NevinW wrote: I don't use any really small wheel based engines like 0-4-0's so I don't think there would be much stalling on the frogs. Opinions? - Nevin
I don't use any really small wheel based engines like 0-4-0's so I don't think there would be much stalling on the frogs.
Opinions? - Nevin
The snip of your original post answers your question. As long as your powered rolling stock can span the unpowered frog, you're good to go.
Unfortunately, I don't have that option. Between a couple of 0-4-0T steamers and MU cars that only pick up from one rather short wheelbase truck on each side, any kind of totally insulated frog (like those in DCC friendly Atlas switches) is a guaranteed stall point. I power mine, but you don't have to unless they cause problems.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
May I suggest using the $0.02 bamboo skewer? I operate all my turnouts (about 10 in my yard and another 8 out on the mains), and the ones in the yard are the only ones on which I use the skewer. The rest are push-pull rods that I fabricated. Many turnouts, such as the Pecos, have a tiny hole built into the centre of the throwbar...between the rails...and this hole takes the tip of a skewer handily. That way, no hand oils on the rails, and you throw your switches just like the Tortoise does, exept from the top.
And I would bet, to be more direct, that your frogs won't need any special wiring. As for the points rails....we'll have to see as time goes on. Sometimes the problem isn't the frogs so much as it is the power routing along the points and the closure rails. Can't say it will ever be an issue for your new turnouts, though.
In an ideal world, the frog is powered. However, the vast majority locomotives pick up power from multiple wheels and can survive without powered frogs. The only thing you might find annoying is your lighted cars (caboose and passenger) may blink going over the turnout as they typically only pick up power from a single truck.
I would not recommend using your finger to move the points though. Micro Engineering track is a little more fragile than most due to the near scale sized spikes. You can get Caboose brand ground throws relatively cheap or fabricate something of the push-pull wire in a tube variety for a few dollars if you want to throw switches from the fascia of your layout.
Previous layouts have used Peco Electrofrog and Shinohara power routing turnouts. I have always gapped the ends beyond the frog fed power to the rails from the point end of the turnout and then used either a microswitch or tortose to power the frog.
I am going to use the newer Micro Engineering #6 turnouts that for my new layout. They are DCC friendly and have a spring to control the points. The frogs are isolated and relatively small. Do I really need to power the frogs on these turnouts? I would love to use my finger to move the points and not worry about powering the frog. No fancy wiring, no switch machines, no groundthrows, no dropping soldered wires from the frogs down. Just drop feeders down every few feet to the power bus. I don't use any really small wheel based engines like 0-4-0's so I don't think there would be much stalling on the frogs.