A lot of guys use some sort of control system to throw their layout turnouts. I do not, all my groundthrows are manual. Which leads me to this question, are real railroads still using manual control when they need to throw a switch? Ot are they using some sort of remote control with a signal that tells a switch to change its direction.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
You can go to trains.com's Rochelle Rail Cam and watch the conductor of the local step down and manually throw the switch every day comng and going from the industrial spur.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Like so many cases the simple answer is: Depends.
Big help, right?
Nearly all yard and secondary turnouts are thrown manually and, if within yard limits, the switch may not even be locked. Sometimes there is a stiff wire placed in the keeper instead of a lock.
FPE_x_NS by Edmund, on Flickr
Turnouts that affect signaled routes will be locked and there will be a signal interlock (electrical contacts) that will communicate to the signal system that the turnout is thrown.
Sometimes these are manually thrown but automatically interlocked. A dispatcher may have to give permission to remotely unlock a switch, usually after a time-delay has been satisfied. Then the trainman can mannually throw the switch.
There are automatic, motorized switch motors that operate without human intervention at the location. Some are activated from hundreds, or more, miles away. As with interlocking, there are safeguards to make sure the points have actually thrown, the motor is functioning properly and is electrically locked and signaled.
These can still be manually thrown after a procedure is followed with permission and acknowledgement from a dispatcher.
Things can still go wrong:
https://ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RRD18MR003-prelim.aspx
Good Luck, Ed
Most switches are still hand operated by a crew member at the switch. Even in CTC territory only those switches used for operational purposes (meeting, passing, changing routes, into yards, etc.) are usually dual-control (usually in remote control, but can be hand operated if needed) types. Other switches to industries will still be hand operated.
Railroads are starting to use radio-controlled power assisted switches at sidings outside of CTC, in yards and at junction points. The approaching train can dial in a code number on the radio and the switch(es) will line themselves and thennannounce their status to the train. Switch position signals also will give a visual aid to how the switch is lined. The switches can still be operated manually if the switch doesn't respond to the radio request.
One of our yards has them to gain access to the tracks used for arrival/departures. The switch from the main to the lead is dispatcher controlled CTC. Once on the lead you dial in the code for the route you want, for example lead to track 3, and all switches for that specific route will line themselves up. Then announce over the radio if the route is or isn't lined.
Jeff
For a small layout, I say it's a matter of reach. If you can operate them manually without damaging srtuctures around, my advice is the simpler the better in regard to dependability. But if you like electonics and don't mind about maintenance, go for it.
Then for larger layouts, that's another story. You need to synchronize operations and it may become mandatory.
Stephane (Ironstef70)
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Depends on how you intend to operate. My layout is a Digitrax DCC 45' folded dogbone. I can easily reach every turnout but I am a one man show and routes are vital to my operation so I depend on electronics to throw my switches in various ways to support my operations. If I had a compact switching layout, I would be OK with manually working the switches.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
gmpullmanNearly all yard and secondary turnouts are thrown manually and, if within yard limits, the switch may not even be locked. Sometimes there is a stiff wire placed in the keeper instead of a lock.
Ed,Just for general information some yard switches requires it to be unlock and relocked with every use..A real pain.
In my experience the switch points was faulty so,the lock held the points in place.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE gmpullman Nearly all yard and secondary turnouts are thrown manually and, if within yard limits, the switch may not even be locked. Sometimes there is a stiff wire placed in the keeper instead of a lock. Ed,Just for general information some yard switches requires it to be unlock and relocked with every use..A real pain. In my experience the switch points was faulty so,the lock held the points in place.
gmpullman Nearly all yard and secondary turnouts are thrown manually and, if within yard limits, the switch may not even be locked. Sometimes there is a stiff wire placed in the keeper instead of a lock.
Switches on Main track(s) and controlled (CTC) sidings will have locks. Switches in yards or on other sidings may have locks or just hooks. Some yard switches may have nothing. (The railroad I work for is adding hooks to all switches that don't currently need or have locks. They've determined that without some form of latching device that the switch handle can sometimes be vibrated open, allowing the points to move under a train/cars. A hook or lock keeps that from happening.)
Some of the high security switch locks in use won't release the key unless it's locked.
Jeff,Seems a hook would be easier and faster but,we are talking PRR inbound yard trackage that probably hasn't been maintain in decades.
Looking back I should have hired out on the C&O instead.