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Manual Turnouts, River Beds, & Commuter Trains Journals/Blogs
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Super User 749 posts jmt99atsf Super User 749 posts
jmt99atsf

The first part of this video shows what was done using Caboose Industries ground throws for manual control of turnouts, some Evergreen tubing, & floral wire. One side of the ground throw handle was painted green for the normal route & the other side was painted red to indicate the diverging route. LEDs will be added in the future when my back permits me to get under the layout to do the wiring. I also show what was done to seal up the river beds plus a short discussion of a future planned commuter trains.

 

Here are some additional pictures of what was done with the turnouts.

 

071318_1.jpg 071318_2.jpg 071318_3.jpg 071318_4.jpg 

My YouTube Channel is -  https://www.youtube.com/user/tanzj

 

 

Modeling the ATSF Paradigm Division in N-Scale 
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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filip timmerman Super User 1,375 posts
filip timmerman

Hi John,

Nice to see this update ! Thanks for the efforts of sharing this progress.

I like the way you colored the 'caboose Ind.' trows. Gives a strait forward visual view of the position of the turnouts.

Think I will copy your 'system' on the AnneliesVille RR.

All the best !

Filip

Filip
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jmt99atsf Super User 749 posts
jmt99atsf

Hey Filip

Thanks for your comments.  I just got tired of waiting for me to install LEDs and decided that I had to do something since I was missing throwing turnouts in the right direction when running trains. It is simple and less work for the time being. Have fun on your layout

John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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Dan Pugatch Breakwater Branch Regular poster 355 posts
Dan Pugatch Breakwater Branch

I  use Caboose Industries

I  use Caboose Industries throws as well and will use this helpful thread. Thanks!

 
Freelance HO Scale set in 1977-1984 Portland, Maine.
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peter-f Prolific poster 1,529 posts
peter-f

i like the idea so much, I used it!

In my yard, I have 5 tracks.... Entering each, in the center section, I painted the ends of several ties.... A pattern of reds and greens. To reach track 2, for example, the ties reveal red, red green... And that end of the track is reached by aligning turnouts to match. No guessing which points are set which way!
- regards

Peter
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jmt99atsf Super User 749 posts
jmt99atsf

Great!

Thanks. I thought that it was a really easy & quick way to see the position of the turnout and wanted to share it.

John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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jmt99atsf Super User 749 posts
jmt99atsf

Thanks

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your comments. You took it one more step which is a great idea.

John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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peter-f Prolific poster 1,529 posts
peter-f

thanks for the OP, John...

Gives me another way to untangle my tiny yard. Need a way to shrink myself to operate switch stands and Armstrong levers! Have you looked into r/c aircraft controls... If the floral wire is too flexible, try control wire (fine piano wire). Should there be problems, it's a ready alternative.
- regards

Peter
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jmt99atsf Super User 749 posts
jmt99atsf

Tried them All

Hi Peter,

I could loan you some N-Scale people to operate your ground throws......

I only used the floral wire thru the 2.4mm styrene tubes because of its flexibility.  I could have used piano wire but my wife gave me the package of floral wire so it was in hand already. In either case, the tube also insulated the track from any potential short that could be caused by the extended throw wire.

I have used some r/c controls with the 4 Bluepoints that I have used in the staging yard at the base of the west helix on my layout.  I was considering them where I used the ground throws but did not want to go thru the mess of construction required for the installation of either Bluepoints (or Tortoises).  The plan was always to have the vast majority of turnouts (96 total on the layout) as finger thrown with an LED indicator.  I just have fallen behind due to my back injury last year and really cannot get under the layout very well to do the wiring required so I opted for the easy way with the ground throws. Eventually, I will add the LEDs.  

Thanks,

John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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