Never gave much thought to it but is there any reason to power every frog on every turnout. Yes I am aware that smaller wheel configuration locomotives such as 0-6-0's and 0-8-0's and the like can stall when they hit an non-powered frog at low speeds typically like running in a yard or industry siding etc. but what about turnouts on the mainline or even a branch line for that matter where a train will be passing through at a higher rate of speed. Is it necessary to power frogs on these turnouts as well?
I run DMU and EMU trains with the usual lights, and two or more motorized cars in longer (4 or more car) trains. The pickup on each rail for each car is about an inch long - shorter than the span of the average dead frog. Since I don't want the car lights to blink like those on a New York subway train, and would rather not risk the possibility of motor surge (vertical shaft motors, no flywheels,) I build my hand-laid specialwork with solid frogs and power them through contacts on the point actuators.
What I do to prevent back-of-the-flange shorts is use points that are electrically dead unless they are in contact with the stock rail.
Higher speed is relative. Maximum track speed on the main line is 90kph, with several slow-order curves. Freights are limited to 70kph, and seldom reach that speed upgrade. On the mountain goat trail from colliery to interchange (aka the Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo, Richstream Valley Railway) any d'raiba exceeding 25kph downgrade is living out a death wish. At those speeds it could take a full second to pass over the 'undead' frog of a long, curved turnout. Since the TTT, especially, runs mostly short-wheelbase 0-6-0T teakettles, if the frog was dead it would stop them in their tracks.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Allegheny,
I primarily use power frogs on all my (Fast Tracks) #5 turnouts because of small switchers on my layout: S1, VO-660, HH600, and 0-8-0. However, I also use them because they flat out look better than insulated frog turnouts.
I would say that if your locomotives are large or your switchers are GP40s then, yes, you can probably get by with insulated frogs on your mainline turnouts. For me, it's worth the added effort to ensure that no switcher conks out over a turnout.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tom & Chuck
Thanks for the replies the turnouts in question are Atlas #6 custom line turnouts that the intended use is for a siding leading to hidden staging in the next room. These two particular turnouts are on the highest level of track 64" off the floor and towards the back of the layout, hence the reason for not using the fast track hand laid turnouts. I figure use the good stuff where it can be seen and appreciated. I have a hidden staging yard under the layout as well but did not leave enough room to make it practical to use for building trains so I am just using it for storage . I run mainly steam but use some of my RS1 and RS3's for switching for now so they should be long enough to overcome the stalling I hopeThe custom line have metal frog but I have to do some research on how to power them. I had thought of using the extra terminals of the Tortoise but was considering using the servo motors from Tam Valley in these locations for their compact size. I have several of his product and am thoroughly impressed and if not mistaken I think I may be able to use other trminals on the controller board to power the frogs
Thanks for the info.