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Ground Throw Signals

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  • Member since
    June 2020
  • 133 posts
Ground Throw Signals
Posted by Bayway Terminal on Monday, March 28, 2022 11:16 AM

On my industrial switching layout I have both Tortoise switch machines and also Caboose ground throws with signal contacts for use with Tomar drawf signals, green over red, or green over yellow led lights. 

On some of the siding tracks with turn outs or bi-pass track switches i only installed ground throws without any lighted drawfs signals and painted the throws  red & green to indicate open or closed positions from a visual distance. 

I subsequently found as the layout expanded that these non lighted ground throws required close up inspection when operating an engine, especially at higher speed steps from a distance away, as such i had to become not only a cab engineer but also a switchman before proceeding though to the destination without de-railing, this meant i had to stop the engine or slow down to a crawl when operating on these particular tracks.

My solution to this problem was by installing Tomar drawfs adjacent to the ground throws and wiring the signals to a two pole DPDT toggle switch on the facia board closeby the turnout. It still reqiures a momentary operating delay but at least there is signal light now indicating the switch position from a distance. Its an  easy solution for anyone not wanting to dril into the top of the layout for a caboose controlled signal let along trying to insatll a Tortise machine from under the layout, which i have done sevearl times over the years. It also may be of help for anone not having a system control panel, just need to remember to flip the toggle switch to the correct color after throwing the switch position.

As for wiring the Tomar to the DPDT toggle i will leave for another discussion. Bayway Terminal NJ

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Monday, March 28, 2022 7:27 PM

Interlocking plants are the LIONs most favorite part of the razilroad! : )

The control switch for the tortoise turnouts is a SPDT switch. one pole is +12v DC, the other pole is -12v DC the center post is ylour control wire to the switch and its signal. You arrange things so that with the toggle down the turnout is in its normal position. move the toggle to the up position reverses the polarity of the control wire and reverses the tortoise. You can also operate your signal lamps directly from the the same wire that controls the tortoise.

For hand thrown turnouts you are almost on your own. I would NOT use two devices to control the turn out and the signal. I think that I might embed to very miniture push buttons under the switch lever. One is closed when the switch is normal, the other is closed when the switch is reversed.

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    June 2020
  • 133 posts
Posted by Bayway Terminal on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 9:16 AM

I wire the 2 pole DPDT's as you indicated and install the toggle switches on the front facia board, nearest to the hand operated ground throw with the signal. This requires drilling a small hole next to the ground throw for the 3 wires coming off the Tomar leading down the surface area and traveling underneath the layout to the facia board toggle switch. Soldering the wires to the correct poles on the toggle can be a little tricky. Afterwards the Tomar is placed on top of the surface hole and glued in place after a final check . Bayway Terminal NJ

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