Since we started using the boards, I decided to remove the transistor socket pins and the LED socket pins. The reliability of the boards have made the need to be able to unplug these components unnecessary. I left the IC socketed because it turns out that it is the only component to fail from time to time so it can be field replaced easily.
Part of the reason to remove them is that the pins were difficult for me to solder onto the board. I did decide to socket the MOVs onto the board as they can be easily replaced in the field when they have been damaged by lightning from storms. I also got the club to get grounding rods and they were installed around the property so we could ground the track common rail. This made a major change in the failure rate of the signals. We also tried MOVs in the signal base boxes, at Tommy's suggestion, to short circuit any disturbances before they got to the signal head. This helps with the reliability as well but when they short they cause the signal head to do strange stuff. We decided to remove them because of the strange stuff but it turned out to be the lack of the ground that caused them to short out in the first place so we reversed ourselves and put them back in the base boxes.
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