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Turnout control
Turnout control
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Turnout control
Posted by
Anonymous
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 9:43 AM
I need to install a manual turnout control in a yard. The location is such that it will not allow a switch machine. I recall seeing a very basic approach, using a wire spring between the rails and it appears this would be exactly what I need. Here's the problem. I can't remeber where I saw it. I know it was in MR in the last couple of years and possibly also in a Kalmbach book. Someone told me it was in a 1977 MR, but I don't have that year, so I know I didn't see it there.
Any guidance to its location would be appreciated.
Richard Patterson
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cwclark
Member since
January 2004
From: Crosby, Texas
3,660 posts
Posted by
cwclark
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:05 AM
I believe there was a simular version of it in Peter J. Thorne's kalmbach publication "Electronic projects for model railroaders" it used piano wire to drive a DP/DT switch that was also connected to the points of the turnout from under the benchwork...it hooked up from the switch & turnout assembly to a control panel and worked like a manual choke cable on a lawnmower that throws the DP/DT switch and the turnout at the same time with a knob that is either pushed in or pulled out on the control panel if that's the one you are talking about ...this design will work as long as the turnout is not a great distance from the control panel...chuck
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jrbarney
Member since
January 2002
1,132 posts
Posted by
jrbarney
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:11 AM
Richard,
Welcome to the MR Forums !
If you have the space for mounting it on your fascia, you might be interested in the
Hump Yard Purveyance's
products:
http://www.humpyard.com
Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
"Time flies like an arrow - fruit flies like a banana." "In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." --German proverb
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Modeloldtimer
Member since
June 2003
From: NC, USA
113 posts
Posted by
Modeloldtimer
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:15 AM
Click on Index of Magazines At top of the Forum page
There you can do a search in all past Model Railroader Magazines.
Modeloldtimer
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:23 AM
The wire spring between the rails is a "poor man's" Peco, so to speak. It allows you to use your finger to throw the turnout by moving the point rails.
You need to drill two holes (one if the throw bar already has one). The other hole goes in the tie next to the throw bar.
Then bend a piece of wire at about 135*. Then bend each end so it goes straight down. The distance between the vertical parts needs to be equal to the distance between the holes when the turnout is thrown.
The idea is that as the two holes come together as you throw the turnout, the "spring" you made is compressed, and then "springs" open to hold the turnout in the fully thrown position.
Sorry - no pictures...
Andrew
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ARTHILL
Member since
March 2005
From: New Brighton, MN
4,393 posts
Posted by
ARTHILL
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:45 AM
I have the Humpyard things and they are wonderful for remote switching and look great in the control panel. I have tried the caboose things where reaching is easy and I like those. I have them in my storage yard and on my mountain switch back. My love for the tortise has slipped some, but I still use them. I have also tried to make my own, and all these look better and work better.
If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/
Art
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MisterBeasley
Member since
December 2004
From: Bedford, MA, USA
21,369 posts
Posted by
MisterBeasley
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 1:58 PM
What do you mean by "will not allow a switch machine?" Do you mean that the distance to the next track sideways is too small? Instead, look at the under-table mounted Peco machines. These attach very neatly to the bottom of Peco turnouts. They don't come out to the side any further than the turnouts themselves, and work very reliably. Peco machines are twin-coil, like Atlas, and run on momentary contact. Tortoise machines run on constant-voltage. They are, I believe, slightly larger than Peco machines, but they also mount under the track.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
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MichaelWD
Member since
August 2001
From: NYS
107 posts
Posted by
MichaelWD
on Thursday, December 22, 2005 4:54 PM
What would make a Peco switch machine only Hum when the button is pushed? I am using the Radio shack N/O push button. Also using a snapper with a 25.2 power supply.
Mike Dickinson
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fwright
Member since
November 2002
From: Colorado
4,074 posts
Posted by
fwright
on Friday, December 23, 2005 10:53 AM
Mike
You said: What would make a Peco switch machine only Hum when the button is pushed? I am using the Radio shack N/O push button. Also using a snapper with a 25.2 power supply.
Assuming your Snapper is a capacitor discharge system, and is working correctly, the problem would have to be binding somewhere in the turnout, linkage, or switch machine. Check amount of force required to throw switch manually, and if necessary disconnect linkage and check each part for manual throw without binding.
Hope this helps.
Fred
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