Z-Stuff Signals

[Don Gilham]

Thickie time again [ x2 ]

1) Does anyone use these signals, and if so are they really OK to be left outside ?

2) How do the yanks signal a junction (a simple one, with a single route divergence) ?

 

[Gizzy]

Just looked at their website as I hadn't heard of them Don.

http://www.z-stuff.net/dz1080g.html

Made of metal and suitable for outdoors according to the blurb....

 

[Don Gilham]

Oooops bugger, thanks Giz, I clean forgot to post the link - sorry !!

Difficult site to navigate, but as well as the link that Giz has posted, they also do lower and upper quadrant semaphores. They are stated to be for 1:29th, but...............

http://www.z-stuff.net/dz1040L_g.html

http://www.z-stuff.net/dz1040U_g.html

 

[ntpntpntp]

So... that dz1080g you linked to Gizzy seems to be some sort of automated block signal, ie. a simple timer from red to yellow to green after the train has passed. I've read of similar timed signals in the small scales as a simple way of simulating block section signalling. Interesting, but 80 dollars - I'll have to have a go at making something similar myself!

 

[Gizzy]

Semaphores are about 7 1/2 inches tall according to this linky for the DZ 1040 Upper Quadrant, but it doesn't say if it's for G or O scales....

http://www.z-stuff.net/instructions/dimensions/DZ1040-uq-dwg.pdf

 

[Gizzy]

So... that dz1080g you linked to Gizzy seems to be some sort of automated block signal, ie. a simple timer from red to yellow to green after the train has passed. I've read of similar timed signals in the small scales as a simple way of simulating block section signalling. Interesting, but 80 dollars - I'll have to have a go at making something similar myself!

I think you are correct Nick.

I saw Don's post, Goggled for Z-Stuff and started looking at the site for info, and posted the odd linky for others to view and comment.

Maybe some of our US members are familiar with these products? I'd never heard of them before....

 

[DoctorM]

I like the look of this one.........

Passenger Station Announcement System http://www.z-stuff.net/dz1200.html

"Small barcodes placed under a baggage or passenger car automatically identify up to 16 different trains on two thru- or dead-end tracks.
Unit senses each train's direction of travel to make appropriate announcements.
Trains can be restarted manually or automatically with a built-in auto (timed) release."

 

[Dtsteam]

A few useful links on US signalling practice -

http://www.railroadsignals.us/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_railroad_signals

and if anyone finds out how they signal a junction, then do tell - its not obvious.

 

[Don Gilham]

....and if anyone finds out how they signal a junction, then do tell - its not obvious.

I'm b*ggered if I could figure it out either, David !

But the dimensions I have, straight from the horse's mouth......

Hi Don,
The DZ-1040UG semaphores are about 11.5" tall and the DZ-1050G/60G/80G are about 10" tall.
[size=14pt]Best Regards,
Dennis R. Zander

[/size]

Hmmmmm I wonder if Dennis knows about junction signalling ?

 

[Madman]

I like the look of this one.........

Passenger Station Announcement System http://www.z-stuff.net/dz1200.html

"Small barcodes placed under a baggage or passenger car automatically identify up to 16 different trains on two thru- or dead-end tracks.
Unit senses each train's direction of travel to make appropriate announcements.
Trains can be restarted manually or automatically with a built-in auto (timed) release."

The site claims outdoor use for the G scale signals and in the case of the station anouncer it indicates for use with any scale.
I would investigate whether or not the bar code system will operate outdoors.

 

[j garry]

Tried them and didn't like them. They are way over sized, toylike, and scale out to almost 1/16th. They didn't work that great, they change 4sec after the train passes and its none adjustable. I have been using South Bend signals www.sbsignal.com and leave then out all year with no problems. Last year they were under snow for almost 3 months before I saw them again. All I did was cover them with a plastic soda bottle to prevent direct snow coverage or rain. They are very close to 1/29th scale and I have two of their cantilever signals with 4 pennsy signals each. On the single stand alones the optical detector goes between the rails, which you can hardly see, and you can battery power them or power off the track. On the cantilever bridges the detectors a built into the bottom of the cantilever and detect the trains looking down on 2 tracks. These are time adjustable from 4 to 15 seconds each between signal changes from clear to occupied to warning back to clear. You can see how they size up perfect with the Aristo signal bridge. They now also offer a 2 or 3 or 4 track bridge with your chose of any signal they offer in any configuration you want. The single signals you can place a stake on the bottom and move them around the layout as you like. Jack

 

[Don Gilham]

Nice one Jack

 

[ntpntpntp]

Oooh those South Bend signals look really interesting. Thanks for posting the link.