Ground Throw on Which Side of Turnout?

[Sperandeo]

I think Chuck has given the best answer on this one. When I was laying out the track and turnouts for Summit, Calif., on my Cajon Pass layout, I studied as many prototype photos as I could find because with two main tracks, two passing sidings, and a lead for a turning wye, there were several situations where the usual rules of thumb didn't apply. So rather than try to follow any rules, I followed the prototype in placing my headblocks and switch stands.

(It's easy to lay out the headblocks the way you want with handlaid track, but it's no big deal, either, to cut the headblocks off commercial turnouts and relocate them.)

Even if you're building a freelanced railroad, if you can find prototype track arrangements that come close to what you want to do, follow that as a guide to locating switch stands. You can assume that the guys building the big roads knew what they were doing, but even if they didn't, what they did was "realistic"!

Good luck,

Andy

[tomikawaTT]

Railroad design engineers will try to locate manual switchstands on the safest side of the rails, and that's the way the headblock ties will be laid.  I've seen yard leads where the first switch stand was on the curved side of the right-hand switch that connected the ladder to the through track, and all the rest were on the straight side of the left-hand turnouts to the body tracks.  That put all the switchstands in a row, on open ground - so the yardhand wouldn't have to cross any rails to direct kicked cars into the various tracks while flat switching.

Switchstands have also been located a fair distance from the switch in compound ladders - the object being to keep the human operator out of danger.

Then there was one UP photo that showed the switchstand on the straight side of a switch that diverted one spur from a curved track well separated from a couple of concentrically curved tracks.  Careful examination revealed the evidence of a "ghost" track, which had once been right at clearance distance from the turnout's curved side but had since been removed.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[1train1]

 

 I think the throw is on the straight (thru track ) side in most case. IMO

[DigitalGriffin]

Its a safety consideration.  Basically you do not want the crew to have to cross any track to get to the throw - not always possible of course, but that's the goal.

Where this isn't a consideration, it was typically on the turnout side.  Left handed turnout had throwbar on the left side.

 

[dehusman]

Every switch has a normal position and a reverse position.  In the normal position a train continues on the same track or lead it is currently on.  In the reverse position the train goes towards a different track or lead.  Normally the straight leg is the normal route and the curved leg is the reverse route, but not always, especially on a model railroad.

On the prototype the switch stand will go on the same side of the switch as the points are thrown for the normal position.  So it the switch is lined normal and the points are to the left, then the switchstand will be on the left.  The exceptions are when the position of the switch stand would put the crew member in a dangerous positon.  For example where another track may be adjacent to or foul the switch stand.

Dave H.

[wmshay06]

Its a safety consideration.  Basically you do not want the crew to have to cross any track to get to the throw - not always possible of course, but that's the goal.

[gherder]

I am wondering the proper (prototypical) location for a ground throw. The turnouts I have (Walthers Code 83) have extended tie length on the straight side of the turnout, but there are  locations on my layout where I would prefer the ground throw to be on the other side.  Does it matter?

Gary