Slips..

...A double slip is more flexible than a single slip as you get 4 routes through it as opposed to 3. It really depends on the situation, if you are not likely to use the forth route then there is little point in a double slip.Singles are cheaper too.

Double Slip vs Single Slip

Single slip has/needs 2 point controls.  Less complex for operators

Double slip needs/has up to 4 point controls.  More complex for operators and you better have circuit protection for that section of track.

Who makes single slip?  Is

Who makes single slip?  Is Brian going to have to go European to find some?    

Roco single slip

I have a Roco single slip,...nicely built, but mine is brass.

convert a Double Slip?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but its not possible to make a single slip from a commercial double slip?

I'll explain why I might be seeking a single slip later today when I finish a few more sketches of my latest track plan.

There you go!  Sort of.  IIRC

There you go!  Sort of.  IIRC Roco made early code 83 curved turnouts for Atlas back in the mid-1990's.

As far as positives and negatives, as long as the single slip you have operates reliably with your rolling stock and wheel types, I don't see any negatives on that type of switch.  The negatives seem to be more related to turnout in terms of rail gauge and tightness to meet the ideal specs.

If you don't mind the appearance of brass and wheels get reliable pick up from it ...  go for it.

The commercially available

The commercially available double slip switches I've seen only require 2 point controls, just like the single slips.  Not quite prototypical, but it seems to be good enough.

Just an observation on slip switches (double or single) in general; some people find them confusing to operate.  The double slips in what was perhaps my favorite yard to operate constantly confused people, both the ones controlled with ground throws and the ones controlled with toggles on a control panel.  For some people it pretty much boiled down to pure luck wether they'd line it properly, for others you could see they'd have to stop and think about it but they'd mostly get it right.  As yardmaster there I learned to keep an eye on how people were lining the slips.

I'm not sure why you'd start with a double slip and partially dismantle it to make a single slip.  Seems like you'd end up with a slightly hacked up looking switch that might not be as reliable.

Double Slip

I have a double slip in use on my industrial layout. It connects 2 long run around sidings using 3 of it's connections. The 4th leads into a industrial track. Works great so long as I have it lined up right. As ken mentioned it can get a bit confusing. It would help if I operated more often though. I will be making a diagram showing which way to have each point control for each route. It's a Peco. Every loco and car I have go through it just fine. There would have been no way to get the track connections using regular #4's or 5's.

Jack

Modifying Dble Slip

Actually I do not desire to do this. I was only asking if there might be some way to 'link' the two controls to make the dble act like a single. I didn't see any such capability. i have a number of dbl slips, but only one single slip.

As you mentioned the dbl slip can be CONFUSING to operate. Additionally if you should pull or push a train across it, then reverse the trains direction while still partially sitting on the turnout, things get really screwed up!!

With the single slip turnout this doesn't happen, the train basically backs up on the same track it entered on,...no derailments,...much less confusion.

As far as positives and

I actually find the Roco switches to be as good as the Pecos. Plus they utilize a solid piece of rail for their point rails rather than a stamped metal piece, AND they have insulated METAL frogs. Like the Pecos they may require a little shimming of their guard rails.
 

Appearance might be less desirable from a purest standpoint, but likely only the tops of the rail will be viable after weathering the sides of the rail, And with only a short length of brass track, well connected to power it should be no problem. Plus it will be located near the aisle,...within arms reach.

Reversing on slip

Not quite sure what you mean Brian.  Either single or double slip switch is fine if you run a train half over it, stop, and reverse direction.  And with either a double or single slip if you throw the points while the train is stopped on it, you will get trouble!

Convert a double slip? Why?

Peco offers in their Streamline series single switch crossings in code 75 and code 100. Only drawback is the crossing angle of 12°.

Here are Peco's Streamline single slip and double slip templates for comparison: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1541/1303/t/4/assets/Turnout_Plan_SL80-1537534950765.pdf?10809327987916582449

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1541/1303/t/4/assets/Turnout_Plan_SL90-1535030595846.pdf?14981673971676068479

It should be possible to rework a double slip to a single slip. Then you could use American style double slips like Peco code 83. On the other hand Walthers had a single slip in its code 83 line:  https://www.walthers.com/code-83-nickel-silver-dcc-friendly-turnout-6-single-slip

As Walthers sounded optimistic regarding a Shinohara replacement, it might be better to wait than to rework.
Regards, Volker

I don't understand why things

I don't understand why things screw up if you reverse a train while still on the double slip. It should go back the same way it came from. Single slips have only two sets of point rails less than the double slip. See templates above.

Single slip animation: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weiche_(Bahn)#/media/File:Engels_wissel_half.gif

Double slip animation: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weiche_(Bahn)#/media/File:Engels_wissel.gif

Looking at the animation I don't see a way to get the train onto a wrong track other than moving the points under the train.
Regards, Volker

PS: Please copy and paste the not working links

I actually find the Roco

Sounds like you've answered your own questions and so you can make like Nike and "just do it".

Seems like the other negative, confusing to operate, shouldn't be a reason to put you off either.

/resolved

??

I don't understand this comment.  Unless you line the switch under the train (bad with ANY type of switch), it shouldn't make any difference what direction the train is going.  If you line the switch from A to C and then reverse directions the train goes from C to A.  Don't understand the problem.

Single vs. Double equivalent to regular switches and crossovers

If you expand out the slip switch to an equivalent schematic of regular turnouts and diamond crossings they look like this:

Just like any other switch, if a route is set, a train can travel in either direction through it.

A prototype double switch might throw each set of points individually, but I've used a Peco double switch on a friend's layout and they have the entire set of points at one end of the slip as a single unit, so it's not complicated to throw. It's either straight through or diverging (either route).

Double slip - Single slip

They both exist in N scale and are made by Peco in code 55.

Single slip are seldom even in reality, but this is a nice piece of track.

Double slip are often used in entrance of yard station, especialy for passenger train, but they also exist on freight car yard.

I use a few double slip on my layout, no trouble, reverse or foward or when a locomotive stop on the slip.

The N Peco have unpowered frog but the slip comes with wire already sodered on the frog which can be powered by a relay or a spdt switch with the move of the points; frog juicer can also do the job.

They are not confusing in operation if you remember a double slip can be used as a crossing or as a turnout with diverging route.

I use two Tortoise to move them, but it's possible to use only one with some thinking.

I use a single switch to change the position with two leds; Under one led there is a small cross and Under the other two small arcs; when a leds light, it also show if the slip is a crossing or a diverging route.

They also save place because you have four routes to choice for, with just one piece of track.

No troubles with NMRA gauged wheels set on these kind of track, but this is true with all turnouts also.

So I can only say, don't be afraid about the use of a single or a double slip, they are useful and look great.

Additional points

Some prototype double slips have additional movable points where the rails cross in the middle - see the photo on this page:

http://www.columbusrailroads.com/pom-feb2007.htm

That's very interesting!

That's very interesting! Looks like instead of the frog being solid it has opening and closing jaws.

That would be a very interesting and challenging bit of trackwork to model.

Control of Slip Switches

Most of the prototypical single or double slip switches I have seen have only one drive. You can only have one train on the switch at a time, so there is no need for dual drives. If you look at the picture referenced by Ken Rice you can see the drive rods running from the manual throw at the crossovers for the two double slips.

I have driven slips with one Tortoise, and I am planning to use a servo and a couple of bellcranks on my N test layout to drive a PECO double slip. 

I think there are two drives there...

Ken K, in that photo it looks like the four points at each end share a single throw bar - with such an arrangement it’s not possible to get all routes through the slip with just a single switch machine.  And if you look closely at that photo I believe you can see two switch motors near the center, with a rotating lamp, and a second rotating lamp at the far left end.

If you move the points at each end in two pairs, you can control the whole thing with one machine - either all tracks in take the diverging route, or all tracks in go straight through.  I don’t remember seeing an RTR double slip with two throw bars at each end, but then again I haven’t really been looking.  Do you make yours?

Single or Double Slip Turnout

Single or Double Slip Turnout

So here is my particular situation. I have two spur lines off of the mainlines feeding my peninsula area. It is desired that these 2 entering lines be able to select between either of 2 lines themselves. The most 'compact' manner to do such a thing is a slip switch.

A single slip switch accomplishes just what I want to do,...take the entering train and curve it around onto the same side, or cross it over to the other side. It does this in one single selection of the controller. It can remain on one single selection and do the same thing for trains entering from either track,...cross them over, or leave then curving around on the 'same track'.

Another nice feature of the single slip is that should the train stop, then get reversed while over this turnout, the train will NOT try to pick the opposite track and derail,,,as it might well do on a double slip switch. Is my thinking correct??

Since the double slip switch has 'another set of point rails' at its other end, that ARE NOT always set in the correct position, the train could well back up and try to chose a different route than it came in on. In other words it requires 2 control settings to get the dbl-slip to act in the manner I seek above, ….plus when I change the incoming route I have to make TWO selections to get it to operate like the single slip that I did not have to make any new selections.??

Overall view (sorry, still just a paste in for the peninsula plan as I have not finished final plan for it)
 

Enlarged peninsula (again, somewhat representative)
 

Slip switch location
 

Single or Double
 

The 2 tracks coming off the slip switch will be feeding the two container unloading/loading tracks located either side of that 'passenger station' in the original Tupper Lake plan.

The track on the left next to the aisle will be the 'escape track' for the locos that pulled the trains into the peninsula area to escape back to the freight yard area or the turntable,...a 22” radius one & a 24” radius one for bigger steamers.
 


Container crane (block of wood) straddling container tracks
 

Confused

One of us is confused.  And I don’t think it’s me

First of all, a train stopping and reversing on a double slip switch will not derail.  I don’t know how you got the idea that it does, but it doesn’t.

The one situation where a train can legitimately run through a switch and then, without touching any controls on the switch, back up and derail is with a spring switch.  Spring switches are also potentially useful, but are faught with peril for several reasons.  I suppose it would be possible to make one or both ends of a single or double slip act like a spring switch, but you certainly don’t have to.  Maybe you have one set up like a spring switch and that’s what’s getting the concepts mixed up in your mind?

Second, a single slip switch doesn’t do what your description seems to imply.  A single slip has two sets of points, one at each end, just like a double slip.  But it only has 2 points at each end, not 4 points at each end.  Here’s a peco one with a good photo you can study:

https://peco-uk.com/products/crossing-single-slip2

As you can see, you can’t set the points so that trains can enter from either leg on the left and leave through the same leg (let’s say the lower leg) on the right.  It is possible to set the points so it acts like a crossing.

Single/double?

or you could spread two conventional turnouts point to point a bit and simplify the matter. :> ) ....DaveB