63. Working Shuttle Signal Under a Quid!

I only had about half an hour tonight and thought I’d squeeze in this fun project!
OK, so it’s nothing revolutionary but may help one or two to think of applications for this kind of thing.
In a week or so I’ll make another video to show a more realistic signaling situation. (You really don’t want the green light to stay on once the train has passed!) Remember, many of us know a LOT more than I’m presenting here but I’m trying to encourage ‘newbies’ to have a go and people scared of electronics to see that it isn’t all dark magic and witchcraft need not cost a fortune and can be a whole lot of fun.
The brick paper arrived for the platform front. I didn’t want to get into that so late in the evening but we can ‘do’ that in the next few days I expect. The jury is still out on the stone look (we haven’t used it yet) but here’s the link while I remember. It came really fast - overnight I think? Anyway, here’s the link.
“Brick” Paper sheets link -
a.co/d/3LaO3V3
The LED selection box I don’t see listed anymore - that technology is changing very fast isn’t it? There are many similar selections out there. The “Red” and “Green” ones are of course the most common and if that’s all you want I believe you’ll find those under Peco packaging (Rails of Sheffield has them listed: PECO PL-30 LED'S (3MM, 10 RED & 10 GREEN) but a bit expensive at about 25p each! This link is to something similar to the ones I used at $4.98 for 100 (so about 5 cents (4p) each.
a.co/d/cDe1Dx1
Coffee? I thought you’d never ask - I’d love one while I’m burning my fingers! Milk no sugar please.
ko-fi.com/trai...
See you soon.
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Trains Of Thought with Ian Currey. All Rights Reserved © 2025, Ian Currey.
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[@63trading]

Hi Sir, Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
I am very much looking forward to your video on how to build a shuttle circuit. Keep up the good work.God bless you.

[@trainsofthought5071]

Thanks. I’ll try and get that one done in a couple of weeks. Thanks for watching.

[@Hawaii_HO]

I find your basic layout electronics videos very useful. Learning a lot. Thanks for sharing and hope to see more.

[@trainsofthought5071]

@@Hawaii_HO Thanks. I’ll make those when I’m waiting for bits for the layout 😊 Take a look at the “Street Organ Sound” videos a few weeks ago. Weird title but has applications with the layout and especially station areas. Thanks for watching, glad you find the series useful. 😊

[@aleopardstail]

nicely done, very simple, had never even occurred to me to use the track current directly

[@trainsofthought5071]

@@aleopardstail 😜 sometimes the simplest things are fun. The track current (volts) can change a good bit too and won’t affect the LEDs. This project just not suitable for DCC is all. Thanks for watching. Glad you found it interesting.

[@jamescraven2647]

Thank you for the project. Really looking forward to the one on building a shuttle

[@trainsofthought5071]

OK I’m getting enough feedback that I will need to do that soon it seems. 😊 Thanks for watching.

[@peternorris6438]

Excellent project

[@trainsofthought5071]

@@peternorris6438 Thanks 😊 Just a little something to get things rolling.

[@peternorris6438]

Looking forward to the one on shuttles

[@trainsofthought5071]

I’d better get on with it then! 😜

[@stevehonour9668]

Great vid thanks, looking forward to the shuttle circuit . think i might "borrow your idea for the toilet."

[@trainsofthought5071]

😊 Thanks for watching. I’ll try and get the shuttle circuit done in a couple of weeks. Watch this space!
Thanks for the encouragement and you are welcome to “borrow.”

[@tomhoustonmodelrail-nk7eh]

A fun project, thanks

[@trainsofthought5071]

@@tomhoustonmodelrail-nk7eh Glad you like it 😊 Thanks for watching

[@michaelplayford4916]

thanks very good I will give it a go on part of my track. even though I run DCC on my main track.

[@trainsofthought5071]

@@michaelplayford4916 glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching

[@christopherbeach1123]

Thats great but whats the electrical modual you use to get it to reverse?

[@trainsofthought5071]

We’ll get to that 😜
Seriously, the one I use with the tram is a simple home made multi-vib. it’s easy enough to make but thought we’d better start off with something really simple.
of course there are ‘Off the shelf’ commercial shuttle control boxes available, this signal idea - although crude - would work with those too.
thanks for watching.

[@christopherbeach1123]

@@trainsofthought5071 thanks looking forward to it