Well, we now get into the intricatcies of the interlocking plant. It came down to (in the old days) of how many points the tower operator could move on one box of Wheaties. So yes, a double slip switch would take four to eight levers to align it. (Locks and Points). With the advent of electrically operated plants pairs of switches could work in unison, but would still occuply two slots in the interlocking frame. The locks became intragal to the switch lever and did not require a separate handle of their own, but remains the reason why a slot was required for each set of switch point seven if they were controlled by just one lever.
Model manufactures wanted to make things as simple as possible for the modeler. Especially the novice modeler. Thus the single motor switch with its contra moving points. When I got a regular slip switch, the points moved in pairs, but were not contra moving, thus you had four options for aligning your trackwork. A-C, A-D, B-C and B-D. This is good as it will also allow the signals to follow suit. I have used rotary switches for this, but now I just use two levers: Normal, Normal aligns the two main lines in their normal position. Reverse-Normal allows the north bound train into the yard (and gives a red indication to the south bound track). Normal-Reverse allows trains from the yard access to the Southbound Track, the southbound main still gets a red signal north of the slip switch. The Reverse-Reverse configuration is not used and is blocked by the cams in the interlocking machine. Southbound trains in the yard cannot get a clear signal when the plant is aligned for traffic from the torthbound track into they yard. The interlocking features of my machine prohibit this. Actually it is really blocked by the rectifyer across the yard gaps that will only allow southbound power into the layups, and southbound power only happens when the yard is lined up for the southbound track.
Very tight is the interlocking system of the LION
So ROAR on THAT!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
That Custom-Line slip of Lion's is only a single motor. Atlas was pretty tricky at adapting their mechanism to work all the points with just one solenoid. By your definition, every double slip is a 4 motor slip, because there are 4 sets of points which must be moved, yet they can be physically hooked up with 4, 2, or even 1 motor. Despinte the multitude of routes though a double slip, really only both routes crossing or both routes straight through are the only 2 valid positions. Thus with the right linkage - 1 motor is all you need to power it. 2 is usually easier, each motor operating diagonally opposite points.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I still consider that a 2-motor slip. Just because it's got linkage to throw multiple points doesn't change it. For example, a 4-motor slip has moving frogs, and yet can be thrown with only two motors due to linkage. It's still a 4-motor slip to me.
Paul A. Cutler III
rrinker Wow, you have a collector's item there, Lion. --Randy
Nah. I do have some like it, but that photo was swiped from someone selling this on eBay.
ROAR
Wow, you have a collector's item there, Lion.
Paul3Lion, All slips, either double or single, have at least 2-motors. There's no such thing as a 1-motor slip switch. If it only has one motor, then it's not a slip and it's just a regular switch.
You are quite incorrect. I have several cheap double slips with built-in solinoid machines that have just one switch machine. The points at say the north end, to not move in unison as do the points on conventional two motor slips, but rather move in pairs in opposit directions via a cam action in the slider, which extends out of both ends of the solinoit motor.
It is as I said either "X" or "not X"
Jim,Actually, all double slips are, but their very nature, DCC-friendly. Remember that the term "DCC-Friendly" means that the point rail is always the same polarity as the adjacent stock rail. With a double slip, that is always the case.
maxman,There are two kinds of double slips: 2-motor or 4-motor. The 2-motor has rigid frogs in the "diamond" part of the double slip (as seen on the Walthers type). The 4-motor actually has moving frogs inside the "diamond" part. South Station in Boston, for example, had 28 #8, 4-motor double slips throughout. The idea is that by eliminating the frog gaps, you eased the curve into the slip and reduced derailments. BTW, as it was, South Station banned 4-coupled steam engines (like 4-8-2's and 4-8-4's) from moving through any double slip in the slip position because they derailed on these #8 slips.
Lion,All slips, either double or single, have at least 2-motors. There's no such thing as a 1-motor slip switch. If it only has one motor, then it's not a slip and it's just a regular switch.
dante Could very well be, but he did say "double slip." Dante
Could very well be, but he did say "double slip."
Dante
Rich
Alton Junction
THAT is a peice of trackwork.
But thre are two kinds of double slip switches. Some have two motors, and some have just one motor. Tthe way the points move is not the same, but all have eight points, (not pairs of points)
Simple ones have one motor and are either "X" or "not X" (Think Rapid-O)
Others, (think Shinohara) have two motors and you must align the points for the particular route (four choices) that you want to use. These are: "/" "\" "/\" and "\/" or NE to SE or NE to SW, or SE to SW; or SE to NW. Given that a train could go either way on any of the combinations means that your levers for points and signals would be intersting to play witn.
ROAAR
Here is a "double slipover". It may be what the OP is referring to when he says eight pairs of points.
My Walthers/Shinohara Code 83 double-slip has 2 sets (pairs) of points (= 4 individual point rails). How and why would you have any more than that? Now, if one is talking about a double crossover, that has 4 sets (pairs) of points (= 8 individual point rails).
LION has several of these. Him isloates ALL of the rails coming into the switch, and then uses a relay to power the switch according to where the train is coming from. Only that power is on the switch. only that track sees a permissive signal, all other trains see a red signal, it is never a porblem.
LION has gotten even simpler in his latest rewiring projects. Him does not wire the crossovers or slip switches at all. What with 48 wheel power pickup it just fat out plain is not necessary.
maxman jimsabol a DCC-friendly double slip switch: the simlified kind with just four pairs of points rather than eight pairs Is there really such a thing as a simplified double slip switch with only four pair of points? I'm just asking because I want to learn. Who makes these?
jimsabol a DCC-friendly double slip switch: the simlified kind with just four pairs of points rather than eight pairs
Is there really such a thing as a simplified double slip switch with only four pair of points? I'm just asking because I want to learn. Who makes these?
When he refers to eight sets of points, he may be referring to a so-called "double slipover".
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/11217
jimsabola DCC-friendly double slip switch: the simlified kind with just four pairs of points rather than eight pairs
I put a couple of Peco double slip insulfrog switches on my clubs layout and the only wiring consideration I had was to put insulated joiners between the switches as each was in a different power district.
I suppose it could differ depending upon the brand, type, code, and scale.
Specifically, which double slip are you inquiring about.
I have a Walthers Shinohara Code 83 HO scale DCC Friendly double slip with isolated metal frogs.
It requires no special wiring. I have feeders on all four ends of the double slip to ensure maximum electrical contact across the double slip.
Can anyone e-mail me a wiring diagram for a DCC-friendly double slip switch: the simlified kind with just four pairs of points rather than eight pairs? Thank you. I'm at jimsabol@msn.com