Do you think a GANTLET is feasible

[jkerklo]

Elliot, thanks for the diagrams. Very simple way to describe and determine complexity
of each scheme.

Dave, you have to do the six rail. It is by far the best proof of your expert track laying skills.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[Big_Boy_4005]

The 5 rail, or "poor man's gauntlet" is really not a gauntlet in the strictest sense, as it has no frogs. It is almost a "no brainer". Bring the two tracks together, and blend the outside rails. There is no actual frog, because the flanges of the wheels never have to cross a rail. Electrically, there are no conflicts, and command control is not affected.

Conversely, the 6 rail version is most complicated from the trackwork perspective. It requires 3 frogs on each end. Because of how tightly things need to be spaced, it may require electrical intervention in the form of a relay, anyway, just to keep things from shorting.

The 4 rail is a real compromise. It uses a single frog at each end. The relay was a part of the deal from the start, and could control the frog power as well.

Also note the compactness of the 3 concepts. The 6 rail will be the smallest in width, followed by the 4 rail, then the 5 rail. As the space is decreased, the difficulty is inceased.

[FJ and G]

Elliot, The 6 rail definitely would be a problem w/rollers. The 4 rail would work but would need the added work of frogs. The 5 rail is the most elegant solution to the puzzle and would only need the toe of the frog (minus the heel). I see now with the diagram (better than a description), that there would be 2 center rails and sharing of one outside rail. Now it all makes perfect sense and looks fairly easy to execute.

I'm using DCS. Will the 5 rail arrangement present any electrical problems that might need to be resolved?

I got the perfect place for the gantlet. Instead of punching 2 holes in the drywall, run a gantlet thru one hole (for the turnaround loop to the next room. A perfect solution!

[Big_Boy_4005]

Actually, the 5 rail proposal is the simplest. Here's a diagram of what each idea would look like.

[FJ and G]

OK then, I will try this with 5 rails: 1 center and 4 control rails, two on each side spaced closely together. This ought to be fun. If it doesn't work, no harm done. Bet this will be the first 3-rail gantlet ever done or ever even thought about being done.

The most dreaded place on the layout will be the gantlet!

[spankybird]

Dave,

I think Elliot's idea would be a great switch for you to build

tom

[FJ and G]

Thanks John, Elliot,

A definite improvement of 4 vice 6 rails. I now see where you are coming from.

Thanks

BTW, gantlet has never been spelled gauntlet. Gauntlets are something Clint Eastwood runs

As I read this, I see Bob and Pat have posted simultaneously. I'm taking your suggestions as well.

I'd rather, btw, run a gantlet than a gauntlet. In the Marine Corps we had to run a gauntlet through a company formation to get our stripes pinned on. I had blood flowing out both sides of my arms when it was over. I never wanted another promotion after that. and almost got my wish.

[lionelsoni]

http://www.bartleby.com/64/C003/0140.html

If both tracks of the ga(u)ntlet connect elsewhere on the layout, or if using whistles and bells, or if the trains on the two tracks are to be controlled separately, one would probably want the outside rails to be common, which would require the two inner ga(u)ntlet rails to change roles according to which track the train is on. When the gauntlet is on the other hand, however, if none of these conditions apply, no switching would be required.

One other possibility is a 5-rail "near-ga(u)ntlet", in which the two tracks share one outside rail--much simpler electrically.

[eZAK]

gant*let (g^on'lit) OR gauntlet (g^on'lit) n. A former military punishment in which the offender ran between two lines of me, who struck him with clubs, whips, etc., as he passed.

Now you know where Dave gets it from. [:D]

As Elliot says you could use 4 rails changing the intermost ones from HOT to Neutral depending on which track you use at the time.

Of course this would not be nesessary if you ran trains with out TMCC or DCS.

You could also use 5 rails were each track would share an outside rail.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I guess that either spelling is acceptable. The spelling thing has been a long running arguement. I guess that the spelling without a U has made it's way into the language.

The track arrangement I am suggesting only uses 4 rails, not 6. The 2 outer rails would always be ground, The 2 inner rails would have to do double duty, and function as both an outer and center rail for both tracks depending on which was in use. The relay would be used to switch the polarity of the inner rails.

[jkerklo]

I think you will need to turn OFF one set of outside/center rails so a train in the other track does not short against them, either crossing over the rails or the pickup roller being too close and shorting an outside and center rail.

With electrical switching, and 1/2 gauge spacing, you could also implement it with four rails instead of six.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[FJ and G]

Elliot,

3 dictionaries tell me GANTLET.

With 3 rail trains why would you need to switch polarity of the center rails? It's AC.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Dave, I believe it is spelled GAUNTLET with a U. In the photo, the seperation between the 2 tracks seemed to be much greater than necessary. There is a way that you could do it with 4 evenly spaced rails. You could use a relay to switch the polarity of the 2 middle rails.

[FJ and G]

John,

I think that the control rails can be spaced much closer together to give clearance for the roller to hit the center rail.

I'd like to do this on a small bridge I'm planning. it will add to the operational excitement, as collisions could result-----and they have on real RRs.

[jkerklo]

Dave, I like it! Sort of a crossover, that doesn't cross.

I don't think strictly mechanical separation of center and outside rails is possible. Rails will need to be electrically switched depending on which track is active.

I think I know where you can find a device to automatically switch the rails. Let me know when you need it.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[FJ and G]

If you've never seen one, they cram 2 tracks into a multigauge track to get thru a difficult cut or across a bridge.

Here's a model of one:

http://www.gmrrc.org/Photos-JPEGs/Mike_OBrien-JPEGs/Gantlet-Track-joke-620.jpg

I may experiment with doing one. The problem I see is with the 3rd rail. You'd have to have an extra wide one or 2 third rails next to each other and ensure the roller doesn't hit an outer rail.

Dave Vergun