The Ground Throw Problem

[Dave V]

I'm at the detail phase now on the Enola Yard extension of the Juniata Division.



But what's the point if it's all negated by GIANT Caboose Industries ground throws?  Big though the normal throws are, the ones with the contacts for powered frogs are ENORMOUS.



Distracting?  Yep.  I thank my Railwire brethren for never, ever missing an opportunity to point them out to me. ;D

So, after some discussion with Lee, I'm going to try sub-mini SPDT switches:



Note the size difference!  Now, that shiny metal color can obviously be painted cinder-black and blended carefully into the surrounding scenery.  The switch appears to have adequate travel to provide the requisite tension on the points in both positions when connected by wire to the throwbar while at the same time powering the frog.

My layout is going to be on display at the NMRA Western Heritage Division train show and swap meet in Omaha 23-25 April, and so I'm not going to be digging out the Caboose ground throws until after then.  I'm focusing the next few days on final detailing and tuning of track/equipment.

[wm3798]

Pre-drill and wire the micro switches, and you can have them changed out in about an hour.  Then comes the hard part, bending and installing all the spring wires.  I'd suggest you do a test case first, and make sure you have adequate travel in the switch.  Otherwise you'll have to devise a little fulcrom that can add some distance if needed.

Looking forward to seeing how it improves the layout.

Lee

[John]

Here are some of mine .. I use brass wire . its easy to bend, and also easier to adjust

Some pictures from the yard ..

[John]

Here is a different shot .. I use a slightly bigger slide switch .. It is easier for old eyes to find .. but still not intrusive

[clarkrw3]

Ok....these look great.  Now I need a diagram so I can figure out how it all works.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Good lord Dave, those look like IEDed vehicles at each turnout.

I'm thinking there has to be a better way than the switch or CI ground throws. I wish there was a ground throw that uses a small allan key to change the turnout. The key would also be geared to a turnout lamp/signal/flag to indicate the direction.

Here is a quick sketch of what I mean.

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[Denver Road Doug]

Daniel, that's a cool drawing.  I had a similar idea awhile back although a different arrangment of components.  Maybe someday this kind of idea can make it off the drawing board.

[ljudice]

Too bad Atlas didn't copy Peco! 

[Mark5]

Too bad Atlas didn't copy Peco! 

I'm glad they didn't. ;D

[ljudice]

I mean in the spring operated mechanism that works perfectly fine as a manual ground throw...

(not referring to the buried code 55, which some may or may not like)...

[Glenn Poole]

I use Peco switches and they are all in reach so I run them manually.  What is the difference, if you reach to the switch to move the switch, or you reach to the switch to move a ground throw or a slide switch?  This leaves me with nothing unslightly.  I've not used Atlas switches so maybe you can't do this with Atlas.

[wm3798]

Atlas switches require an external switch control.  Yeah, Peco doesn't leave anything unsightly... except the turnout...

[FrankCampagna]

While I agree the Caboose throws are clunky, a yard without switch stands looks a little sparse.....

Frank

[Craig Martyn]

Hmmmmm.....Swtich Stands....

[Philip H]

Hmmmmm.....Swtich Stands....

Craig,
Didn't your mother teach you not to tease people like that . . . I mean, considering the hurt you are about to put on my wallet with bulk packs of the 70 and 100 to trucks, not to mention the sine car set and the 89' flatcar . . . . but bravo is you can make them scale and functional in N