Turnout Identification In a Crowded Yard for Remote Operation?

[Anonymous]

I'm in the process of changing control of my turnouts from manual hand thrown to DCC operation with Tortoise machines. I have a narrow, shelf type switching layout, with many turnouts close together.

Operating the stationary decoders is simple with the NCE utility throttles, but I don't know how to visually identify them with two digits.

Anyone have this problem?

Thanks
Ken

[dinwitty]

The club I was in used a routing control panel, non-dcc.
Push a button and several turnouts line up.
Otherwise make a track diagram like any tower might use and put your numbers on it.

[rrinker]

That's the #2 reason I don't like operating turnouts from the DCC system. How to identify the turnout. "oh yeah, that siding over there is #321!"

#1 is, it's awkward to do, at least on the systems where I've read the manuals - Digitrax, NCE, Lenz, and Easy-DCC.


Best I can come up with is having the schematic on the fascia like many walkaround layouts, but instead of toggles or pushbuttons, you'd just label each turnout with the ID.

--Randy

[NZRMac]

I'd go with what Randy suggested too, even turnouts on the main line anywhere I'd have to stop and think, whats the number for that one?

If it's on a fascia panel in front of you, you can't go wrong.

Ken.

[Anonymous]

One of the layouts that I operate on, we use thumb tacks (not push pins) with the turnout number on the head. The thumb tack is between the rails and the number is written with a perminate pen and then covered with dullcoat to protect it from the centerline track cleaner.

Bob

[cwclark]

that's also what i do, number the turnouts on the fascia control panel, or count the number of tracks from the bottom to the top of the control panel fascia diagram until i get to the one i want to use and throw the turnouts from the trains origin leading to that particular track...chuck