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        Chillicothe Subdivision

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Signaling and CTC For The Chillicothe Subdivision

With extensive help from Mike Burgett  of Control Train Components, JLC Enterprises and Tomar Industries, the entire Chilli Sub signal system is 100% complete. The project took 14 months to complete, but it was well worth the time and effort.

Since mid 2008, the signal system has been working fine, providing very reliable and safe traffic management. Both Mike and I have learned a tremendous amount about CMRI (Computer Interface Model Railroad). The system is unbelievable! It can virtually do anything and everything. Every little detail, specific to a Union Switch and Signal (US&S) system has been incorporated. Timers, locks, route stacking, you name it, the Chilli has it all!

Tomar Industries was contracted to design special hooded signals which signify new signal installations on the Chilli Sub. I took their basic signal and had them specially built with extra long wire and resistors. I incorporated some into bungalows for the new intermediate signal sets and others were mounted on modified IHC signal bridges.

      

Searchlight Signals: NJ International 3 Head Searchlights with top head removed, mast shortened, finial re-soldiered and re-wired with Tri-Color L.E.D.s. The signal in the left photo is displaying "Approach" and the right hand photo is displaying a "Stop" in the siding and "Clear" on the main.

      

Intermediate Signals: Modified Tomar hooded signals, mounted in Grant Line bungalows. Note presence of number board (mile post). Intermediates are automatic and the worst indication you can get is a " Restricting" (proceed at restricted speed). With DCC, this is finally possible! The double track intermediates are displaying "Approach Restricting" (bottom flashing red) when approaching staging yards.  

        

Cantilever Signals: NJ International Bridge Searchlight Signal, heavily modified and re-wired with Tri-Color L.E.D.s. Mounted on stock built NJ International Cantilever bridges, built by Eric Kretz of Bluffton, Ohio. Clear signal, track number one!

    

Signal Bridges: Modified Tomar hooded bridge mount signals. Mounted on  IHC Four Track Signal Bridges, shortened for 2 and 3 tracks. Here we see a "Clear" (left side) on number two track and a "Diverging Clear" (right side) on track number one.

                                 

CTC Panel: I built this panel years ago, but never finished it. Now it's complete and is the heart of the traffic control system. The magnetic board is to keep track of 57 staging tracks and their occupancy/availability.

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Above is one of the CVP RF1300 throttles and signal chart (cheat sheet), attached to each throttle. The signal chart is an easy reference guide for all the operators on the Chilli. I tried all the other brands of throttles before settling on Easy DCC. So far they have been very dependable and the service is great.

If I had it to do over again, I would have spent a little more time redesigning the interlocking plants to simplify them. There are some simpler systems in existence now, along with user friendly programming and tons of on-line support. 

See my links page for all products and services I used during the signal installation!