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Smart Engineer – Lionel 2317 Drawbridge – Adding Block Signals – What’s Better

Why you need this

The Lionel 2317 Drawbridge is a fun accessory that brings a lot of action to a layout without much effort. But to add even more action, try adding the Lionel 153 Block Signal to automatically change from red to green and back as the drawbridge lowers or rises.

Overview

The Lionel 2317 Drawbridge is an automated remote controlled drawbridge. The basic setup is a modified figure eight with a graduated trestles to elevate the track so the train can pass over. Adding Lionel 153 Block Signals to the approaches will really knock you layout up a notch.

Better

Lionel 153 Block signals can be hooked up to turn on the red or the green lamp. This is done with 3 posts located on the base. 

 

  • Red Light
  • Ground
  • Green Light

Drawbridge Terminals

There are two terminals that are important for this.

Terminal 4 – provides power to the lower track when the bridge is up

Terminal 5 – provides power to the upper track when the bridge is down

 

Bottom Track

Hooking up terminal 4 to the Block Signal Green Light post will cause the green light to turn on whenever power is supplied to the bottom track.

Hooking up terminal 5 to the Block Signal Red light post will cause the red light to turn on whenever power is supplied to the upper track.

 

Upper Track

Hooking up terminal 5 to the Block Signal Green Light post will cause the green light to turn on whenever power is supplied to the upper track.

Hooking up terminal 4 to the Block Signal Red light post will cause the red light to turn on whenever power is supplied to the lower track.

 

Pros

  • Easy to add block signals

Cons

  •  When the bridge is moving, both lights of all the block signals are off.

Make it the Best

What's Good

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