Turnout Controls

I noticed Jim has recessed turnout controls with a little diagram of the turnout on the facia. I couldn't make out any details what was inside the recess..

How is he controlling his turnouts, what kind of control is in those recesses?

Thanks,

Chris

You might like this...

From Rick Fortin's site...

http://www.layoutbuilders.com/  He has tips for recessed controls and card holders You'll need to click the Tips link on the upper left to see them) .  Might not be the same but should give some ideas.

ratled

Been a while since I've been over there, but ...

I think I remember that Jim uses small toggle switches to actuate the Tortoise switch motors. In some cases, I believe these toggles are mounted inside the end of PVC pipe caps, which allow the switches to be recessed inside the fascia. This is where there is not a recessed panel, for example where a single toggle controls one isloated turnout.

Jim has done a great job in

Jim has done a great job in a small space, using signature scenes from the WP.  The 2-8-2 in many of the photos is exceptionally well done. Shows what you can do when concentrating on a specific area at a specific time.

Thanks

Thanks.. looking at the video with that in mind I can see those. Makes sense.

A common problem on one of the layouts I operate on is operators inadvertantly leaning on control panels. It will be interesting to see if this is an issue with the layout we are building that has all the buttons mounted along the facia.

Anyway, his recessed turnout controls seem practical and look slick.

Chris

LOVED THAT LAYOUT & ARTICLE

Jim has a great WP layout.  Loved the scenery.  I'm familiar with the area represented, and must commend hom on capturing the essence of it.  What a great article too.  Hopefully my layout will be fully scenicked someday, but my goal and focus now is to finish the upper deck scenery.  Gotta start somewhere.

Inspiration

Jim has done a great job. The detail is amazing and I like the idea of recessed controls. Schematic control panel for turnouts is going to be my priority when I get home. Once that's done it'll be back to scenery along with car and loco building and detailing.

X 2011

In addition to being a great modeler, Jim is also a real gentleman.

And his layout will be on the tour list for the 2011 NMRA National Convention in Sacramento if you can make it!

Charlie

Which Wreck Crane is that behind the Keddie Roundhouse?

On page 52 in the photo of the Keddie Roundhouse, there is one of the WP wreckers sitting on the far track behind the roundhouse.

What model is this? Is it a 200ton Brownhoist or a smaller one ? I note that it is a steam powered crane.

I'm curious because I have an OMI 200ton Brownhoist model that I'd like to backdate to steam power to represent WP's MW#37.

Great layout that Jim has there. Love it. And thanks for sharing.

Phil Morrow

Crane

Phil:

The Steam Crane is a Tichy model, 120 TON BROWNHOIST WRECKING CRANE. I was told that this model is pretty close to what W.P. had.

Jim

Control

Chris:

The recessed control is a toggle inside a PVC cap, which I believe someone already commented on.

JIm

Recessed toggle common here

I've seen the toggle-switch-inside-the-PVC-cap technique applied to several layouts in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Wonder who originated the idea.  It's a good one.

Nice idea

Nice idea. I will have to give that a try.

Chris

Crane

Thanks for the information Jim.

Yes, I believe the Tichy model is a fairly close representation to the early, small wreckers used by WP. It certainly looks right and in the right place. Great detail.

Thanks and Regards

Phil Morrow

Melbourne, Australia

Love it!

Gorgeous railroad. I can't wait to see it in person next summer if he's going to have it on tour in Sacramento!

Jin Dias' WP

Outstanding layout!

The name Dias isn't plural

Jim Dias'?  What the heck is that?  It is Jim Dias's layout (and that's how I would pronounce it, with a double "S" sound)!  An apostrophe-S after a singular is used to indicate the possessive. 

Gee, lots has changed since visiting Jim's layout several years ago.  He's added an upper deck, an industrial peninsula and probably some new structuresl  Got to check it out next year.  ...  Jim, many thanks for offering your layout for visits for the various NMRA activities.  

The track at the Keddie Y

Whoooops!!!!

I gotta learn to read first !!!

WEll, at least my 'guess' was correct....GRIN

I do hope that the design is NOT intended to be faithful to the real thing !

I'm guessing that is due to space/configuration limits.

BTW ....the 'real' Y has NO straight track on the bridge work.

DaveL.......I see the Y twice a day, five days a week.

The 120 Tichy Crane is easy to buy

One of our sponceors "Micro Mark" sells them for around $28.50 and the Crane tender for about $14.50 give or take a couple dollars. check the link below.

http://www.micromark.com/Rolling-Stock-RR-Car-Kits-and-Parts.html

In checking the site just now you can buy both as a set for $33.95 !

Dan

Finding fault is easy, compromise is hard

Dave,

I think Jim's done an exceptional job of capturing the flavor of the prototype in a relatively small space, To do so, he made a number of compromises -- the arrangement of Spanish Creek trestle (the "correct" name for the Keddie Wye) is probably not even the most significant.

Jim's layout looks and works great -- really a gem. It's a fine example of incorporating a number of prototype layout elements in a modest space that most of us can learn something from. Compromise is a fact of life in actual layout design and construction (as opposed to forum opining).

I do hope that you will start a blog or thread here at MRH to show us your track plan and photos of your layout, so that we may learn from your approach.

More fault-finding

And yes, publishing style books indicate that adding an apostrophe to a singular proper name ending in "s" is still the correct way to show the possesive, despite what is often used in vernacular speech. MRH has it right.

From the AP stylebook:

Disagreement #3

Byron, the grammar/style sources I've seen say otherwise.  For example: http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp

Possessive

A note in your link, Mark, says this: 

So it is permissible, however, I don't know when this changed because I was taught the possessive ending in s should only have the apostrophe and not the second s.  Regardless, either is acceptable.

Good thing the first "S" isn't silent or just left off Dave

Because your user name here would be pronounced kill off.

Dan