I have Caboose Industries ground throws on all but one of my switches and just finished modifying them to make them less oversized in appearance. I replaced the handles with .025 piano wire, shortened a good bit, and replace the end with a styrene square much smaller than the one on the stock handle. After removing the lever, I drilled a hole for the wire on the switch body and on the styrene tip. I painted them black and the body of the unit grimy black and they look much better now and still work flawlessly.
Hey that sounds interesting. Can you post a picture?
Simon
I agree with Simon! They could really use some cosmetic improvements.
I improved the looks of all mine by replacing the ugly things with Tortoise switch machines. Much nicer! I got a good deal on 2 12 pack boxes. I also hated folks reaching into the layout to throw them snagging buildings and details.
oldline1
I found for HO scale Peco code 83 Electrofrog switches N scale Caboose Industries switch machines look rather good and have plenty of throw. Not certain how they would work with Atlas code 100 (representing heavy mainline track) - may go with switch machines for that, but for sidings near the edge of a module the N scale works fine. I am kicking around the idea of getting some thin bar stock and replacing the straight plastic switch handle with what NJ Interational calls 'Phol Low' handles, but what in the real world are just called Safety or Easy Throw switch handles - not sure how well they would hold up over the years...
I never have posted a pic. I may try to. Since my layout is point to point switching layout, I like the manual throws rather than switch machines. I use Frog Juicers so power to the frogs is not an issue.
Some of my switches are very close to the fascia. So I opted for the manual throws for these.
I have lots of those Caboose Industries manual throws and they are big and ugly.
That is one reason why I switched to Peco turnouts with the spring loaded points that can be thrown by the flick of a finger.
When I was building my new layout, I used Atlas Custom Line turnouts in my engine servicing facility. Before I installed the Caboose Industries manual throws, I temporarily used a track nail through the throwbar to hold the point rail against the stock rail. I used a pin vise to drill two holes, one for each point rail position. That worked so well that I was tempted to keep it on the final layout. But I didn't in the final analysis.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain I temporarily used a track nail through the throwbar to hold the point rail against the stock rail. I used a pin vise to drill two holes, one for each point rail position.
Atlas used to sell a package of nail holes for this purpose They included a little template that allowed you to position the holes easily. Came in very handy if you couldn't find your pin vise.
I like to use the O scale Caboose Industries ground throws. The larger size is easier to operate. Using them to throw a switch is more like the prototype than pushing a button.
I mount them in a box set into the fascia below the edge of the layout with an underground linkage to the switch. This keeps them out of the scene and eliminates reaching into the layout. The linkage can be as long as necessary.
Mark Vinski
I have used the Caboose Industries S202 sprung ground throws on my N scale layout and have found them very easy to install and very reliable. I paint the the top of the throw arm green to indicate that the switch is set for the straight track and when the switch is thrown the top fo the throw arm is painted red. That way you can tell which way the switch is set for by just looking at the switch arm color.
maxman richhotrain I temporarily used a track nail through the throwbar to hold the point rail against the stock rail. I used a pin vise to drill two holes, one for each point rail position. Atlas used to sell a package of nail holes for this purpose They included a little template that allowed you to position the holes easily. Came in very handy if you couldn't find your pin vise.
I sure would love to see what a package of nail holes looks like. Are they expensive?
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
I have been told that Caboose N scale ground shows can be used with HO turnout. Any truth to this rumor?
Joe Staten Island West
joe323 I have been told that Caboose N scale ground shows can be used with HO turnout. Any truth to this rumor?
Depends on the amount of travel your chosen turnouts require.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Well all my turnouts are either #6 or #4 Atlas Code 100. joe323 I have been told that Caboose N scale ground shows can be used with HO turnout. Any truth to this rumor? Depends on the amount of travel your chosen turnouts require. Sheldon
Well all my turnouts are either #6 or #4 Atlas Code 100.
joe323 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Well all my turnouts are either #6 or #4 Atlas Code 100. joe323 I have been told that Caboose N scale ground shows can be used with HO turnout. Any truth to this rumor? Depends on the amount of travel your chosen turnouts require. Sheldon
Well, I can't answer that question specificly because I don't have an N scale Caboose ground throw or an Atlas code 100 turnout to measure/test.
No offense to the OP or anyone, but Caboose ground throws have never been something I would consider using.
No
Jumijo maxman richhotrain I temporarily used a track nail through the throwbar to hold the point rail against the stock rail. I used a pin vise to drill two holes, one for each point rail position. Atlas used to sell a package of nail holes for this purpose They included a little template that allowed you to position the holes easily. Came in very handy if you couldn't find your pin vise. I sure would love to see what a package of nail holes looks like. Are they expensive?
No, they were not expensive at all. However, Atlas discontinued them because there were too many consumer complaints about quantity discrepancies, mainly shortages.
JumijoI sure would love to see what a package of nail holes looks like. Are they expensive?
Buying the holes is the cheap part. Buying the "special air" to put in the hole is the expensive part.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Met the owner, he was not interested in changing his product to more scale even though he could and no one has chalenged him with new product.
rrebell Met the owner, he was not interested in changing his product to more scale even though he could and no one has chalenged him with new product.
I suppose one could argue that he's modeling an HO version of the backsaver throws railroads are using nowaday. Then again I suppose one could model the backsaver handle and attach that to the throw in lieu of the oversized lever.
I have been using the N-scale 206s caboose groundthrow for the past 25+ yrs. without any problems on Atlas code 83 #4 turnouts, which is what I use on all Industrial sidings. Atlas #6 turnouts are all powered. To Me whoever started that so called rumor more than likely never even attempted to try it. I have no problems throwing them. Most serious modelers usually carried an uncoupler tool in their shirt pocket to assist them.
The first one controls that turnout, second one controls the turnout in the brick street. A brass tube (1/8'' imbeded in the homsote bass with 1/16'' linkage inserted into the center hole of the turnout drawbar to groundthrow works flawlessly as does the other 15 on the layout. Layout which is DC is now 41 yrs. old.
Take Care!
Frank
The N scale ones did not work om my HO Shinohara turnouts, the HO ones have very little overthrow when used with my turnouts.
zstripe
Frank,
How did you remove the guard rails from the switch in the street?
Jumijo,
I did not remove the guardrails from the turnout. I cut the street around them. The brick is from Walthers cornerstone street system when they first came out. The entire brick street is roughly 11 ft. long, plus a 6ft. 1/2 circle extension.
Those photos can be clicked on for a larger view, along with these:
FlattenedQuarterA model railroad is a hole in your life that you throw money into
I have to put it somewhere, I got rid of the big house with the swimming pool....
Trains are more fun than the pool ever was.....
ATLANTIC CENTRALTrains are more fun than the pool ever was.....
My black Lab (RIP) would totally disagree with You Sheldon..LOL
BATMAN Jumijo I sure would love to see what a package of nail holes looks like. Are they expensive? Buying the holes is the cheap part. Buying the "special air" to put in the hole is the expensive part.
Jumijo I sure would love to see what a package of nail holes looks like. Are they expensive?
Hmmmm. I'm thinking that the surrounding material is the expensive component and the hole itself is relatively free.....
Or, its like Dunkin Donuts, which sells you doughnut holes that aren't really holes at all.....
- Douglas