On my N scale layouts I used electric double-solenoid switch machines. But on my forthcoming HO layout, I would like to avoid all those wires and use manual point throws. On previous HO layouts I have used rodding under the board to operate the switches and really liked the 'hands-on' feel to doing it manually. As this will be a small switching layout are there any ground throws available which are near enough scale to have in the proper place. Or maybe some which can operate difficult to get at ones from the baseboard edge. Otherwise I may go for rodding as described in another thread.
I use Caboose Industries "N" gauge ground throws for HO w/o probs. Saves all the wiring/linkage etc. Don
Is there a way to power the frog when using the Caboose ground throw? I was thinking of using micro switches as I want my frogs to be powered. I would think it's very specially important to the frogs powered on a switching layout.
I've been using both Atlas track (code 100 and code 83) and Caboose Ind. ground throws, and have had no problems. I paint one side of the handle green , and the other red- this way I can tell which one is the diverging route. Also, when switching a yard, I can tell at a glance at the colors which way the turnouts are thrown. The HO scale throws are good, but for appearance I'd recommend the N scale throws.
When I start the new layout I think I will acquire some Caboose Ind. ground throws and experiment. I will also want the frogs powered, and have used microswitches in the past with manual switch control systems. When set up they are 100% effective. Thanks for the input guys
I'm still not sure how you would power the frog if using the ground throw? could someone give a short explanation og an example please (or maybe just a picture).
Hi Alan, If you want to take the "choke cable" approach to throwing turnouts, you might like these: http://www.humpyard.com/ They make miniature interlocking tower levers that can throw your turnouts from the facia of the layout. Andrew
Hi Andrew. I have used something like those on a club layout years ago, but can't remember where we acquired them. Yet another alternative.......
This is an excellent idea! So good in fact, we did that on our club's modular layout. As friscobob mentions, it makes it easier to tell at a glance which way the turnout is thrown, and that is just as important when you're highballing down the mainline as it as working in a yard. Incidently, the colors I find to work the best for visibility are (what else!) BN green and Frisco red (technically mandarin orange - Socony red in Floquil terms). Caboose Industries makes a handthrow with electrical contacts for power routing (item number 119-rigid or 120-sprung). These are a little tricky to work with and a little more gaudy than CI's regular handthrows. But I handlaid 2 #12 turnouts for our layout, and they were just not getting power through the points reliably. I installed the "power-routing" handthrows, and now we get power through the turnouts without any problem. The center contact is wired to the frog, and each of the outside contacts is wired to one of the other rails to send the correct polarity to the frog depending on which way the turnout is thrown. You will just have to experiment to figure that part out, and you can connect wires to the outside contacts from any opposing rails (or we just connect them directly to the power bus running on our layout modules). While we did this out of absolute necessity to get power to the points of our handlaid turnouts, it would certainly make a nice improvement to Atlas turnouts to power the frogs and enable smooth running of small locos like 0-4-0's.
Thanks for the info. I definitely want power routing to the frog, I have always done that in layouts of various gauges. I had not known about the power routing throws. Thanks!
