Post #6!
Max.

There is probably a statement in the Railroads operating rules that require a visual verification of the position of the switch points. Not doing so would be violating those rules...

 

Lots of things are allowed in private switchyards and manufacturing sites that are not allowed on tracks that interact with roadways or tracks that are accessible to the general public. If no tanker cars or hazardous materials, even less regulation.

Heh...but no one is allowed to get killed..

 

Lots of things are allowed in private switchyards and manufacturing sites that are not allowed on tracks that interact with roadways or tracks that are accessible to the general public. If no tanker cars or hazardous materials, even less regulation.

Not if employees are involved.
Work place safety in both US and Canada have regulations pertaining to such..
Max.

 

Not if employees are involved.
Work place safety in both US and Canada have regulations pertaining to such..
Max.

True for the train, the track and switchgear. Crossing signs, additional (secondary) sensors & indicators and supplemental communications are different.

 

True for the train, the track and switchgear. Crossing signs, additional (secondary) sensors & indicators and supplemental communications are different.

I would have to disagree with that I'm afraid.
I worked for a spell with the major Canadian R.R. and became familiar with what regulations were in place, as pertains to the OP issue.
Max.

 

Geez...for those of you that gave me “ideas” on how such might be accomplished, thank you for participating. While I do appreciate the “cautious “ posters—damn, give it a break. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything unlawful, not in compliance with rules, dangerous, etc.
Now, that said, let me start over.
I’m building my own private railroad, backyard scale ride-on type...

 

Geez...for those of you that gave me “ideas” on how such might be accomplished, thank you for participating. While I do appreciate the “cautious “ posters—damn, give it a break. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything unlawful, not in compliance with rules, dangerous, etc.
Now, that said, let me start over.
I’m building my own private railroad, backyard scale ride-on type...

Feel free to suggest any tech tips on how one might accomplish this simply and cheaply...might be able to convince my “partners” to pony up the funds if affordable...

 

The first problem is sensing and figuring out where to sense and how to mount. Google proximity sensors for starters.

 

I'll add a second vote for magnets and reed switches. Definitely the best switch type that I'm familiar with for that environment.

Sadly, I know basically nothing about solar panels or battery charge controllers, so no help there.

 

Getting the feel of this neighborhood?

Well, I'll deal with you as though YOU are the railroad guy and know all the policy stuff, which has no part of any answer here on a circuits page, anyhow.

My understanding is that you want solar powering for the LEDs, as well as activating them automatically below a certain level of ambient light.

#1- be conservative on your battery selection not lithium. It's not worth the trouble.

#2 - you'd be wisest to use a sealed switch, which probably means a magnetic actuator. It'll keep moisture, dirt, corrosion etc from wrecking things, and because of the low voltage and power consumption of the LEDs clean contacts are vital. You've got that vertical position indicator shaft to work with, so placing a magnet on an opposite or stationary member is simple, and the magnet and sealed switch can probably be kept tethered to each other, so as not to lose any pieces.

#3- using 2 separate, differently colored LEDs would be my chosen design, as opposed to a single bi-colored one, because a single lamp can fail or malfunction and still leave another functioning, and greatly simplify troubleshooting and function check.

4 - you know far better than us how large the solar face could be, or how small it must be. Not only is open space a consideration, but the air blast produced by passing rolling stock will exert forces on any such array.

I've built small solar charged/actuated systems using off the shelf stuff, but not as small as this (mine were about 300 sq.in PV array). You can use the voltage level of the battery charging circuit to determine if lighting levels are low enough to turn the LEDs on.

 

When choosing lights, be aware that red-green colour blindness (albeit with varying severity) is fairly common. About 1 in 7 males have it, but surprisingly only about 1 in 2000 females. If you do use red and green, then the lights should be widely spaced to aid discrimination.

 

I'd look here. http://ab.rockwellautomation.com/Sensors-Switches Sadly, I have no idea what's suitable. No idea what you can modify and what deflections might be seen of the track.

I think most of the sensing technologies are represented.

I'll bet video technologies could be used too. Would an IR camera help you?

 

@Alec_t Aside: I have some blue blocker sunglasses and the new green LED traffic signals are less visible when driving.

 

@Alec_t Aside: I have some blue blocker sunglasses and the new green LED traffic signals are less visible when driving.

This is why R.R. engineers are not allowed to wear sun-glasses!
Max.

 

@Alec_t Aside: I have some blue blocker sunglasses and the new green LED traffic signals are less visible when driving.

I just ordered some enChroma notch-filter sunglasses that better discriminate between red and green.
It will be a gift for a colorblind friend - I hope He likes them as much as this guy.

 

This is why R.R. engineers are not allowed to wear sun-glasses!
Max.

That rule was done away with many years ago...(at least in my neck of the woods)
I myself have a “color deficiency” issue and have some trouble with standard color vision tests (Isiharas Plates is our common one.) If warrantee, then employee is taken into the field and tasked your identify at least 21 signals in different areas. I pass those just fine.
Yes, many years ago my late dad talked of all employees not being allowed to wear sunglasses. Nowadays only the “transitional” glasses are not allowed...

 

That rule was done away with many years ago...(at least in my neck of the woods)
I myself have a “color deficiency” issue and have some trouble with standard color vision tests (Isiharas Plates is our common one.) If warrantee, then employee is taken into the field and tasked your identify at least 21 signals in different areas. I pass those just fine.
Yes, many years ago my late dad talked of all employees not being allowed to wear sunglasses. Nowadays only the “transitional” glasses are not allowed...

Sorry for the misspellings...my idling locomotive is loping so badly and vibrating..

 

.my idling locomotive is loping so badly and vibrating..

You may be interested in this pic, my brother, who is a R.R. Tech, and I retrofitted these two retro-age loco's a few years back, we installed dynamic braking for use in the Canadian Rockies,
They had seen use on the flat lands of Ohio.
Taken after they came out of the paint shop.
Max.

 

You may be interested in this pic, my brother, who is a R.R. Tech, and I retrofitted these two retro-age loco's a few years back, we installed dynamic braking for use in the Canadian Rockies,
They had seen use on the flat lands of Ohio.
Taken after they came out of the paint shop.
Max.

Ahhhh...now that’s a nice set of vintage power!

 

A possible start might a LED flag light, has solar panel, battery , battery control, day-night switch & wrong color LEDs. Needed, a switch to connect proper LED group. Some prices ran from US $ 10.00 to $ 400., comments on cheaper units = junk.