Missing Gauntlet Track Sections

[wallyworld]

I have yet to locate any gauntlet sections for any make of track.. They certainly would add interesting operational schemes to a layout. I always wanted to incorporate one into an approach to a bridge. No one has, or does make these, right?

[lionelsoni]

I think this would be probematic with respect to center-rail pickups and the shoes for uncoupling and operating cars.  If the rails of one track are evenly spaced between those for the other track, they would operate as uncoupling-operating rails for the other track.  If they are closely spaced, the center rails would probably be bridged by the pickups.

A possible practical arrangement would be to use the center rail of one track as an outside rail of the other.  This would limit the number of rails to 4; but you would need to switch power connections according to which track is in use.

[wallyworld]

I was thinking more of a configuration where the outside rail of let's say, track A has a frog where the outside rail of track B would crossed. The outside rail of Track A then would be located between the center rail and outside rail of Track B. The combined width of A\B would probably require the width of a double track bridge ( which is prototypically silly ) but it would make for an interesting set of controlling signals and operations, wherein one train would have to wait for the other to cross the gauntlet. Another goofy idea would be a timer for a runaway track where you would have to keep to a certain speed or your train goes off into the runaway siding...

[Roger Bielen]

wallyworld,  The only times I've seen any mention, use, of a gauntlet track was with HO and 2 rail O.  The simplest solution would be using switches (turnouts) that are wired so that the train stays on the same track coming off on the opposite side.

[lionelsuperotrack]

TCA member Dick Reichard has developed a protoype of a gauntlet section out of 027 track. Dick is a craftsman supreme and had a prototype at Spring 2006 York. It was exceedingly cleverly done. Of course, Dick is a mechanical engineer by schooling. Here is a link to an article he wrote about making ones own switches:

http://www.tcamembers.org/articles/operating/marxsw/index.html

Dick built a double crossover in "Super O" which is incredible as well.

Very best, Mike