I'll go for a cold Diet Dr. Pepper. At least my model railroad won't end up looking like a "Pretzled Folded Over Dog Bone". Oh wait, it does look like that. Just a word of caution. No not about the drinking. Although there is plenty I could share with you. Just not the subject at hand. Now back to our regularly scheduled program. E-pay is living up to it's nick. Stuff that is going up for sale there is in the fantasy realm of pricing. The I think it is gold plated or the family crown jewels... Syndrome. I needed some #4 Kato Switches or Switch Panels. Don't use the T word. Those selling them on E-pay wanted twice the price. I found my way onto Amazon and found them for half the price. More like the original price or the MSRP. If you don't buy them when you first see them. Well, you know how that works. Yep, they are hear... I started to right hearse, instead of here. Aiiyiiyii. To many years in the wrong business. I hope that isn't foreboding of the future. I built this stub end yard years ago while in the do nothing state of Ohio. Starts with nothing says hi in the middle and ends with nothing. Do nothing state. Oops did I offend someone? Either my bad or to bad. Take your choice. Above is the Atlas #4 switches I want to replace. Yes, as you can see, with Kato's Unitrack #4's. It should be a perfect fit. Yes, I get to finally get rid of those Ugly switch machines. The pilots of the engines or motors drug across the switch solenoid, derailing them. Besides they really are ugly and don't look anything like the 1X1 foot scale. I'm not a great fan of #4's but in this application I won't be backing up long passenger cars or freight cars into the stub end yard. Wow, is that a mouthful. This will be home to the locals. It should work out very well. Then, then once this is complete I can put the top back on over the hidden staging yard. Wiring, there will always be wiring. Two new control panels. Bridges back in and we should be up and operational. Who's we? Here's how the throat of the stub yard once looked like. Now that I've bored you to tears and put you to sleep. I need to wake up from my nap and get my derriere in gear and get something done. Going to be hot one in Idaho, which has a similar reputation to Ohio. You guessed it I don't like either location. I hate it here !! No winters worth talking about. At least Ohio above or north of I-70 had some serious winters. You won't hear me blaming global something or another. Not me!! Later!
Wowsers ! I went looking for #4 'switches' and all I could find where #4 'turnouts'. I am so bummed right now !
Aiiyiiyii !! Yep, Old George shows up at my house and calls them switches... the T word and it was to bad I didn't have a wood shed. I don't think he'll ever learn. He doesn't know what a locomotive is, either. You send a kid to school and see what you get? Heeheehawhaw. Wowser? I had a "Wowser" moment this week. Love it when things work out.
Yep, Old George has the perfect example of a defunct locomotive sitting at the train station on the T.H.E.R.R. All I can say is we tried. Now most of you knew this was coming. Going back in history. The old Railroad Heads, insulted by the incoming replacements to their beloved "Locomotives" by the "Diseasels". Sp intended. Found no pleasure in calling those box like replacements, Locomotives. Not going to happen. Don't you dare insult them. Those new fangled things. There was no visible locomotion. The word "Steam Engine" and "Locomotive" were and are synonymous. As is Boiler or Stove. No way a diseasel was going to match up. You see it was a piston or engine, on each side of the locomotive that moved the steam engine. I Left out something there but I'll bet you can fill in the blank. On a Diseasel there was an engine, a diesel engine that ran the generator that drove the motors in the trucks. No physical connection between the engine and the driving wheels. Explaining why the old heads called it a "Motor". Which was also true of the electric street cars, also called Motors. Today, the term Locomotive, has lost it's meaning and everything pulling a train is a locomotive. No apparent locomotion but what the He'll, did you see what I did there? What the #ell they call the head end power locomotives, anyway. I'm sure the old timers think we are a bunch of disrespectful youngsters. Might be. You also saw this coming. I never once heard my family of railroad employees ever call a "Switch" anything other then a "Switch". I showed them an article in a MR (wig wag or magazine) and asked them what a T word was. They responded it's a Switch and we don't call it that but they do. Implying and stating...these folks don't know railroading. It's all Toy Trains to them. Going on to say they call so many things weird names. And so it is as a youngster, I got my introduction into the world of railroading and as a side line Toy Trains. If you don't mind, I'd rather try to keep up with the Railroaders. For resources you will need to find historical data as written by the old rail heads and not railfans. So much gets lost in the wash. Does that help? Betting it doesn't. I've got a Model Railroad to rehabilitate. With honest to God "Switches" and "Locomotives" operating on the layout. Later all. Do have fun!
My uncle and the few other railroaders I've known all called them switches so that's what I have always called them.
So if you traverse a turnout in the opposite direction, is it then a turn-in? OK, I'll let myself out...
George, you've bought into the Toy Train enchilada. To answer your question: To activate the track switches. I use Toggle Switches. DPDT momentary on to center off. I know you know what those are. For the blocks as in CP or Control Points. I use Toggle Switches DPDT cab A on, to center off and over to Cab B on. Different versions of this can be used when operating with DCC. My dad would ask for clearance on M1 thru to M6 on cab B. I would throw the toggle switches for both the track switches and the Cab B power supply to allow him to get through. Notice we never once said the T word. I would then let Dad who is operating the train know, he is cleared for the block or blocks requested. That could be M1 for Main One to M6 and etc.. When he got into the yard it's switch 1, no, switch 2 no, switch 3 yes. The train operator knows he's going into track 3. Just like on the 1X1 foot scale. On another note. I had a friend who would do the dumbest and yet sometimes funniest things. His remarks could be off the wall. On one trip in particular, it was turning into stupid. I finally told him, If he wanted to make a fool of himself, then that's up to him. Just do it on someone else's time. He then played mute and wouldn't say anything. I was thanking the great guy above, silently. Welcome relief. I took him home and left him there. Time goes on and we either learn or we don't. Go figure!! Oh, I know what a Intervention is and it might apply here just not on my behalf. Again, later.
Easy Peasy, I use switch controllers to remotely operate the switches or my finger to manually operate them.
For those that think it's just too confusing to use the word switch to mean both a track switch and an electrical switch consider the following definition from Merriam Webster: 1 : a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig a riding switch 2 : an act of switching: such as a : a blow with a switch b : a shift from one to another c : a change from the usual that outfit is a switch 3 : a tuft of long hairs at the end of the tail of an animal (such as a cow) see cow illustration 4 : a device made usually of two movable rails and necessary connections and designed to turn a locomotive or train from one track to another 5 a : a device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit b : a software icon that is used to select between one of usually two available states Tap Edit and then toggle the switch next to each supported service to the appropriate setting.—Jason Cipriani Other features … include: … A software switch that lets you change the side button's function to be either volume mute or orientation lock.—Matt Rosoff 6 : a heavy strand of hair used in addition to a person's own hair for some coiffures switch 2 of 2 verb switched; switching; switches transitive verb 1 : to strike or beat with or as if with a switch 2 : WHISK, LASH a cat switching its tail 3 a(1) : to turn from one railroad track to another : SHUNT (2) : to move (cars) to different positions on the same track within terminal areas b : to make a shift in or exchange of switch seats 4 a : to shift to another electrical circuit by means of a switch b(1) : to operate an electrical switch so as to turn (a device) on or off —usually used with on or off (2) : to change to or from an active state —usually used with on or off switched on the gene intransitive verb 1 : to lash from side to side 2 : to make a shift or exchange Oh my, one word, so many meanings. What are we to do? I think we can tell from the context which meaning of the word switch the speaker or writer intends.
So in short...you throw a switch to throw a switch to switch directions ! Nothing confusing there....LOL
Bad enough being compared to Abvot (Okay one more time) Abbot and Costello. LOL!! Grumpy Old Men works for me. Did you notice they won't let me be serious for a minute, moment, half a second. Aiiyiiyii !!! Now I thought this next story as it played out in front of me was memorable and laughable. Under my breath of course. It takes place in Oro Grande, California. The actual time and date escapes me. I was on business, driving a marked car and had some time to kill. Your right not a good choice. I had some spare time. I noticed a track gang working on the west end of of the Santa Fe, Oro Grande switching yard. I stopped to observe and parked out of the way of the moving vehicles. Got out of the car and ended up talking to the foreman. Noting another railfan had done the same thing.and was approaching us. I asked about the activity and he explained they were replacing the old switches with new longer "Switch Panels". I had heard switches at first and then he added switch panels. The other railfan approaching us was with in ear shot. Projecting his voice with an era of authority he proceeded to correct the foreman calling them the T word. In response the foreman looked him over and asked him if he had any railroad I.D. No!! The railfan insisted the foreman call the switch panels what else, the T word. He continued to insist that those are the T word. Finally, after a brief explanation as to what the railroad calls them. The foreman advised him he was trespassing, including to never bother his staff and to get off railroad property. I thought the message was clear. Don't be messing with the professionals that work for the railroads. I then got a tour and brief explanation as to the need for replacing the older switches. He did ask me if I knew him, the railfan. He'd been out bothering other crews with the same issue, T word T word. I think you get my drift. I didn't know him at the time but would later get acquainted with him. Mr. Model Railroad Authoritarian. All in all he was a good guy but not a railroader. We are in a generation of "I call it" syndrome. Have been for sometime. Redefining everything. I'm no pundit, so I'll leave it to those who like to make fools of themselves, to do just that. You see on my layout I run a railroad as close to the real deal as I can get. However, I'm no railroader in the real sense of the word. Oh, I did work a short stint for the Union Pacific as an agent in Dayton, Ohio. That was a good gig and paid well. I ended up moving and that was the end of that. You'll not hear the T word used in this household. Except in the engineering application or aspect of installation. The T word is not American. No, I didn't say that did I? I better run for cover. It came from the Engineering Colleges of Europe. So to ignore it would also be American. The rebel in us. You know Apple Pie, fly the Flag and etc. I'd prefer Marion Berry Pie, chocolate Ice Cream and Diet Dr. Pepper. Yes, I do fly a flag and proudly I might add here. I've gone on long enough. Do what you will, use the verbiage that makes you comfortable. Do know someone on either side of the fence may be laughing at both you and I. Of course under their breath or out loud. It can happen. Summation: The best we can do in the realm of Toy Trains or Model Railroading, is attempt to copy the railroads. Despite it all we are all still playing with trains. NO!! I didn't say that did I?? I did. Oh boy! Later.
Only because I like getting my friend Ricks dander up and 'poking the bear' as they say. Here is some reading for him and others. https://www.rail-fastener.com/railway-turnout-introduction.html Rick...there is a inquiry submission form at the bottom. I am sure they would love to hear from you....
Very funny George. Hawhawhaw...sheez! Yep, we like to rib each other. Keeps us alive. Friends we are. I'd like to think very good friends. So don't worry when you see us blasting or bashing each other. It's all in fun and no one is getting hurt. To all tuned in here. What George gives me is the opportunity to throw my two cents in. To discuss railroad lingo, linguistics, railroad slang and traditions. An attempt to keep it alive. We've had our fun with it. No!! Those fine folks don't want to hear from me. Nor do I from them. I see it as misinformation when it comes to American railroads. Look at the pictures, this is from Europe. This is exactly what you would want to call them if you were modeling a European railroad. Perfect. Just not for us here in the U.S.of A. If you get my drift. I could tell stories of trying to advise a favorite MR wig wag, about their missus of the T word and got laughed at. It's no fun being called the dumb a$$. Not as a kid. I know I won't win the argument or change things in the world of Toy Trains or Model Railroading. Not going to happen. The T word is very en grained, established. Most likely here to stay. Another encroachment on the American way of life. So!! Getting others to change, it isn't going to happen. What it comes down to. It's my house, my layout and in the traditions of my family of Santa Fe Railroad Employees. Who worked out of Barstow, California. Now you know where my handle comes from. I will call the things on my layout what they called or referred to them as. Using their lingo, verbal descriptions. Can I say, that goes for everything I heard them use or share with me. The world of Railroading as I heard it and grew up with. Would you blame me for that? Yep, some might. Got to get back to work. I have some T types to get installed. Demolition first. I'll be so glad to see those Atlas switches out of here. The main objection I have to the T word. We missus it. Later!!
I've got the Cumbres & Toltec railroad playing on my large screen TV. Nice clear and crisp pictures. A smart TV, LED. It helps when the camera man knows what he is doing. I hate things that are smarter then I am. That does not include people that are smarter then I. I need those people in my life to help me learn and understand the world of technology around us. Thanks to and for the friends that I have who are able to do that for me. Thanks for your responses and input. You all know how to keep a discussion going. Good points all around. Later.
