Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Railroad Model Craftsman 2015-12
Articles Listing

Understanding Railroad Signals Part 1

The author discusses using C/MRI-based signals to add to the realism of operating your layout. Topics covered in this article are: prototype signaling, braking distance and railroad signaling, accurately modeling prototypical signaling, block signals, interlocking signals, examples of two-head interlocking signals, prototype signaling basics, vital signaling circuitry, non-vital signaling circuitry, prototype's abundant use of relays, signal terminology, speed limits and railroad signaling, train speed as a function of turnout frog number (includes prototype and equivalent modeling tables for speeds through various frogs), in-advance-of, in-approach-to, and in-the-rear-of signaling terminology, signal system implementations, Automatic Block Signaling (ABS), Absolute Permissive Block (APB) Signaling, Centralized Traffic Control (CTC), and interlocking at terminals and junctions.

A Balsa Foam Primer

American Art & Clay Co.'s Balsa Foam is a dense, rigid plastic foam made from phenolic resin that "carves like butter and paints like wood," as their slogan says. The author shows his use of this material to carve bridge abutments, a concrete underpass, a concrete loading platform, and signaling mast pedestals.

A Longer Project

After last month's one-evening project, this month the author expands on the same techniques to build a two-story structure that represents a building that used to maintain horse-and-carriages, but has since switched to the new "automobile" repair service industry. The building is part wood and part brick.