AussieJimbo Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) Earlier this week I made a start on my train station project with a combined ticket office, storage room and pedestrian bridge. http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=51044 Building on what I learned there, I've now completed the second building in the series, a Signal Box with a lever frame that you can move back and forth just like the real thing. Unlike the first building, I could of course find a plethora of images of signal boxes. Wikipedia was a good start... Signal Boxes on Wikipedia ...which put me onto this site that has a multitude of examples. http://railwayscenes.fotopic.net/c871158_1.html As you can see, there are diverse variations of signal boxes but there were some key characteristics that I wanted to capture; excellent visibility, a lever frame, an indicator board, steps leading up to a balcony/door and an elevated setting with a second room below. I also wanted it to integrate with existing station platforms in the style of the 7937 sets. I've had the basic structure done for a couple of days and have been tweaking since then. I'm pretty happy with the results, particularly the lever frame. I expected it to be difficult to come up with anything that even looked good, let alone be functional, but inspiration struck when a few ladders turned up while I was rummaging for parts. Those familiar with this piece of infrastructure will know it is a set levers that are used by the signalman to operate the points and signals. The levers are lined up in a frame either on the floor or recessed into the floor, with a series of slots that guide the levers back and forth. Lever Frames at Wikipedia As you'll see below, I've found a way to do that in a way that keeps the levers all independent but nicely aligned. I'm so pleased with how it worked out. Later I will drop it into the floor and cover it up leaving just a 6x2 gap where the levers poke through but for now it's left open so you can see how it works. Parts wise this model is built from one 7937 Train station and one 5891 Apple Tree House, excluding all the big three-pane windows which I had from multiple 7632 Crawler Crane sets, ladders from 3180 Tanker Trucks and possibly a few more grey bricks and various plates and extra lights and light poles for the switch/signal levers. So here are a few photos of my new Signal Box: Signalman at his post about to release the Emerald onto the main line. Assembling the modules: Closeups of the lever frame: Bonus platform hut (signal box main section removed and base spun around) Click images for larger versions. I'll have some more shots with the signal box in the layout tomorrow. Comments and suggestions welcome. I hope you like it. :classic: Edited January 21, 2011 by AussieJimbo Quote
Jargo Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 That is very nice. You're dead cleverly. Seriously it's a sweet little build on the levers. on an open back build it might not have worked but in an enclosed build it's great. I need to design myself a signal box and will probably use this as inspiration. Quote
AllanSmith Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 Great signal box. Love the working levers. Much better than My LDD version of a few years ago. Keep up the good work Quote
cimddwc Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 Nice levers! And nice house, too. Gotta remember this when it's time to build my train station, though I'm not sure if I'll go for such a nice "historic" lever-operated design or some run-of-the-mill modern electronic signal box, or just assume everything's controlled from somewhere else... Quote
lightningtiger Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 'AussieJ'....totally AWESOME - it's the battle of the railway towns eh ? That signals box could fit easily along side the latest train station with the styling I might say VicRail (of course I could be wrong ! ). The lever frame is not just clever, but I feel very original.....pitty my town wasn't larger or early 20th century as something like this would fit in nicely. I can't wait to see the end result.....Brick On 'AussieJimbo' ! Quote
AussieJimbo Posted January 22, 2011 Author Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all your generous feedback. I'm glad you like the lever frame as much as I do. It was one of those joyous Lego moments when it all just clicked together. That's one of the brilliant things about Lego. Way back when that ladder piece was designed it was no mistake that it was made with a one stud gap between the rungs. Thanks to the fantastic inter-compatibilty of various Lego pieces, you can try something like this and the bits will fit together where they need to. That is very nice. You're dead cleverly. Seriously it's a sweet little build on the levers. on an open back build it might not have worked but in an enclosed build it's great. I need to design myself a signal box and will probably use this as inspiration. I'd love to see that when you get around to it. I'll show the recessed levers later on which would work fine in an open back configuration. Great signal box. Love the working levers. Much better than My LDD version of a few years ago. Keep up the good work Cheers Allan, that's very good of you but you undersell your own work. That is a fantastic signal box too and a great representation of your reference pic. I like the way you modelled the locking release part of the levers. I'll definitely be giving your build a go for another signal box elsewhere on the layout. I hope you don't mind me posting a couple of your thumbnails (will remove if you do). Check it out everyone. Allan's reference pic... ...and his LDD model. Nice work mate. Nice levers! And nice house, too. Gotta remember this when it's time to build my train station, though I'm not sure if I'll go for such a nice "historic" lever-operated design or some run-of-the-mill modern electronic signal box, or just assume everything's controlled from somewhere else... Thanks for that. For me I couldn't go past the historic lever operated model. As you can see from that pictures link I posted, you can pretty much put anything up and call it a signal box these days because it is mostly run from a central control centre with remote points, automated signalling and CCTV. It would be cool to build one of those control rooms with a whole row of track plan maps on big display along one wall with operators consoles looking on. Sort of NASA-like mission control setup. 'AussieJ'....totally AWESOME - it's the battle of the railway towns eh ? That signals box could fit easily along side the latest train station with the styling I might say VicRail (of course I could be wrong ! ). The lever frame is not just clever, but I feel very original.....pitty my town wasn't larger or early 20th century as something like this would fit in nicely. I can't wait to see the end result.....Brick On 'AussieJimbo' ! Good onya, LT. Very pleased it meets with your approval. Battle of the towns? Friendly competition if that but apart from the growing station, I've just got a few stock City buildings and modulars, you've got an amazing custom-built town. Progress will slow now as I'm about to put an Amazon order in for some more Apple Tree Houses for the main station building. I could probably do something adequate with 2 more, 3 for something more elaborate, so I'll probably pick up 4 of them so I've got the bricks for a second stair tower and an attempt at Allan's signal box. Will have some layout shots later. :classic: Edited January 22, 2011 by AussieJimbo Quote
JopieK Posted January 22, 2011 Posted January 22, 2011 It is indeed really nice! I might add the idea to my signal post. Quote
WesternOutlaw Posted January 23, 2011 Posted January 23, 2011 Love the lever frame! Overall, this is a great trackside structure, and I like seeing the dark blue roof. Quote
AussieJimbo Posted January 23, 2011 Author Posted January 23, 2011 (edited) It is indeed really nice! I might add the idea to my signal post. Cheers, I like to see your signal box too. Love the lever frame! Overall, this is a great trackside structure, and I like seeing the dark blue roof. Thanks Brickster. It's sitting happily down the other end of my platforms now. The lever frame will soon be installed in the floor of the signal box with a bit of the mechanism visible from the room below like in real life. I'm glad you like the dark blue roofing because there is plenty more coming with the main station building. I've started from the roof down this time, based on a nearby heritage station. :classic: Edited January 23, 2011 by AussieJimbo Quote
AussieJimbo Posted January 23, 2011 Author Posted January 23, 2011 Well I couldn't wait so I went out and grabbed another couple of apple tree houses locally so I could make a start on the station. Too late to get pics done tonight but I'm happy to say I'm now looking at my first completed module, a branch line station that will grow into a larger mainline facility. *woohoo* *woohoo* Photos and description tomorrow in a new thread and that update to the lever frame in here. :classic: Quote
retrotecchie Posted January 23, 2011 Posted January 23, 2011 Cracking signal box. Looking at doing something similar myself. Very nice looking and those levers are great. There is a small signal box/level crossing hut near me (I live in a village with a station on the main London-Portsmouth line) which is very similar looking, and two level crossings within 500m of each other! Great for train inspiration. Not so great if you need a pint of milk in a hurry at two minutes to or twenty eight minutes past the hour! The village is literally cut in half by the railway, and my local grocery shop is the other side of the tracks Quote
AussieJimbo Posted January 24, 2011 Author Posted January 24, 2011 (edited) Thanks very much, retrotecchie. Sounds like a nice village. Well I didn't get around to photos tonight. In my enthusiasm for completing the track facing side of my station I forgot that I needed to do the road-side entrance. That's done now and I'm very satisfied with how everything's looking. The stair tower and old ticket office is no more but it went to good cause. Definitely pictures tomorrow. (make that in a few days) *laugh* :classic: Edited January 29, 2011 by AussieJimbo Quote
AussieJimbo Posted January 29, 2011 Author Posted January 29, 2011 (edited) OK, here are a few updated shots with the lever frame recessed into the floor like it should be. Large Large Large Pics of the expanded station are on the way. :classic: Edited January 29, 2011 by AussieJimbo Quote
Legoless Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 This is great- there is something wonderful about Victorian railway engineering- electical switches just don't have the magic of a well-oiled lever attached to cables or rods. I guess that's why I much prefer a manual gearbox to an automatic- its just more tactile and involving. So adding such a structure can only add to the sense of atmosphere on your layout. Its a simple model beautifully done. Quote
AussieJimbo Posted February 2, 2011 Author Posted February 2, 2011 Thanks Legoless, for your feedback. I share your appreciation for historic railway engineering. The signal box is now enjoying it's spot at the far end of my new station. :classic: Quote
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