good timing, great idea

I love this idea. I have to think about how I can adapt it to the layout I'm describing in my Middle school model RR blog since I'm not sure I've allowed for enough support along the fascia. But if I can work it out the approach is exactly what I'm looking for: to emulate the actions of real railroads. 

I already have a ten-pack of the Bullfrog kits (I built one to see how they go together, the better to guide my students when I ask them to put together the other nine when school starts next month). I had intended to use simple push-pull knobs in recessed fascia cutouts. But this idea has me rethinking that approach. 

Now, why don't any of the DCC vendors offer something more akin to prototypical locomotive controls? And why do so many modelers go along with the convention of rotary knobs for speed control? 

Inspirational article.

Jeff

Locomotive controls

Where would you put it?  The only ways it would be practical would be if it were mounted somewhere, or if were a copy of the remote control unit carried by some modern conductors.  Walk around controls, especially for steam locos, would be pretty impractical.

Also, prototype and model locomotives are pretty different things, and the controls are pretty different.  Prototypical control stand have been built, but all of the controls translate back to "tunes" played on the track voltage, and don't allow you to do anything you can't already do with existing controls.

For diesel modelers, there is a control stand made for TrainSim, and I believe that JMRI has the ability to use it as a throttle.

Because they work, and they work well.  I can use a knob one-handed, without looking, while focusing on the task at hand.  Remember that on a model railroad, we are not accurately modeling the different jobs (engineer, conductor, switchman, brakeman, etc.), but rather rolling them all into one "operator" position.  That means compromises have to be made somewhere.

And before anyone argues that rotary knobs are unprototypical, think about this.  There is one prototype position similar to a model railroad operator - that of RCO (Remote Control Operator).  And the speed control on the belt pack?  It's a rotary knob.

Thanks Jeff

Hi Jeff:

Glad you enjoyed the article. I enjoyed writing it and sharing it with MRH. It's great to hear that the article got you thinking about other ways to control the turnouts on your school project layout.

Cheers!

- Trevor

"Great" rating

And, I give this article a "great" rating for the lovely job that the MRH staff did on laying it out. It was a pleasure working with you - I'm looking forward to submitting more articles.

Cheers!

- Trevor

Realist operations

Great article, as usual, Trevor.  Good idea to use the large scale switch stands and locks ..... now you must check guests shoes to make sure they have proper high ankles, steel toes, and tread that won't slip off stirrups when you board a freight car! 

 

controls, continued

Thanks Ken, 

I use the RailDriver control stand that I think you're referring to for both steam and diesel simulation, and I'm in the process of setting it up via JMRI to run models (problems with steam I'm afraid).

But I think the idea of putting the same or similar controls on a small one-hand device is quite practical if you forego the heft and vibration elements and simply play "tunes" on the signal to the decoder.  

You put your finger on the difference though, we either manage the controls we have to mimic the behavior of the prototype in our models, or we try to mimic the controls too. 

I think your point is well taken:

I totally agree. But I'm actually interested in teasing apart those roles.

Jeff 

Teasing apart the roles

Hi Ken:

I like Jeff's take on this - teasing apart the roles. I'd point out that some modelers - myself included - have done just that.

I don't have "operators" on my layout. I have an engineer, a conductor, and sometimes a brakeman. And then I make sure each of them has enough to do to warrant having separate roles.

For example, I give the engineer the tools he needs to move the locomotive, and also signal its movements to others. So, my locomotives are sound-equipped and I encourage my engineers to use the proper bell and whistle codes for moving and stopping.

Jeff - I think you would like my blog, as there's a lot of information in it about modeling the various jobs on a railroad.

Here's the link: PORT ROWAN IN 1:64

While I don't have categories like "engineer" and "brakeman" to filter the entries, if you scroll back through you'll find useful ideas - like this one:

Ops Session :: Conductor's Package

Cheers!

- Trevor

Ground Throws for modern layouts?

Dear Trevor,

So, for modern-era modellers who are inspired to follow your example, and put "human hand sized" ground-throws on the fascia, do you think Sunset Valley's SW GT ground-throw offering could work?

With a bit of kitbashing, they could even be adapted to present as up-to-the-minute "back saver" groundthrows...???

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Trevor's blog

Wow, you're right, I love it! 

Among many other things, I'm eager to hear your conclusions about heavily weighted cars. I loaded up a couple of boxcars with wheel weights and love the results for switching moves, but I haven't tried pulling a long heavy train up (or down) a hill yet. 

Another thing I noticed is that fellows named Jeff are a dime a dozen around here. 

Jeff A.

Yes, Prof, I do

Hi Prof:

Yes - they'd work fine. In fact, I've used the ground throws in a couple of places on the layout - including to control the derail on the coal track in Port Rowan:

Coal Track Derail

I've attached a photo to this comment, showing how I lock the ground throws using the same luggage locks I use on the switch stands. While the ground throws are not a direct match for the prototype you showed, I would not bother modifying the Sunset Valley one to improve its appearance. Since our fingers are not scaled down, the throw needs to be robust enough to withstand use - and what I was really looking for with these (and the stands) was to emulate the ACTION of throwing switches, removing derails, etc.

Cheers!

- Trevor

Great idea

It seems like I've been planning my layout forever.  I thought that when  retired in 2006 that I would have a lot of spare time to work on my railroad.  I'm doing more now than I ever did working, and have even less spare time!

Anyway, another hobby is pen turning with exotic hardwoods.  To turn the hardwood on the lathe, the wood needs to be drilled and a brass sleeve installed in the wood block.  The brass sleeve has to be glued into the wood well enough that the turning process doesn't cause the wood to break loose and spin, or stop spinning when the chisel touches it.  I put the sleeve in the wood block about 1/4 inch or so, and then put super glue on the exposed sleeve and then push it into the block with a twisting motion.  I rough up the sleeve first to give the glue some "tooth."  If you did the same thing with the larger tubing that you run the smaller extension tube through, the size of the hole would not be critical, the sleeve would be mounted permanently to the mounting board, and it would never come out.  You would probably want to put an old newspaper under the work area in case some of the glue drips out.  Some 5 minute two part epoxy would work as well as super glue to hold the sleeve in place.  This way the sleeve could use a "slip fit" hole rather than a tight press fit.

I've been debating how I want to operate the switches on my future switching layout.  I don't think I'll go so far as to use locks, but the rest of the set up looks great!

Trevor

Since I am designing a layout with many more than 8 turnouts I am unlikely to use your system but liked it very much. I do plan on using ground throws for turnouts and I am thinking of adapting an led to look like a lantern that one of the guys on the MRH web site came up with. I guess that is one of the advantages of the larger scale, working targets on your switch stands.

Really good idea and very nicely done had to give you 5 stars.

Thanks, Russ and Rob

Thanks for the feeback, guys - much appreciated.

Russ - a good idea. The press-fit worked for us, but others may want to try for a slip-fit.

Rob - I agree that this method could become prohibitively expensive for a layout with a large number of turnouts. But for those with more modest layouts, I can confirm that it adds a lot of realism to the task of throwing a turnout. It's great play value - and it really is one of the things that people remember about my operating sessions. It's been an extremely popular feature on the layout. (Thanks for the 5 stars, too!)

- Trevor

Someone created their own handheld control stand in HO

Stumbled upon this a few weeks ago on YouTube:

and

Brilliant! If only this was available commercially.