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Wiring a Double Crossover for DC

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, November 27, 2020 11:43 AM

 In Soviet Russia, switches switch you, or something.

There's still a wide variety available from the usual electronic parts suppliers, and many of them are actually customizable - you can add as many decks as you need, to a point. Too many and you might need a breaker bar to change the position.

                               --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • 92 posts
Posted by Neptune48 on Friday, November 27, 2020 2:00 PM

SeeYou190
 
Neptune48
Fortunately I hadn't bought the rotary switches yet, and all I need to do is add a few more DPDT toggle switches instead.

 

Bruce, if there is any chance you will decide to use a double crossover, and will need the rotary switch, you might want to order it now just to have it.

I needed a 12 pole double throw rotary switch to control a double crossing with solid frogs and signalling. I ended up ordering a military surplus switch from a former Soviet block country!

It is better to have it and not need it.

-Kevin

 

Thanks, Kevin.

I'll check online and see what's available.

Regards,

Bruce

 

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • 92 posts
Posted by Neptune48 on Friday, November 27, 2020 2:06 PM

richhotrain
ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Now if you you really want to see a wild double crossover, go visit the Severna Park Model Railroad Club.

They have a double crossover - BUT - one of the turnouts is a double slip switch, so three tracks on one side, two tracks on the other side, every route possible, in less than two feet. 

 

And, once again, a track configuration that can be found on the prototype. At one time, Dearborn Station in downtown Chicago had a double crossover with double slips on two diagonal ends of the double crossover. Gotta love that stuff.

Rich

All that stuff is fascinating...I can stare at pictures of that intricate trackwork for hours, but modeling it...not so much.

That summer I worked for the UP I drew a shift that dragged the outbound City of Los Angeles backwards into LAUPT (now L.A. Union Station) to board passengers.  The diesels (E8's and E9's) would be brought in separately and coupled onto the train.  That was probably the most complex trackage I've seen personally, but it would be one big challenge to model that in any scale.

Regards,
Bruce

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, November 27, 2020 2:14 PM

Another shot of the Severna Park trackwork

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,133 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, November 27, 2020 2:19 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
Neptune48
Fortunately I hadn't bought the rotary switches yet, and all I need to do is add a few more DPDT toggle switches instead.

 

Bruce, if there is any chance you will decide to use a double crossover, and will need the rotary switch, you might want to order it now just to have it.

I needed a 12 pole double throw rotary switch to control a double crossing with solid frogs and signalling. I ended up ordering a military surplus switch from a former Soviet block country!

It is better to have it and not need it.

+1

Rich

Alton Junction

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