Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Yard throat on a separate frame

2040 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Northern VA
  • 3,050 posts
Posted by jwhitten on Thursday, April 1, 2010 9:09 AM

Sierra Man

Way to go Chuck! Innovative and forward thinking! Sounds like something to right up for an article in our favorite magazine.

 

 


Hey, small world, I didn't know anybody else subscribed to Modern Phrenology !!!

 

John

Modeling the South Pennsylvania Railroad ("The Hilltop Route") in the late 50's
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Germany
  • 1,951 posts
Posted by wedudler on Thursday, April 1, 2010 2:42 AM

 That's the big plus building your layout in segments.     Smile

A corner segment from the new yard at Westport:

 

It's easy and comfortable to work "under" the layout.

Wolfgang

Pueblo & Salt Lake RR

Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de          my videos        my blog

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Martinez, CA
  • 5,440 posts
Posted by markpierce on Thursday, April 1, 2010 12:59 AM

I'm going to have to do something similar, making "drop-down, take-out" turnout groups for maintenance purposes since they would be located in otherwise inaccessible/hidden/covered areas of the layout.

Mark

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • 2,751 posts
Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:07 PM

 Work smarter not harder is my way of thinking, and as you put it doing it the smarter way actually took less time go figure, nice job Chuck now if you only had pics.

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Oak Harbor Wa.
  • 148 posts
Posted by Sierra Man on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 12:15 AM

Way to go Chuck! Innovative and forward thinking! Sounds like something to right up for an article in our favorite magazine.

Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad.  We know where you are going, before you do!

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Yard throat on a separate frame
Posted by tomikawaTT on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:52 PM

I have mentioned my preference for mounting all of my electricals along the fascia line, including switch machines.  The project I have just completed flies in the face of that standard.  All of the switch machines are mounted on the underside of the sub-roadbed, between closely-spaced steel stud frame members.  The terminal blocks for said switch machines (all of which have their DPDT contact sets fully utilized) are mounted adjacent to the machines.  Ordinarily, the entire installation would have to be made working up from below.

Instead, I loosened four nuts, lifted the entire Mikasa yard throat out of the main layout and carried it to a more convenient workspace.  Most of the work was done with the track side down, working down from above with everything clearly visible under adequate light.  Being able to work conveniently allowed me to finish the job in much less time, with much less discomfort and with far better quality control than if I had tried to do the same thing with the yard throat in place on the layout.

So, now, do I have a need to connect 24 wires to the fixed layout?  Not really.  There's a 25-connection miniature socket mounted on one corner of the detached module.  The matching plug is already in place on the fixed layout.  When I return the throat to it's proper place tomorrow (and release the four trains temporarily marooned on the Mikasa body tracks) I'll simply connect the two and transfer control to the newly installed Nonomura zone panel.  The old, temporary panel, stripped of everything useful, now resides in the recycle bin with the rest of the cardboard boxes.

Progress, it's wonderful!

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - eventually)

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!