"Serving Rail Enthusiasts & Model Railroaders since 1990"

Atlas Model Railroad Signal System

We have been doing some testing on the new HO-Scale Atlas Model Railroad Signal System and we will be using this page to bring our customers up to date on how it works. First of all we we want you all to know that even though the system has not been advertised as DCC compatible, it is. In fact it works better with DCC than in the analog mode since there is always power on the track with DCC.

While the Atlas system does include several single and bi-directional target signals, they are not typical of Railroads operating in the western part of the country. As a result, we decided to try them out with the Tomar US&S "searchlight" style signals. The signal control board with drive all three aspects (red-yellow-green) of these LED equipped signals with a change of a jumper on the signal control board and the use of resistors to drop the output voltage (5v) to an LED friendly 2 volts. See diagram below

We have also ordered several "add on" modules from Custom Signals www.customsignals.com and as we test them, we will let you know how they worked.

February 5, 2008

Note that the jumper plug on the Signal Control Board needs to be changed to "example D" shown on page 19 of the Atlas Operating Manual (Available for download on the Atlas web page). It should also be noted that the "common" wire on the Tomar signal is white and that the common coming from the Atlas Signal Cable is black.

February 8, 2008

Received first sample of the panel designed by Lathan Sanford. They come predrilled to hold any combination up to three Atlas Signal Control Boards and three block detectors. The price is 12.95. Hardware to populate the board with up to three signal control boards and three block detectors is $6.95. They will be available next week. Our sample illustrates and single approach lit signal - One signal control board and three block detectors.