Ground Throws

[Anonymous]

On my new layout I'm planning on installing Walthers turnouts, and Tortoise switch machines are the main-line turnouts. On the yard turnouts I'm planning on instaling manual ground throws. They'll be easier to install, operate, and MUCH cheaper.

Question: Which ground throws would you recommend and why?

The Cabboose Industries ground throws look good. They have 3 versions. What are the pros and cons of each kind? Or would you recommend a different throw?

Mark in Utah

[michealfarley]

Caboose Industries 202s are what I used exclusively on my layout. They work great and are very durable. If I had to do it again, I would use the newer-style that actually looks like a hand-thrown on the prototype, but simply for aesthetics. If you include them in your weathering/scenicing plans, the original style still look like they are supposed to be there.

[mcouvillion]

Mark,

On our club layout, we used the Caboose Industries ground throw with the built-in SPDT switch to control the power to the frog. I don't remember the model number, but it is advertised about every other month in Model Railroader. Works great, but I had to add an additional hole in the baseplate nearer the track to anchor it more firmly.

Mark C.

[cacole]

We have a lot of the Caboose Industries ground throws on our club's HO scale layout. For best results, be sure you get sprung ground throws.

[Anonymous]

I used the caboose 202S, sprung, they work great, no problems with them yet.

[jfrank138]

Mark, I model in O Scale and use the "HO" Caboose Industries 202S. They work great.
When I look at photos of HO layouts with HO Caboose Industries throws they look "way too large to me. I suppose you could use N-scale throws in HO.
Has anybody worked out a way to add "targets" to 202s?

[Anonymous]

Hello Mark, I was paging through one of my Model Railroader magazines, and found an ad for some new ground throws. The site is ( www.humpyard.com) They look really good to me. They operate with a small cable, and you can operate two from the same throw. Take a look at the humpyard site, let me know what you think. Bob

[mrgstrain]

Mark I am looking at useing some from Caboose Industries. Feb. 05 MR mag has an add. on page 18, they make some that are 15% smaller than the regular one. Check it out .
Larry

[Adelie]

Bob,

I've been eyeing the humpyard.com ones up, too. Seems like a neat concept, if you don't want or need the ground throw in the scenery next to the turnout.

[Anonymous]

The Humpyard switches look interesting. A bit large for my application, but I can definately see where they'd fit in with a layout that wants more of a "big hands" approach to the controls. You'd definately get the feel of "throwing the turnout" when you move those handles.

Mark in Utah

[Anonymous]

Aside from the for the model/manufacturer, why use a manual ground throw?

Of course, I can see the obvious reason...they look prototypical. But is there is technical reason over remote/electic or maybe a specific area they are more useful over the remote/electric.

For example, manual ground throws work better in frieght/switching yards because the remote version take up to much space for close mounting? Or because manual ground throws keep the control panel from being cluttered.

Or...?

Thanks in advance for anyone insight.

B

[mandelswamp]

Brian:

I elected to go with manual throws for three reasons:
1 - They are cheaper than the remote throws
2 - They're installation is less complex since they are mechanical and there is no electrical issues to consider such as wiring for buttons/switches/indicator lights on the control panel.
3 - For the region that I am modeling (Northern Vermont), most switches are thrown manually by the train crews rather than remotely by the dispatcher so my operations, using manual throws, will be prototypical. The same is true for switches in many yards.

M

[horter1]

Mark,

I've used Caboose Ind, #202S for 8 years. They are great. I did purchase the "N" scale model but there is not much size difference--especially in clearance. I agree 202S's are rather large but the trade-off is they are easy to handle. Weathering helps their appearance. I model rural W.Va. and 202S is similar to what the B&O used.

[nobullchitbids]

Myself, I prefer twin-coil switch machines, such as the old Kemtron machines or their descendants, for use in yard ladders -- if price be a problem, look for used ones on e.g. eBay, or perhaps try a surplus electrical-supply house. The reason I find these better is because several can be hooked into a capacitor-discharge unit (you can build these too provided you know about polarity with electrolytics) and a diode matrix to give one-button control for ladder-track selection. Some will argue this is not prototypical; but, the flip side is that ground throws inevitably have to be oversized unless they are cabled and attached underneath (yes, those humpyard ones look good). I always found such cables to be messy and a potential maintenance headache, although I have seen well designed handbuilt ones made with (of all things) ping pong balls.

[william j brown]

I too would like to use ground throws Caboose Ind.202s sound good to me.Can I use them w/Peco & a few Atlas 100 code turnouts.

[scole100]

I installed the Humpyard throws on my layout. They work very well and so far they have been very durable. They are very adaptable to how you would like to install them and proven to be very easy to use. I had the Caboose Industries ground throws that were mounted on the layout. Although they worked well I was always bumping into scenery or other trains etc.

[Anonymous]

jfrank138 mentions using "N" gauge Caboose ground throws for HO. Yes, I can attest to this practice as practical so long as you are careful about the "throw bar" position making tight contact for the points. They look a lot better than the gargantuan throws for HO. Good luck, Ted

[Anonymous]

I too plan to use Caboose Industries ground throws. Where do I find which one to use with Peco switches.

[mcouvillion]

Joe Clements,

The Caboose Industries ground throws each come with about 6 extensions that you choose from to connect to your turnout. It has the one for Peco.

Mark C.

[Anonymous]

I use ground throws as a way to operate switches until I can mount motors under the table or throws at the edge of the table. To my eye, they aren't going to look prototypical, but they sure do make it quick to get stuff running. I wouldn't really consider them for permanent in scene installation (even if I liked the look) because I don't want operators to have to reach into the scene (oops!!! Was that my sleeve on your water tower???) to throw switches.

[cwaldman]

I personally went with the ground throws for operational reason. Also because of cost. But i did want a lot of interaction with operation. I also use a skewer for uncoupling in all but the distant yard tracks.

I have not had issues with not having machines. the trains are run at scale speeds, Stopped and time taken to toss the lever. To me it is a very prototypical, feel to running the railroad.

[Anonymous]

cwaldman, yes there is a certain aesthetic value to "hands on," interaction in model railroading which is too often lost these days. I suppose it comes down to the operator becoming more than the engineer, yard master and conductor alone. Now, you are a brakeman and trainman along with the other responsibilities which adds interest to over-all operating chores. It is also a good rationale for adding R.R. personnel (figures) to a otherwise lifeless area of the layout. "The glory is in the details." Happy rails.

[oleirish]

The hump yard switches are great but they cost to much ($15.00) a par.

OLE'IRISH

[Pruitt]

I use the Caboose Industries 204S High-Level Switchstand. Works and looks great, but they're more delicate than the 202S - gotta be a bit careful of the lever.

Here's a photo:

I still have to cut off the part of the tie-rod that extends out to the right of the turnout, and I haven't added the lantern and targets - those will come with the scenery.
I orient the stands so that the lever always swings towards the frog of the turnout, just so I'll always know which way to pu***o throw the turnout.