All of my turnouts on the DCC-layout are currently operated using fingers, but I might soon consider using toggle switches.
I found this website of possible help: https://dccwiki.com/DCC_Friendly_Turnout. In the middle of the page is a diagram of how to wire a toggle. I did that to power the turnouts.
roundhouseman Like I said I am not interested in taking sides in the DC v DCC debate. To each his own in my book. I will say however that I have seen it said here that DC involves throwing lots of toggles. While that may have been required in 1958 it isn't now. In this age of electronic relays for under $3 each, many things can be done simultaneously with a push of a button. I know basically how some are doing this with DC. What I don't know is just what kind of operation you can get with DCC of this kind, and how is it done.
Like I said I am not interested in taking sides in the DC v DCC debate. To each his own in my book. I will say however that I have seen it said here that DC involves throwing lots of toggles. While that may have been required in 1958 it isn't now. In this age of electronic relays for under $3 each, many things can be done simultaneously with a push of a button. I know basically how some are doing this with DC. What I don't know is just what kind of operation you can get with DCC of this kind, and how is it done.
With DCC, it is totally unnecessary to throw toggles to control track blocks. There is constant power to the track and the internal decoders in the loco control the movement of the loco based on commands sent from the throttle. I do have an on/off switch to my roundhouse so the locos inside aren't constantly drawing power and I don't have to individually turn off the sound to each parked loco but that is optional.
As you can tell from the replies, turnout control is independent from the operating system. Even if you use DCC to run your trains, you can still control your turnouts with long used methods, both powered and manual. DCC gives you the added option of controlling turnouts from the throttle but I've never explored that option.
My trains run on DCC (Digitax). Still, all turnouts are controlled by old-fashioned Atlas twin-coil switch machines mounted under the layout, powered by a 25-year old Atlas transformer. The only disadvantage is that (at the moment) the same transformer is used for lights in buildings. This means that every time a turnout switch is thrown, the building lights dim for a fraction of a second. This problem should be easily corrected by separating both power sources.
It would seem to me that you might want to spend more time on the operations part of your question. There are lots of different types of operations and they require different things from a layout. There are simple “smoke orders” or “shout an holler” ops that require very little layout infrastructure, to systems requiring varying degrees of complexity all the way out to semi-automatic set ups where operators have routes selected and they just run trains. And of course, while not really Ops per se, there are display systems where trains run automatically, starting and stopping on their own.
In general, the more you look at systems like CTC, the more infrastructure you will need. You might want to check out some videos on TT & TO Ops and other types of operations plans to see what else is out there. Have you been to an ops session? If not, maybe go to a few before deciding what system you like.
I operate on several local layouts and we use TT & TO with a dispatcher. It can be a complicated system as far as knowing the rules and procedures, but the layout infrastructure is pretty minimal in terms of signals and detection.
Whether you are using DCC or DC, detection, signaling and automated train control add lots of layers of complexity to the design and wiring of the layout. I would look carefully at what you want from the layout in terms of operations before making decisions about CTC, signals and detection.
As for the first part of your question, on my DCC layout - I use Hankscraft stall motors, solenoids and manual throws to control turnouts. Some have led indicators to show position of the points, others have toggles on the panel indicating direction and some are line of sight. The power busses for these systems include a bi-polar power buss for the stall motors and a 16 VAC buss for the solenoids.
I use the stall motors in places where you can see the switches, I use the solenoids in hidden areas where you can’t reach the turnout (LEDs indicate position) and I use the manual throws in staging that is reachable from the aisle. I prefer to not have operators reaching into the layout scenery to throw turnouts, so I don’t use manual throws or sprung points on the areas of the layout that have scenery.
I do have signals. They either indicate position of hidden turnouts or they are eye candy along the mainline and are controlled by rail logic signal animators. These devices cycle the signal from green to red to orange and back to green when the sensor is tripped. Pretty cool to watch.
I also have some detection in staging that I built from Rob Paisley’s circuits. I rarely use it anymore and just rely on line of sight to see what’s there.
Probably too much from me,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site