gerrit carstensen
Strong-arm Interlocking machine WIP
Mechanical interlocking machines were used to control the signals and switches at certain junctions where control was best handled by an operator on the ground. The machine was house in a building called a tower. Each lever controlled a switch, signal blade or lock. The levers were locked together so that a certain order must be followed (i.e. switches must be thrown before the signal can be set to clear). The are also locked to prevent conflicting routes from being set up. For example, if the signal facing eastbound traffic shows "clear", the signal in the opposing direction is physically locked so that it can't display clear until the opposing signal is returned to "stop" . This type of machine was connected to the signals and switches by a mess of cables and linking rods run next to the track. The last installation of this type in the United States was at Brighton Park in Chicago, it closed in 2007. The link has good photos of the signals and linking rods. This video show the same sort of machine in operation in the UK, where this technology originates.
My machine does not use the same methods to lock the levers as the actual machines. However, I was able to mimic the same functions using sliding bars and thread. This machine is my prototype and will have ten levers when I have the parts. All levers are interlocked to each other completely, making it is impossible to give conflicting routes.
Ultimately I'm not building one machine but rather, I'm building principles I can use to make mechanical interlockings for any track diagram. Once I have the prototype machine connected to the appliances and debugged I'll be ready to start a more complicated installation.
Strong-arm Interlocking machine WIP
Mechanical interlocking machines were used to control the signals and switches at certain junctions where control was best handled by an operator on the ground. The machine was house in a building called a tower. Each lever controlled a switch, signal blade or lock. The levers were locked together so that a certain order must be followed (i.e. switches must be thrown before the signal can be set to clear). The are also locked to prevent conflicting routes from being set up. For example, if the signal facing eastbound traffic shows "clear", the signal in the opposing direction is physically locked so that it can't display clear until the opposing signal is returned to "stop" . This type of machine was connected to the signals and switches by a mess of cables and linking rods run next to the track. The last installation of this type in the United States was at Brighton Park in Chicago, it closed in 2007. The link has good photos of the signals and linking rods. This video show the same sort of machine in operation in the UK, where this technology originates.
My machine does not use the same methods to lock the levers as the actual machines. However, I was able to mimic the same functions using sliding bars and thread. This machine is my prototype and will have ten levers when I have the parts. All levers are interlocked to each other completely, making it is impossible to give conflicting routes.
Ultimately I'm not building one machine but rather, I'm building principles I can use to make mechanical interlockings for any track diagram. Once I have the prototype machine connected to the appliances and debugged I'll be ready to start a more complicated installation.