Locking up your layout - 3
turnouts, and are only unlocked when a train needs to spot
or pull cars from the spur. Railroads can also protect electri-
cal equipment, such as crossing flashers for rarely used grade
crossings. Crews will stop, unlock a control box, and activate
the flashers. Once the train is across the road, the crew will
turn off the flashers and relock the control box.
The Philosophy of Restriction
Working locks on a model railroad are not a common practice.
Many modelers seem to not understand their purpose, or are
hesitant in adding them to their layouts. Even the most active
operators remain reluctant to include them in their operating
scheme. When I asked several of my friends to give their feed-
back on adding equipment locks, the comments ranged from
“my crew members will find them annoying” to “I’m afraid
there will be a revolt during my operating sessions.”
I’ve found the opposite to be true. Adding equipment locks has
given me the opportunity to replicate a key function of pro-
totype railroading. The interaction between crews and locks
provides a unique but essential task to the operating session.
Using locks isn’t a hassle or a burden, but rather helps create
a slower and more relaxed pace. This helps place less stress
on the operator, the owner, and the operating session. And
since time is equal to distance on a model railroad, your layout
seems much larger than it was before locks were added.
While it may seem like locks would work only on smaller, more
switching-oriented layouts such as my IAIS Grimes Line, even
4: Derails are placed on spurs to prevent runaway cars
from fouling the main. To access the spur, the derail
must first be unlocked and opened so trains can pass
over the track.
4
5
5: These boxes contain controls that operate the grade
crossing signals in the distance. Crews will unlock the
boxes and turn on the signals before crossing, then
shut off the flashers and relock the control box.
MRH-Dec 2013
