PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[MichaelWinicki]

I've enjoyed this thread immensely with all the back & forth about "Hey, I'm thinking of this... does it make sense?"

Many of these layout threads are more of the "This is my trackplan and here's where I'm at in the building of it" kind of thing, which is A-OK also.

[jpec]

I'm feeling the love in the room...it's either that or the chili I ate for dinner...

Jeff

[chicken45]

Heh...speaking of Dear Old State and thread drift...here's a relevant picture from 2003 of my first encounter with large scale railroading:

[Dave V]

This weekend I stocked up on micro-mini SPDT switches for turnout control/frog power.  Also re-upped my supply of 22AWG solid feeder wires. I have cork on hand but probably not enough.

However with Little League all day Saturday and Easter on Sunday, not expecting much progress.  That said, any time I do have will probably be G scale time.  The snow will have melted by then!

[mcjaco]

You guys are doing it wrong.  Now there's TWO more pages with nothing added to the JD. 



HA!

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Nothing will get done with Dave playing in little league games 

[Dave Schneider]

Nothing will get done with Dave playing in little league games 

I have this image of a right fielder looking up at the clouds in the sky....   

Best wishes, Dave

[Dave V]

This is the real reason nothing's happening on the JD: 

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=32192.0

 

[bbussey]

This weekend I stocked up on micro-mini SPDT switches for turnout control/frog power.  Also re-upped my supply of 22AWG solid feeder wires. I have cork on hand but probably not enough...

Question on this front.  I also have mini SPDT slide switches for the same purpose.  But the throw of the slide switch is approximately .120", while the throw of the turnout points is around .040".  If the switch isn't fully to one side or the other, then the contacts don't connect.  Not a problem if just being used to move the points, but it becomes a problem for routing power to the frog.  Solutions?

[Dave V]

Get the micro minis...  The throw distance is almost perfect.  I use one to power and throw the throat switch for Enola with zero troubles.

[davefoxx]

Question on this front.  I also have mini SPDT slide switches for the same purpose.  But the throw of the slide switch is approximately .120", while the throw of the turnout points is around .040".  If the switch isn't fully to one side or the other, then the contacts don't connect.  Not a problem if just being used to move the points, but it becomes a problem for routing power to the frog.  Solutions?

I used a Hex Frog Juicer to power the frogs on my layout, so the slide switches are used solely to throw and hold the points in place.  I was not only worried about figuring out which slide switch would have the exact amount of throw, but I also was worried about ballasting and scenery work getting the slide switch and damaging the electrical continuity.

DFF

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

I have this image of a right fielder looking up at the clouds in the sky....   

Best wishes, Dave

Even worse the ballpark is along the railroad tracks. 

[Dave V]

Question on this front.  I also have mini SPDT slide switches for the same purpose.  But the throw of the slide switch is approximately .120", while the throw of the turnout points is around .040".  If the switch isn't fully to one side or the other, then the contacts don't connect.  Not a problem if just being used to move the points, but it becomes a problem for routing power to the frog.  Solutions?

Another thought...  So I have the "submini" version.  I use brass wire as a linkage, and I find that the brass absorbs the "slop" such that the switch does its full throw and keeps pressure (but so far not too much pressure) on the points.

Quite an elegant and inexpensive solution, actually.

[bbussey]

Another thought...  So I have the "submini" version.  I use brass wire as a linkage, and I find that the brass absorbs the "slop" such that the switch does its full throw and keeps pressure (but so far not too much pressure) on the points.

Quite an elegant and inexpensive solution, actually.

I got mine from DigiKey.  It sounds as if yours might be even smaller and a far better option for me.  A little slop is fine, which as you stated maintains the pressure on the points.  But my differential is too great.  If you could email me your source and the part number when you get a moment, I would be appreciative.

[Dave V]

Radio Shack 275-0409 Submini SPDT.  I just get them at the local 'Shack.