153 Block Controller Wiring

Additionally, you can connect the 3 post to the 3 post of an O22 switch. If the red/green is reverse to your desired outcome, swap the outer wires.

As for lamps, Lionel specified the #50 (screw base) or #53 (bayonet) lamps.

Thank you.

Center makes hot. One outside post for red common. Other outside post green common.

I would wire using an insulated outside rail and a relay. More dependable than the device above. Wired same.

You could go prototypical with 2 insulated outside rails. Green rail several feet in front of device. Red rail just after. Lights are dark as train approaches. Hits green rail and signal goes green. Train hits red rail and both lights are on. As train passes green rail light becomes just red. As train passes red rail all lights go dark. This works for one direction running. One can easily add a switch to reverse lights to run in other direction.

Jim,

Thanks for your idea of the two insulated rails.  I like that.  I ight do that.

Do you think it would be easy to somehow wire it to a standard gauge switch so that when the switch was in the curved throw the signal was green and when it was on the straight throw the signal was red? 

Joe

Sure. I think center post becomes common and outer posts hot. One makes red the other will make green. If not wire the same way as insulated outside rail.