richhotrain I take that back. I was being specific when I cautioned about becoming elitists. I was directing that comment at Larry ! Rich
I take that back. I was being specific when I cautioned about becoming elitists. I was directing that comment at Larry !
Rich
Me a elitist? Who would have thought?
I just like the believability part.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Three-way switches - like double slip switches - are VERY expensive to build, and the proto-type would only use them as a last resort. In cases like tight passenger terminals there really wasn't the real-estate to use standard switches to align all the routes required.
I can't imagine a three-way switch ever being used in a typical industry siding or the like.
On a layout, they quite often just look out of place. Like putting a hi-rise apartment in the middle of a small village .... sure, it's possible - but not likely.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
richhotrain Big Boy Forever richhotrain Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you. But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not. Rich Has to be close to prototypical for me. That being the case, don't use a 3-way turnout. While it is true that you can find anything and everything on the prototype, and that includes a 3-way here and there, it is not commonplace. In fact, I would argue that it is quite unusual. Rich
Big Boy Forever richhotrain Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you. But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not. Rich Has to be close to prototypical for me.
richhotrain Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you. But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not. Rich
Fear not, Big Boy, I did not take it the wrong way, and I was making a general admonition about becoming elitists, not specifically directed at you.
But I did make my original comment in your defense since I wanted to encourage you to make use of your 3-way turnout, whether prototypical or not.
Has to be close to prototypical for me.
That being the case, don't use a 3-way turnout.
While it is true that you can find anything and everything on the prototype, and that includes a 3-way here and there, it is not commonplace. In fact, I would argue that it is quite unusual.
I have to.
I already paid for it 15 years ago and now some members here have shown me various prototype situations where it can be used, so thanks to them for the info.
I'll use it in an unusual track scenario where it's not commonplace.
OK, someone could easily get confused by this thread.
My initial understanding was that you wanted to install a hitherto unused 3-way turnout, but you needed to find a prototypical application to justify its use. For that reason, I said, screw the prototype.
Then, when replies indicated that the use of a 3-way was uncommon on the prototype, its use on your layout seemed in doubt.
Now, you tell us that you have to use it, so you are going to make it work even if you have to force a situation.
I have another suggestion for you to reject.
Sell it and recover your 15-year old purchase price.
Alton Junction
In Lakewood Washington there is a three way lap turnout in an industrial area between warehouses. the "main" lead goes down the center of a long row of warehouses on either side of that. The straight (center) of the switches uses this as the lead, with the left and right each going to a warehouse, which of course are right across the track from one another. They can switch cars in and out without disturbing cars at the other warehouses. I believe this was originally a U.S. Navy supply depot and perhaps saving space was more paramount than the cost. You could probable Google earth it and see the installation.
Big Boy Forever,
Here is a MR Thread from July 14, 2012, for the use of three way turnouts with pic's. That guy from Dearborn Station, is in it:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/208058.aspx
Take Care!
Frank
I want to thank you guys for this thread. I am doing the final track plan for my staging, and it never struck me to use a 3-way. I pulled an old brass one from my teenage-years layout from a box and found it greatly simplified the whole design. It lets me compress the ladder enough to keep all the turnouts on the first module.
This is a very old picture showing my yard under construction. It's very small to begin with, only holding 6 or 7 cars per track, but to get even that I had to keept he ladder short. Here are two of those old brass Shinoharas:
I have since replaced these with Pecos for reliability.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
richhotrain OK, someone could easily get confused by this thread. My initial understanding was that you wanted to install a hitherto unused 3-way turnout, but you needed to find a prototypical application to justify its use. For that reason, I said, screw the prototype. Then, when replies indicated that the use of a 3-way was uncommon on the prototype, its use on your layout seemed in doubt. Now, you tell us that you have to use it, so you are going to make it work even if you have to force a situation. I have another suggestion for you to reject. Sell it and recover your 15-year old purchase price. Rich
I think it was very clear from my original post that I had one I bought several years ago, and was asking for some information on how they are used in the prototype. Several people here showed photos of how they are used and examples which are exactly what I was looking for.
You said screw the prototype.
I said I like to stay within a prototype scenario.
Someone else said it was uncommon.
I never rejected any suggestions, nor did I say I was going to force anything, and I was never angry.That's your interpretation.
Evidently, besides me, Mr. Beasley was helped by this thread.
Aww geez, I was just joking around. That's why I added so many emoticons.
richhotrain Aww geez, I was just joking around. That's why I added so many emoticons. Rich
No problem.
It's hard to tell on message boards.