Any good ideas on trackside features to install where the block boundaries are located ? My wife, brother and I know where they are, problem is, none of the guest don't. I need to set something up that looks natural on a railroad right away for other folks who want to run trains on this layout ? Some kind of Block Boundary post, signs, etc. We are not ready to install signals yet, just markers that fit the American Railroad Scene 1950-1990 era. Diesel. ( 28 Blocks & reverse section w/ turntable. ) Any pictures for examples would be Highballing ! Thanks in advance, Conductor Cliff
Because I've seen it in the field during track inspections, I've taken to painting the ties yellow at a full mainline block division. It doesn't have to be 'flaming yellow', it can be weathered out a bit as well. But if you're trying to find the exact spot its cut in, that's one way to do it. It works on the prototype so that engineers know exactly how far they can go before they trip an insulated joint and run into a signalized block area. "Running a red light" is a major rules infraction and if it just happens to be in an area that sees local switching, it's one more clue to the crew. Where there are a lot of blocks in a tight area like a yard, that's a good way to do it. Because i cut my rails with an abrasive disk, refill them with styrene, and then paint everything, my block cuts are totally invisible otherwise. Have to do something. On the prototype, you can spot an insulated joint pretty easily from the cab, the joints are thicker, stick out, and usually have some brighter plastic insulating material around them and under the joint bar. So painting a contrasting spot or splice bar on the side of the rail is also normal. Sample: http://www.lbfoster-railproducts.com/homeimages/railhome_22.jpg On main line blocks out in the field, it's normal practice to mark block boundaries - either with signals on a CTC line, or actual signs for 'station blocks' that are used in DTC radio control operations with the Form D. Conrail had nice big blue 'station signs' up at the end of every block with a CP (control point) name on them. Those achieved the exact spot for permission orders from the dispatcher. Sample: http://acm.jhu.edu/~sthurmovik/Railpics/09-06-12_PITTSBURGH_INFRASTRUCTURE/CP-WEST-PITT-sign.jpg You don't see those big DTC block signs around much anymore as track warrant control usually goes by milepost. But the CP control point names on junctions, signal huts, etc. have hung around in many places.
I suggest a theme of some sort; For example - dead trees/tree stumps theme, four legged critters theme (cows, horses, dogs, etc) with the one nearest the tracks pointing at the break, stacks of spare railroad ties theme ; stacks of rocks theme ; etc. Stick with the same theme throughout to keep it simple for your guests. It's OK to be creative - for example if you use critters but have a city scene you can use a billboard or graffiti of a critter. It could be almost like a game in and of itself.
Do you think a stack of wooden ties beside the tracks would look natural in 28 locations ? Still lots of interesting work to come, hopefully by the fall I will be able to start doing some top coat scenic work ? Still finishing up all roadbed and ballasting. Luckly we have been blessed with smooth rail and train operations to date ....... Thanks for all the replies, Cliff
I use a 'pulled' railroad tie (a old weathered tie, grayed out, actual wood) on the embankment to indicate where my MT uncoupling magnets are, as they are pretty difficult to spot under a train for precise uncoupling, particularly at any distance. I suppose the same thing could work for electrical block limits. It's not like it's too permanent. The only problem I see looking at your layout is that in some cases the tie method will be confused between two tracks as to which one it means.
Depending on how your railroad would be signaled in real life, how about, oh, Block Indicators? Print some little signs on card stock, glue them to an old wooden ties, shove in layout. You might want tomake them oversized enough that people can read them, but. Most of them would be four letter abbreviations for something close, such as a block for the town of Fishers would be the Fish block. conrail ran their horizontally, but a lot of them were vertical signs. Or, if you'd rather, what about making mileposts? White styrene solid square to represent a concrete post with numbers etched and painted on it (decals). If you go that route, make sure the numbers are not directly sequential, and you can add in hints as to how much selective compression you've put into your layout. Signals wuld have milepost markers on them too, however most of the tie they are not at even miles, so a signal might be mp44.5. Defect detectors will often call their location by a decimal as well, such as Mile Post 38.2 such as the one midelled on the Naptown And White River.
I just stick a pin with a colored head in between the outside ties at block divisions and at the center of coupler magnets.
There's an idea..A phone box.A real RR would have one at the end of a block.The LV had concrete phone booths..
