Skip to main content

I have started to restore a Lionel #450 Signal Bridge. I'm going to be using this with my Fastrack system. I already ordered GRJ's Train Presence Sensor.  My intention is to repaint this bridge and add LED lighting (if possible) in the hopes to get rid of the heat that is produced by incandescent bulbs. This bridge came to me with lots of surface rust and some minor pitting. I've already blasted the metal parts clean and I'm ready to start painting. I'm lucky in the fact there is no zinc pest in the lamp housing.

So here's my question...Do I repaint the signal bridge black as it was back in the day or do I paint it in the more modern silver? All of the signaling devices for the RR in my area is in the BNSF silver. If I do the silver, my plan is to 'weather' the area where the exhaust would turn it black.

What say you all?

DSCN0016

DSCN0018

Attachments

Images (2)
  • DSCN0016
  • DSCN0018
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I'm bumping this back up since I posted this in the late evening west coast time.  I'm going to shoot the self-etching primer today. But I'm torn between the black and silver. I don't want to re-blast the bridge if I don't have too. I've decided to stay with the #53 incandescent lamps. 5mm leds are too small and 8mm leds are too large for the housing holes.

Last edited by Jayhawk500
shorling posted:
artyoung posted:

You can get direct replacement red or green LED bulbs to match the #53's from Town & Country Hobbies, among other sources. I've replaced all my original bulbs in everything with LED bulbs and have no complaints.

I too have replaced my 450 bridge lamps with Town & Country LED bulbs.  The work, fit and look great.

You have a link please?

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

If you don't like the Lionel signal heads, you could make your own, like I did. You can find the parts on eBay.

IMG_8354

I like the idea very much. I'm going to see how things work out, but I may go this route.

Jayhawk500 posted:
shorling posted:
artyoung posted:

You can get direct replacement red or green LED bulbs to match the #53's from Town & Country Hobbies, among other sources. I've replaced all my original bulbs in everything with LED bulbs and have no complaints.

I too have replaced my 450 bridge lamps with Town & Country LED bulbs.  The work, fit and look great.

You have a link please?

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

If you don't like the Lionel signal heads, you could make your own, like I did. You can find the parts on eBay.

IMG_8354

I like the idea very much. I'm going to see how things work out, but I may go this route.

I just noticed...Did you stretch that bridge (combine 2 bridges) to go over those 3 sets of tracks? 

shorling posted:
artyoung posted:

You can get direct replacement red or green LED bulbs to match the #53's from Town & Country Hobbies, among other sources. I've replaced all my original bulbs in everything with LED bulbs and have no complaints.

I too have replaced my 450 bridge lamps with Town & Country LED bulbs.  The work, fit and look great.

Looks great in silver...

  Just curious, exactly which bulbs did you order for the 450?  I’m ordering LED1445s & 1447s for my O22 switches, are 1445s the same size as the L53s in the 450 bridge?

Thanks!

Tom

FlyPlanes-PlayTrains posted:
shorling posted:
artyoung posted:

You can get direct replacement red or green LED bulbs to match the #53's from Town & Country Hobbies, among other sources. I've replaced all my original bulbs in everything with LED bulbs and have no complaints.

I too have replaced my 450 bridge lamps with Town & Country LED bulbs.  The work, fit and look great.

Looks great in silver...

  Just curious, exactly which bulbs did you order for the 450?  I’m ordering LED1445s & 1447s for my O22 switches, are 1445s the same size as the L53s in the 450 bridge?

Thanks!

Tom

Thank you for liking the silver.

I ordered the LED-1445G and LED-1445R. After doing some research they are physically the same size. The 1445 has different ratings than the #53's. But since these are LED's, none of that matters, only the size. The 1445 is a bayonet base and is 14.4 volts and a 2000 hour bulb, the 1447 is a screw in base and is 18 volts and a 250 hour bulb. The #53 is basically the same as the 1445 but is a 1000 hour bulb.

Last edited by Jayhawk500
shorling posted:

If you are interested I have some junker signal bridges for a sale.  Send me an email if you are interested.  I  stretched my 450's also.  I just put a 3/4 x ? wood in the center after I cut them in half.  I didn't care how the center looked since the center was covered.  I used a lot of them to support my second level.

I'm going to pass for now. But I'll keep that in mind.

Thank you

I received everything I need to add the electrics to the signal bridge. I got my 1447 LED bulbs from Town and Country Hobbies. I got new BA9S sockets mainly for the center contact and fiber insulator. So now I'm having to think of how to wire this... I have a plan, but I would like to see if there is a simpler way to do this. Please see the PDF, This is how I currently have the red LED wired using a separate breadboard for the resistor and diode, that you can see at the bottom of the photo. I want to put everything in the bridge piling if possible.

My plan is to use one resistor in the ground circuit and use 2 diodes in each circuit for the positive lead to the LED.  OR, is there a simpler way to wire this. I'm using GRJ's Insulated Track Signal Driver. I have one for each side.

Also, I'm unsure of J3...Do I need to ground pins A and B to get this to work. The bridge framing is ground, or do I just leave the pins empty?

DSCN1056

Thanks

 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • DSCN1056
Files (1)
Last edited by Jayhawk500

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×