hidden switchers????

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I have been looking at some pictures of layouts and im noticing that unlike my turnouts the turnouts on these m/railroads dont have the big black switch box, next to the turn out. I thought this might be because im using manual switches, but then i saw that some manual switches have this box also, what are these turnout switches that dont have any black switch box on them? how do they work, and where can i get them????[^][8)]

[bcammack]

Many available turnouts only have the throwbar to run the points back and forth. One brand comes with an "over-center" spring so that the turnout stays "thrown" in either direction using nothing more than a pencil point pushing the throwbar from one setting to the other.

To operate these manually, it is common to use a switch stand purchased separately. Other folks will combine a simple slide switch and a short length of music wire to throw the turnout and route power through it appropriately.

They can also be set remotely using a rod or cable and a crank arm underneath the table.

For electrical remote operation, Atlas sells a an undertable switch machine and there are several others, including the Tortoise slow-motion switch machine from Circuitron.

To transfer motion from beneath the layout to the turnout, either a modest size hole and a thin spring wire are used or a brass tube (used as a bearing) and a rod with a 90° bend in it above and below the table to move the throwbar.

Hope this helps.

[der5997]

Hi! The "switchers" are switch machines if they are electrical. Lots of modelers use manual ground throws (switchers you move by hand). The type I use are made by Peco. I like them because the turnout has a spring inside that throws the points over firmly, and holds them there. Peco does an under the track turnout motor that's quite reliable, easy to wire, and has additional contacts available if you want the throwing of the turnout to send some sort of a signal to other equipment. If you've already invested in Atlas or some other brand of turnout with the big black boxes, and want to continue to use them, it's quite possible to cut off the BBB and arrange an under the track throw, or a manual ground throw. When I found out that the sky did not fall if I did surgery on manufactured equipment, this hobby became a lot less expensive!

[Anonymous]

you dont need to cut off the boxes either, its a snap-on, snap-off thing (on atlas anyway)
and like der said you could wire under table switch motors or even simple ground throws, or even simpler push-pull throws, thats what im using on my new layout