I have been reading this manual, and I am feeling a bit stupid... http://www.marklin.com/tech/SignalManual.pdf

I don't know how signals work in real life and likewise, how they work in miniature and I am not much wiser from reading this document.

I love the effect that signals and automatic control brings to a railway and would like to buy a few to play with.

My question is, what models, including control track should I be buying as a beginners set to get started and see how they work? Is there a simple explanation anywhere that a simple fellow like me will understand?

To answer this question we need to know what type of track you use, what era you prefer, and what kind of control equipment. I would suggest very different solutions for a classic M track analogue layout and a modern digitally controlled one.

Also, do you want to to stick with Marklin or don't mind other makers?

Hi all,

German railway signals explained:

http://www.sh1.org/eisenbahn/index.htm

Dr D

Howdy



Signals in real life can be complex; most of Australia uses "Speed Signaling" where its not just one color - but a combination of colors which tell the driver the speed allowed. The standard "clear road ahead" in Victoria is green over red (left most line). Red over red is STOP (immediately; centre line). Victoria has numerous systems and allows for branch line operation just as RayF described too (areas where speed signaling isn't used). Seeing this in real life could possibly make it seem complex.

I too am new to marklin signaling as am rebuilding my layout after decades of being ignored. Historically I'd use cheap signals that didn't stop the train - just changed from RED for stop|halt and GREEN for go. I'd use a DPDT (dual pole, dual throw) switch which had one pole control the RED/GREEN globe of signal, the other the power to a tiny section (few tracks near signal) of track. This allowed the train to auto-stop on RED, but it'd stop a train going opposite direction to signal wrongly.

Marklin signaling has the same flaw (stops trains in either direction when red), but has benefit of being able to be controlled by "remote control track" (5146/5147/5213) which allows automatic block operation. A train going over these tracks can be made to change a signal green or red depending upon how you wire it. The cheap "lights only" signal with "dpdt" switch (which did the work) are unable to do this. The documents are describing how this is done, which isn't difficult (esp. when you can experiment).

5146 = M track equiv. to 5107 (1/2 straight) remote control track
5147 = M track equiv. to 5101 (1/2 curve std) remote control track
5213 = M track equiv. to 5201 (1/2 wide curve) remote control track

7039 is home signal (semaphore or arm type; contains globe that shows red/green too); 7088 is lighted version (red/green lights only)
7036 is distant signal - if used it gives driver warning of the 7039/7088 he/she is approaching; usually wired to change automatically with 7039/7088.

7040 is two arm signal, refer RayF's description - or think of one arm as referring to one direction, other arm the alternate direction. Both at stop - train stops.
7038 is distant signal used with 7040 (or 7041; sorry can't help with difference between 7040/7041)

7042 is yard signal. (all signals I've mentioned are lit - so if room dark you can still see signal)

Marklin also have 7236/7239/7237/7240/7241/7238/7242 but have only seen these in catalogs.

Any questions I'll happily help you with (where I can) - but same applies to many on this great forum.

Chris g.

Thanks heaps guys. I think I have it covered now. I just bought some bits and I will have a play when they arrive.

I can't thank you all enough for explaining all this to me. Now I have decided what to buy I can have a play and fill in the blanks as I go along.

I bought 2 x 7039 1 x 7040 4 x 5147 and 2 x 5213. Should be enough to get me started anyhow.

Sorry I thought collectors corner was for old out of production models which is what we are talking about,

anyhow the signals arrived and I am well pleased with how they work! Thanks for the advice everyone!

Didn´t Marklin stop producing old semaphore signals?
I suggest you shall try Viessmann slow action semaphore.
Very closed to prototyp in shape and functions.

Well there ya go! You can tell I am no Marklin expert then? Anyhow I received 3 7039 and 1 7040 and a bunch of switch track thingy s, been playing with different layouts all day. They add a whole new dimension to my train set.