Turnout operation

[MichaelT]

Good day,

Ok, so I'm getting the N module farther along and something hit me last night.



I'm not too crazy about the turnout motors attached to the turnouts.

So, the question is, what can I use to operate the turnouts electrically instead of having those "caskets" alongside each turnout?

I know that the Tortoise machines are an option, but I'm not sure I want (or can) spend the necessary funds for each tortoise machine? I'd like to control them remotely, a powered switch or something, so that takes the manual throws out of the picture.

I've seen one guy has an automatic switch machine that he built I think...so what else have any of you used? Or what else is available?

Michael

[wm3798]

For a narrow table top like that, you could just run some piano wire from the turnout to a knob on the front of the benchwork.

I'm using Atlas c-55, so I have the option of powering the frog as well, so on my manual turnouts, I use a small dpst slide switch.


There's a rod drilled into the switch that actuates the turnout.  I paint it silver to make it look like a line side electrical cabinet.

For my powered switches, I really prefer Tortoises.  They're pretty much bulletproof.  I've also used the Atlas undertable mount machine, but it takes a lot of tinkering to get it right.

Lee

[MichaelT]

For a narrow table top like that, you could just run some piano wire from the turnout to a knob on the front of the benchwork.
I'm using Atlas c-55, so I have the option of powering the frog as well, so on my manual turnouts, I use a small dpst slide switch.

There's a rod drilled into the switch that actuates the turnout.  I paint it silver to make it look like a line side electrical cabinet.
For my powered switches, I really prefer Tortoises.  They're pretty much bulletproof.  I've also used the Atlas undertable mount machine, but it takes a lot of tinkering to get it right.
Lee

So the knob is just an extended manual operation?
Looks like the wire is sheathed in something? Is that correct? And whats the silver thing, I'm assuming that is where the wire goes underground?

[wm3798]

No, actually thats a shot of the slide switch method... sorry about that.  I don't have any of the piano wire rigs, but I know there are others that do.


I do have something similar in my yard, where I use a piece of scrap rail to extend the throw bar to a Caboose Industry ground throw at the outer edge of the table. 

This keeps my big chubby fingers from knocking over defenseless freight cars...

You can use a plastic drinking straw or coffee stirrer to make a sleeve for the throw rod then scenery right over it.  If you use a small enough wire, you don't even have to trench the surface... just cut out cross ties wherever it passes under a track.

Lee

[chuck geiger]

Lee - tutorial please, I hate the Caboose Industry ground throws...

[diezmon]

here's a link to what I'm doing.  I use a wire, and slider switch.

http://media.diezfamily.us/images/Hobby/onthebench/switch_control/tni_index.html

or this, with the wires/tubes above the layout.

http://media.diezfamily.us/images/Hobby/myLayout/3-30-2008/tni_index.html

[wm3798]

I'll see if I can throw together a quick words and pictures look at the slide switch method...  Look for it in the coming days, unless someone else beats me to it!

Lee