I realize that many model railroaders who build complicated turnouts build their own and hand lay track. For me I admit I hand lay prefabricated track, Atlas and Walthers. About three years ago I bought a three way turnout, and now on the WTRR I found a place where I needed it.
I have placed several Walthers and Shinohara tracks on my layout, but as some of you know they don't work as simple as an Atlas turnout.
Most of the time you have to cut the inside track or gap it just past the frog; away from the lead in and points. On the Threeway turnout I didn't have to do that because the power separations are already molded in the switch. All I had to do was wire the out side track, as you can see in the pictures on either side of the frog and points.
The local passenger, with lights on, moves out of South Nashville and passes through the three way switch without any problems. By the way these switches/turnouts are very smooth in operation, and the trains pass through without a glitch and head on to their next destination.
Robert Sylvester, WTRR
SHINOHARA's 'power route' and WALTHERS do not. (plus) Shinohara's are code 100 and Walthers' are only in code 83.
Do I take it you are mixing the two? (The Shinohara is the 3 way?) 2 switch machines and Wiring should be fun.
Don:
I have used both, and you are right about the guage. I use Walthers, code 83, made by Shinohara. I was not as specific as I should have been. The track in the picture is a Walthers 3 way, code 83. I have purchased many a turn out produced in both names.
Shinohara produces both code 70 and 100, Walthers Shinohara is of course 83. When the 3 way was first installed trains would stall as I expected. With the wiring shown in the picture there appears to be no problem with trains moving through. There is another Walthers at the other end. Depending on the position of the points, engines won't move unless the points are directed towards the the track you want to power. When the switch is thrown in the direction of the track desired then the engine moves.
Since my layout is a shelf type, which is only two feet wide and a walk around, I don't use switch machines. Mine are hand thrown. David Barrow also prefers it that way.
I do not mix the codes now on the layout; on previous layouts I did and actually had no problems with power routing, even through two double cross overs in one yard. I was able to crack the code.
I really like the Walthers switches.
Thanks
Robert, WTRR
I did the same thing in my freight yard. I used Walther's code 83 switch with code 100 track. I soldered code 100 connectors to the 3-way switch. It works well so far.
Doc
In order to conserve space in a yard, I built some three way turnouts. One route straight, two routes to one side.
img_0585 is between the two three way truntouts.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Rich:
I'm confused - I don't see normal point rails in the top and bottom pictures. Is this some kind of strange turnout or what?
de N2MPU Jack
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Modeling the NYC/NYNH&H in HO and CPRail/D&H in N
jackn2mpu wrote:I'm confused - I don't see normal point rails in the top and bottom pictures. Is this some kind of strange turnout or what?
Jack;
It is an unusual turnout, but I have actually seen a prototype for this type of turnout. I remember doing a double take when I saw it. I'm hoping Rich can tell us what it's called, and a little more about them. I've never actually seen them modeled before. If I can get out to where I saw it again, I'll try to get a photo to post.
Best!
Those are stub turnouts. They have no point rails; the stock rails move and bend to line up. The other components of the turnouts are the same. Years ago I had a fellow modeler in the club I was in teach me how to hand lay track and turnouts. One of the turnouts he built for his own layout was a 3 way stub turnout with a screw motor for throwing the turnout.
Yes, they are stub turnouts. on my HO scale layout. They are over size, code 100 but I am capturing the "flavor" of the era. Stubs where used in the 1800s. A few Narrow gauge roads kept some stubs into the 1900s where the stubs were not on the mainline. I believe that is where the term, "bending iron" comes from in Railroad lingo.
http://www.railwayeng.com/turnouts.htm
Randall, here is a short treatise on track switches (or turnouts, or whatever):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch
Mark