Turnouts

[Greg Elmassian]

Lewis Polk's (president of Aristo) nephew, Scott Polk is selling Aristo track on his site:

http://polksgenerationext.com/

Most of the other manufacturers of 332 track is compatible.

I recommend SJ also.

 I run DCC outside, and it works well. Having the track as a "power bus" can simplify a number of things, I power my switch machine control from the track, no extra power wires to run.

See my site: www.elmassian.com

 

Greg

[ttrigg]

1.  There are a few makers of rail clamps that allow different code rails to be joined with little effort. Split Jaw Rail Clamps is the brand that I have experience with, and great success.

2.  Train Shows. Many vendors have product at about 2/3 of the normal listed price (or better). A few vendors deal with used goods at good prices.

3.  Hand laid switches. Reliability is based upon the skills of the craftsman. I rate my skills at about 50% and my first switch was a failure. Fail leads to learning, switch construction improved with time. "She Who Must Be Obeyed" grew tired of waiting for my construction and bought several switches to speed up the construction.

4.  DCC. As an Analog Dinosaur I will leave comment to others. I have modified seveal solar powered lights to provide power for several small projects, street lights, house/building internal lighting, etc. Especially usefull were some combo sets, 3 spot lights powered by a single solar panel. So long as you do not need more than 6 volts I can see you doing what you wnat.

 

[slotracer]

I am working my way along on ground work, weedproof membrane and the like and am looking at track work in the forseeable future so I have some questions. I already did several internet searches and didn't find the answers I am looking for, thus my post here this morning.

I got my hands on quite a bit of Aristo G gauge track, second hand this summer, along with about 10 track switches (manual) at a good price. These are the really sharp radius turnouts but since we are running bachmann geared locos that should be alright.

 

I will eventually need to get more switches as construction moves forwward but I undesrtand Aristo is no more and switches are getting ahrder to find. I have a few questions regarding this.....

1... What other G gauge tracks are compatible with Aristo (Rail size, guage, connecting system etc) 

2...Are there sources of reasonable priced switches ? I see USA trains #6 available but at nearly $130 a piece ?....These prices seem at least double waht they should be

3....Is hand laying switches commonly done in G ? How durable are they in an outside garden Ry ?

4.....DCC remote....I am looking into remote control on switches with DCC reciever to actuate. My thoughts are having a scale buildine nearby with the receiver, switch machine and maybe even batteries with a small solar panel on the sacle building roof to recharge the switch machine battery. Has anyone ever done or explored anything like this ?

I appreciate folks experience and thoughts.......