Veen

Excellent work Gentlemen. First class work.

Could you give more details on the track work you have used. I understand it is OO.

Thanks.

John

Sad News...

 

Followers of my topic will know that I exclusively use GF Controls servo controllers for all my signals.

 

I'm sorry to report that the "F" in GF, Frank Jones, passed away in the early hours of this morning.

 

Rest in peace Frank, you'll be sadly missed.

Steve.

Steve,

So sorry to hear that Frank has passed away. Thanks for letting me know via your post.

Nice to see you again at Newcastle.

John

Thanks John,

 

Will you get to the Newcastle show next weekend?

I'll be operating on Liverpool Lime Street and can hand them over to you then.

 

Steve.

Hi Steve,

Yes I will pop in to the show either Saturday afternoon or Sunday.

Ground signals looking very good too and unusual with the "pass at danger" yellows.

Thanks again

John

Looking great Steve, beautiful work as always. Cannot wait to get them installed on the layout.

John

The short video.........

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmp0xlL0mNw

 

Steve.

Steve,

Elevated ground signals just brilliant - as usual. A pleasure to read up on how it's done.

Regards

John

Fantastic work....very very impressive.

We use Dave Fentons mega points servo controller on Blair Atholl nice random bounce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAIh1L9vIoo&sns=em

I used both the MegaPoints Servo Controllers as well as the GF Controls Servo Controllers, on a regular basis - two different layouts.

My preference is GF Controls by far. Simple, good quality and easily and finely adjusted without having to look at the circuit board - you are free to look at the semaphore signal arm during adjustment. I find MegaPoints Controllers complicated by comparison, many repeated button presses (of small buttons), and no safe mode so the servo moves rapidly through it's range of motion during programming etc. From experience this result in damage to the semaphore signal mechanism or point tie bar. Each to his own though.

Hi Steve,

As Jon has rightly said, fantastic work.

I note that the cantilevered doll has a tee just below the finial and there appears to be telegraph wires supported by the tee which look as though they may be running to the telegraph pole to the right of the signal. I have never seen this done on a signal before. Do we have any further information on this feature?

John R

Brilliant as always Steve.

Thanks for this.

Steve,

As others have already said Steve, excellent work on the Keswick signals and all others. Look forward to their installation.

I've found a distant photo of 2/3 in it's LNWR form and it's a left hand bracket with a ringed arm for the bay

I am the "layouts owner" who has requested Steve to produce the signals for me.

I am unsure of the date of the the signal diagram attached to Steve's earlier email. However I attach photos from the early 1900's showing signal 2 and 3 controlled from Box 2 as a bracket.

With regard to the goods only loop passing along side platform 3 - I can only presume that at one time the points on this loop were not fitted with facing point locks and hence the signaling. This again must have been very early.

I can confirm that traffic travelling west to Cockermouth either went down past Platform 1 or 3 and not down the platform 2 road.

Hi John,

 

Thanks for your comments.

I'll try to answer your query, but if I can't explain it well enough, please contact me by a PM and we can arrange to chat on the phone.

 

N/S base:

Size is large enough to cover the larger brass tube which "plants" the signal in the baseboard.

Typically 0.5 in dia tube needs about 15mm wide N/S base.

(This tube is key to installation and keeping servos and signal aligned.

 

Length of baseplate front to back is sufficient to cover tube again at front, plus enough to support Ladder base at rear.

Thickness is about 0.45mm for stiffness.

 

Space on Baseboard:

Above ground, just enough for the base-plate of the signal.

Remember to allow for the "loading gauge" giving distances to track centres etc. particularly on curves!

 

Space under baseboard:

Depends how you fix your Servos.

Typically, a 50mm radius around the "planting" tube will be plenty.

If things get in the way, such as point m,otors, strengthening timbers etc. you have to be inventive in designing the servo installation.

In extreme cases you may have to resort to extra cranks, levers, rods etc.

 

The design I have documented in my Topic is what I call "semi-permanent" installation.

It is possible with care to disconnect the operating links from the servos, and ease the signals up out of the baseboard. (The reverse of the installation process).

They are only held in place by friction.

 

If you really need "removeable" signals, then you need to spring load the operating links, and allow them to be pushed upwards by the servo horn. (Acting like a Cam & Follower).

This will allow the signal to be withdrawn without any mechanical "un-coupling" being necessary.

 

Hope this all makes sense??????????????????

 

Steve.

Hi Steve,

Many thanks for your reply. Quite clear thanks without the direct chat. Will have to get to a show where you are demonstrating and meet up.

Regards

John

Hi Steve,

Been following your work since your article on the ground signal in RMJ. Excellent work, setting the standard.

Steve, I am not sure if this has been covered previously but I would appreciate your advice on base board requirements for fixing your semaphores. I am at the scenic stage of a 4mm model of Keswick station. Some semaphores are on the side of embankments. How do you decide the size of the N S base of each signal and what size do you use for the base? What space on the baseboard do I need to provide for a semaphore to be mounted? Any information and advice you can give on base board space and construction above and below track level so that signals can be more easily installed would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for the inspiration.

Regards,

John