In the world of Toy Train enthusiast. This T word started back in the 30's with a MR wig wag article. Another close friend went on a search to see how far back this goes. He has many of the original magazines and found one in the 30's where the author called them...what else...the T word. Ignoring the obvious on the American railroads. Apparently this wig wag (magazine) became the Toy Trains enthusiast bible. He rests in peace, now and will be missed. My family of old rail heads would say right about now, "They don't know railroading". The MR wig wags, in-case you missed it. Yes, the T word has worked it's way into our model train departments and I hate to admit it but also into the 1X1 foot scale. No, not the big guys? Yes the railroads of America. For shame, for shame. As a new friend of mine who is a retired Union Pacific railroad Engineer, explained. He was a train driver, The T word is showing up on Train Orders. Harrumph, harrumph. Obviously I m not going to stop such behavior. And yes the American Manufacturers of switches have succumbed to the T word. Do I like that? Well, #ell NO! Like I said earlier it's the missus of the T word that I object to. I can't help but laugh out loud when I hear such at a club or private layout. I'm going to run through the T word. No, you run through a switch. Do we have a turnout man? I threw the turnout. Aiiyiiyii !! Oh well, it is what it is!! Same subject but on another note. The first time I saw a blue print for the D&RGW I saw the T word to describe the switches. Upon investigation I learned the Architectural Engineer was from Switzerland. Therefore the T word. Does that help to explain it's origin? Does that back-up the origin as being out of the European Engineering Colleges? Another encroachment of many, upon us and our American life style. Go figure. After all we are the melting pot. I don't know if that's a good thing. Jury is still out on that one. Okay, I have switch panels, you know those T types to install. I didn't get to it yesterday. To many other distractions. My two cents. Later!!
OK...so my friend Rick is a gungho railroader. His family of real railroaders have instilled the 1:1 lingo into his model railroad. How many model railroaders have that distinction? Most of us play with model trains because we see them in real life and just love them enough to play with toy ones. Call it what ya want. everyone know what it is whether you call it a 'turnout' or a 'switch'. It's the same dang thing....lol. In model railroading the term 'turnout' has been used for ages to differentiate between the 'switch' at the rails and the 'switches' used on the control panel to throw that 'thing' up there on the layout. It's less confusing and just makes things easier on everyone. I play with toy trains...and proud of it! I am NOT into the 1:1 jargon and I don't care to. Everyone enjoys the hobby their own way. I am NOT one to correct anyone on anything...most of the time. Unless someone specifically asks for my opinion. Of course razzing my friend Rick about most of it is some of the best of times Cork track bed vs plastic Unitrack. Real rock ballast vs crushed walnut shells. Factory built track vs hand laid track. DC vs DCC. Diesels vs Steam. Some dilapidated old locomotive vs some high priced super detailed locomotive. Sceniced vs non sceniced. The list goes on and on. WHO CARES !!!! Rule #1 always applies. .
If you can't tell the difference between a track switch and a toggle switch. Aiiyiiyii !! The argument it's easier on everyone has never satisfied me. The question comes to mind, just how dumb are we? Although it might be best, if I don't point that out. What I fear most is those NMRA Ninja's. They might show up at my house along with the NMRA Posse. RICK!! After thought: Have you ever looked at how complicated a real honest to the big guy, train dispatchers board looks like? Gosh! And we cry over a toggle switch. Aiiyiiyii !! George summed it very well and that is precisely what we are looking at today. No, I don't expect you to ever be like me or have the same interest. Although, when I find someone of like culture. Is that the right word for here and now? Anyway, when I find someone of like values. Oh what fun that turns into. That said, there is a part of me that really likes what George is doing. I could spend a couple of hours at his place and have a great time. I like his layout. It wouldn't work for me but that's what keeps the world spinning around and around and around. Got to stop that before I get dizzy and fall off this globe. He has features on his layout I don't have on mine. His working yard and engine facility. Wow!! Sad to say he didn't have a good time at mine. No trains running...yet!! Rule #1 does apply.. You know how I define fun!! Getting hotter and hotter outside. Do I miss winter or the excuse they have around here for winter. We got snow but not enough to write home about. Wet, enough to cause the weeds to grow and fuel for future smoke outs. Don't rue the day and enjoy it. Later.
Quite contrary my friend. It was interesting to see what you have and what your plans are in person. PLUS we got to talk face to face without the one finger typing on TB.... PLUS PLUS...my wife got to meet this old grumpy guy I keep talking about... .
LOL Your alright George. You know I think the world of you and your wife. You two are the best. It was a high day when the two of you stopped by for a visit. I wish others felt the same way and would stop by. I'm sure we'd end up having a good visit. They'd be welcomed. If I could get some of you up here during the self guided home tours you'd be introduced to some very fain (let's try this again) FINE Model Railroaders. This is a small mecca for us model railroad types. Never mind the train shows held in Ogden. Lot's to do up here. The only thing that balances out, how I feel about being here. You know Idaho. Things will be getting into high gear here shortly. Pretty sure all the hurdles I needed to jump over are taken care of. I can now proceed with the rehabilitation. I've got to get those trains running.
And all of us here enjoying your friendly (???) ribbing about switches/ turnouts or whatever you want to call those bits of rail that divert a train from one track to another, OI! "Diverters" is what they need to be called!!! Anyway, we all hope and plan to see trains a rolling in Boise on a certain members road, now his health has gotten some better! Ahem! I guess that means I had best get busy, too.......
LOL "Diverters???" You might have something there. I obviously didn't make my point very well. Noting your response. The curved section of a Switch is referred to as the Diverging part of the Switch. So Diverters and Diverging. Yep, you might be onto something there.
I wonder how many would turn out for a meeting about switches. I wonder if any of them would switch their allegiance to using the other term from what they have been using or if they would just turn out the lights and go home. Doug
If the curved route of a switch is on the mainline, wouldn't the straight route be considered the "diverging" route? And, what about a wye switch? Aren't the routes both diverging? Doug
Now THAT'S a typical ad from the "clever" advertising agencies of those days! And, it should be, "WE Tareyton smokers...". Doug
Good points! (see what I did there?) I think it is pretty easy when a switch is on the mainline, to determine which is the through (e.g. the mainline) route , and which is the diverging (e.g. off the mainline) route. It gets a lot tougher for yard and industrial trackage, but then those are not signaled as much.
Your guys are all to funny. DeaconKC., Your right I'd rather fight then Switch...to the T word. Badlandnp, Well, I missed answering your most obvious question. "Friendly (???_) ribbing" Yes, the ribbing has been friendly. I wouldn't want to alienate all my Toy Train friends. You guys and gals can play around with this all day long. Laugh at it, boo hoo it, snicker at it all you want. Call your track diversion devices anything you want. I know you will. That's part of the fun. Friendly ribbing aside. Actually I'm very serious. I'm appealing that you at least look at it, and you have. Consider the applications the big guys on the railroads have given it. Our first resource shouldn't be some authors take in a MR. wig wag, on the subject back in the 30's. We should be looking to the real deal to find our terminology. Or so that's how I see it. Back to the ribbing. As Doug Gosha pointed out. If you ask the clubs to have a meeting, they are more then likely going to Turnout the lights and go home. You know I'd expect that. Oh, before I forget. The first time I breached this subject several clubs at my encouragement did meet to discuss the issue at hand. Most did Turnout the lights and went home. Aiiyiiyii !! I have many good friends who are border line Model Railroaders. None of them use Switch but feel at home with the T word. As I've already pointed out our MR magazines since the 30's has used the T word indiscriminately. Despite the one kid, whose mother made it possible for him to call them. His pointing out to them that his family of Railroad Employees doesn't use the T word. Followed by laughter on the other end of the phone line. Yep, At the MR office. Go Figure. You'd think we were all in Europe and valued what they do above our own culture. Say what? I won't get into that again. You can find my take on it back a post or two. Again, my objection to the T word is the miss application. I have some T types to install. Some switch panels. After which they will be called Switches. Hot, hot, hot and only getting hotter up here in Idaho. Just like it's done for eons. Nothing new going on here. It's your toy train layout. You make the rules, you set the standards and you operate trains the way you want to. Now go have some fun.
George, I saw what you did there. One finger typing!! I got it. I think I've used that technique myself a time or two. Funny, just too00 funny!!
The one redeeming quality of "turnout" on our electric model railroads, is that it does clearly differentiate between the respective electrical and traffic routing devices, otherwise referred to as switches. Telling coincidence that Europe, where electric trains are the rule rather than the exception, uses different terms for the rail and electrical connecting/routing devices. And it does get a little confusing when discussing whether a track switch includes an electrical switch to control the power to the frog and/or (un)selected rails. But I've never heard the term "slip-turnout" either.
Aiiyiiyii !! Babylon confusion regenerated. LOL Andy, I got it. I got your point. When I was a kid we had to code everything so our conservative bible teaching teacher wouldn't catch on. It worked until she bought a decoder ring. We had her confused for a while. The point I'm making is. With all the confusion in the ranks over what is or isn't right in the lingo bin. You'll need a decoder to figure it out. Oh and babylon interpreted means confusion.
