Signal System

Signals on the Meramec Valley & Pacific are driven by CTI Electronics circuit boards. Each Signalman board will power up to 16 leds. The CTI system interfaces with the computer and works with the Railroad & Company TrainController Silver software, which allows for the connection of multiple systems.

As mentioned previously, Lenz block detectors are used to detect block occupancy. This information is reported to the TrainController software, which then uses this data to pass the correct signal indication to the CTI system.

Photo at right shows two Signalmans.
Each Signalman controls up to 16 signal lights, and works with all block, searchlight, and positional signals.

They are also great for controlling grade crossing flashers, traffic lights, warning beacons, etc.

I primarily use Tomar signals on the layout, which are Common Anode type signals. It works out best if all your signals are all of the same type - either common anode or common cathode, but Signalman versions are available for bipolar LEDs as well as incan-descent lamps.

CTI Signalman Signal Driver Circuit Boards

 
As this graphic from CTI illustrates, modular phone cord connects one network card to the next.