now a BNSF branch) that runs east-west through the middle of Houser Way in Renton. Fifty years ago this scene would have featured catenary for the MILW's electric locos. The garbage containers are for the Rabanco waste collection site located near Renton Junction, about three miles west (leftward) where the branch diverges eastward from Main 3. The train will switch the Boeing plant, run around its cars, head west to switch Rabanco, and be back in Seattle by mid- to late afternoon. Also west (leftward) of this photo was the now-defunct Black River Junction, where the BN (nee Northern Pacific), the Pacific Coast RR, the MILW, and the Union Pacific manuevered around each other on their ways to and from Seattle and Tacoma, and in the MILW's case, east over Cascade Mountains via Renton. Too difficult to explain here all that took place at Black River!

That's correct, and we use that trackage today to service the Boeing 737 plant at Renton. The crossings along Houser Way are part of my signal territory.

I'm thinkin', I'm thinkin'. ...!

And I appreciate the fact that is possible to obtain a signal or signals from other sources built to order and one's specifications. But the entire point of this topic, not to belabor the obvious, is MSE's new pre-built signals.

I heard good things earlier today about them from another RMWeb member, someone who knows a thing or two about signaling and making signals! The above photo shows off the craftsmanship as well.

I probably didn't make myself clear, Stephen. The track circuit diamonds are already installed on the built-up signals, so I'd need to remove them. Unless I miss my guess, I don't suppose many short branchlines in Cumbria had track circuits in the mid-1950s!

I see in RM where Model Signal Engineering is offering built-up, operating signals in 4mm and 7mm. The tubular post UQ LMS types would fit well into Ettinsmoor's theme (leaving the old LNWR-style wooden post distant signal as a remnant of the not-too-distant past). Yes, they do have a track circuit indication diamond, but a few seconds work with a hot soldering iron and some touching up wth paint would correct that. At 30 pounds for the 4mm types (about $47 US) they're pricey, but they look exquisite and are ready to connect to an operating system. I know the expectation is to build these one's self from the kits and save the money. If I was simply looking to place static signals on the layout without all the fussy work, that would be one thing. But I feel a bit like I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth. The satisfaction for me is designing and building the signal interlocking and operating system (logic gates and servos, BTW), not necessarily the signals themselves. What are your thoughts?

Good decision, Bachmann! I'm definitely in. Now, could we dream of 2013 a bit and perhaps a 2P?

Some very good track plans and all have a nice feeling of authenticity about them, i.e,, in my mind's eye I see something akin to what's in Seattle's industrial areas.

My rule of thumb is this: If I can't see, no point in putting it there.

Very nice!

I need to finish a couple more signals; then they and the book will become a blog topic! And yes, the book is very useful, Mick. I'm glad I was able to find a copy at last.

Piece of cake with DCC, Pete! Even DC wouldn't be that bad. The portions requiring polarity reversers would be at 4 o'clock and 10 o'clock.

Finally arrived today: a copy of your book, Mick. I've already enjoyed one perusal and plan on a second tonight, then more in-depth study this weekend. In short, it's a treasure trove of good information!

Now I'm thirsty!

Wish I could be there, Martin. A real gem of a layout you have!

I really like this plan. It's simple and uncluttered. Obviously of Santa Fe heritage as indicated by the Car Location Inventory Control (CLIC*) numbers on each spur. But no reason it could not be moved elsewhere without violating the bounds of plausibility. *Still used by BNSF.

Mr. Barrow, while brilliant in many aspects of the hobby, does tend to be out on the fringes regarding some aspects of layout design -- as the above indicates.