PVRR New Signals Project
Follow along as we install new signals and crossing lights around the layout

The club was able to find a new manufacturer for crossing gates in HO Scale. This allowed the club to restart a signal project that began almost 10 years ago. Members are seen here working on the wiring.

This is the first section of Kip Junction that will receive crossing lights. The mainline tracks will be protected by gates and the yard lead tracks will be protected by crossbuck flashers.

Here is a photo of the crossbuck flashers installed to protect the industrial tracks within Kip Junction. The track towards the rear of the photo are within an industry spur and will only get wooden crossbucks.

This is a picture of the main road through Kip Junction. Again, the mainline will be protected with gates and flashers and the tracks for the yard leads will be protected with crossbucks and flashers.

Here we see the final install of the gates that will protect the mainline at Kip Junction. There will be sensors installed in the tracks to activate and deactivate the system automatically.

Here is an example of the current day railroad and how the PRR combined signal towers with their catenary. This is the look we hope to achieve here on the club layout for our visitors to enjoy

We have also began installing new PRR style signals along the back wall of the layout. You can see one of the new signals installed and club members working on the wiring to get everything up and running.

Right after the steel mill is Zip Interlocking. This interlocking will receive several signals and a signal bridge to regulate traffic in and out. Members are seen here working on the initial wiring.

Shown here is an example of how the signal bridge will look like for Zip Interlocking. The signals are accurate to the prototype. However, the support structure is a modern replacement to the original.

The first of the new signals have been added to the layout. The signals show here leaving the station will protect the complicated puzzle switches that we have leading to our staging area under the layout.

This is the 2nd new signal that has been added to the layout. This particular signal protects the crossover show further down the line and also serves as the distance signal to tunnel interlocking.

Here we see a new signal bridge that protects a series of switches leading into the tunnel that goes under the steel mill. This bridge will be known as tunnel interlocking.

Don Taylor, who is pictured above, has been the clubs go to wiring guy for several years now. Don has rebuilt all of our switch panels and rewired a good portion of our outdated electronics.

Pictured above is a quick shot of the new crossing gates that have been installed at Kip Jct. When completed, these gates will automatically raise and lower as trains approach the crossing.

Pictured above is a quick shot of the new crossing gates that have been installed at Kip Jct. When completed, these gates will automatically raise and lower as trains approach the crossing.

Here is another one of our switch panels that has been installed to control the switches in the saw mill area of the layout. Eventually the fascia board will be replaced and the board will be lit with colored LEDs

Here is the internal workings of the switch panel. Each wire corresponds to a specific led and the green wires send the polarity to the switch motors to throw the switches for the desired direction.

Here is the final install of the new switch panel. The panel with have some edging placed around it to clean up the installation. Notice the labels for the different tracks within the saw mill area.