Donny4472 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 As i'm currently in the process of laying track on my layout, i will soon be looking to aquire switch stands (dummy) & point motors (dummy). I haven't a great knowledge of what style of stand to use other than using photos online as a reference. Regards point motors, again the limited knowledge isn't helping. Any info on switch stand / motor prototypes would be very helpful, as would info on manufacturers of these. Living in the UK, Walthers Catalogue is my only guide. My layout era is the '00s in the Twin Cities. Scale is HO. Thanks in advance. Donny Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 If either of my Camera's were working I'd get out and take some photo for you - 'cos I'd like to know too! There's a couple of nice photos in Mike Cougill's book "Detailing Track" (OST Publications) - I'm going to email Mike to see if he would like to join our group but I know he is a very busy man..........I wonder whether Paul aka signalmaintainer has any? Anyway someone may see this tlopic. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
signalmaintainer Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Any of the first two will do nicely for the era you're modeling in the Twin Cities. As a matter of fact, the basic outlines of the GRS and the M23 haven't changed much in decades. The Grandmaster is a little different than the ones I have in Seattle. Walthers' catalog will be your best best for finding something close. Someone (Details West?) makes a passable 5H, IIRC. General Railway & Signal 5H: http://www.rrmods.com/members/collins/grs US&S M23: http://www.trainmaster.ch/photos/DET-GGG/3MT-724-WM-7-06.jpg Alstom Grandmaster: http://www.alstomsignalingsolutions.com/trc/images/GM4000A_Web.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny4472 Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Thanks very much for the info. Want to make the layout as realistic as possible. What about manually operated switch stands? There are a few examples in the Walthers pages, but again i want to keep to the area and era i'm modelling. thanks again! Donny Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Klyzlr Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Dear Donny, Assuming you are referring to 1990 - 2010 by the " '00s" comment, and also assuming you are working in HO, I suspect you'll be looking at a Details West catalog fairly soon... http://www.ppw-aline.com/images/detwest/903.jpg http://www.ppw-aline.com/images/detwest/914.jpg http://www.ppw-aline.com/images/detwest/915.jpg http://www.ppw-aline.com/images/detwest/916.jpg http://www.ppw-aline.com/images/detwest/917.jpg http://www.ppw-aline.com/images/detwest/924.jpg http://www.ppw-aline.com/details_west.htm Happy Modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 A very common manual switchstand type is made by Star (which may no longer be the company name). Here is an example from a couple of years ago: It's probably easier to list the railroads that didn't use this, although the round targets weren't used as much in the upper Midwest. You'd have to specify exactly which railroad you're talking about there to get down to the exact target type. For that matter, this is on the ex-SP, which true to E.H.Harriman and his all-around expert Julius Kruttschnitt, minimized all excess material and mounted it crosswise on a single headblock tie. Most other railroads mounted it 90 degrees opposite on two headblock ties. NJ International makes a ready-to-run brass, painted version of exactly this. Kits are available from Details West and Central Valley, and they include optional targets of other shapes. Other manual switchstand types are also available from NJ International, though some are old models and not as nice as the modern Star. They also have a more modern style with an ergonomic handle, which you see on new trackwork. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Here's one I took earlier, 2010, I think. A former branch of the Reading RR in PA. Interesting thread btw! Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny4472 Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Hi again. My layout is based in the Midway Area of St Paul. Although fictional, i'd like to keep with the feeling of the area. Below are 2 photos of Minnesota Commercial's Midway Yard showing switch stands. I'd also like to know why the various colour / shapes / heights are used, and how the indication relates to the position of the switch? Are there rules for this, or is it purely dependant on the Railroad or Stand maunufacturer. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=304424&nseq=2 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=297857&nseq=3 All the info is very much appreciated. thanks again Donny. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Those are Star type switchstands in the first photo link. I have an SP drawing that shows the total height from bottom of the metal base to the top of the rod that holds the target as 6 feet 2-1/2 inches. I've scaled various photos, and most seem to come out at about this dimension. The switchstands in the second photo link are of a different type, and the trackwork seems to be newer. I don't know what their make is, The targets for the Star round variety can be yellow or red. Both sides of the round target are the same color, whichever it is. I've head that red is for targets of switches on the main line, while yellow is for targets of switches off the main line, but looking at photos or DVDs, I don't think this is consistent. The switchstand closer to the photo in the first photo link in your post just above seems to have a non-typical rectangular addition to the round target that is colored green to face the straight leg. This may be to provide a more positive indication of the switch's position at night, but it is not a usual feature. The red or yellow targets are usually arranged to be parallel to the straight leg of the turnout when the switch is in "normal" or straight position. They turn 90 degrees to face the straight route when the switch is in the "reverse" or curved position. Most commercial model HO switch stands do not actually turn. It would be possible to use a second switch machine with custom linkage of some sort to turn the switchstand, though you'd also have to modify the switchstand kit to do this. I think Peter North did this on at least one of his Rock Island layouts -- if someone can get in touch with him, he might be able to explain how he did it. I mostly just set my own Star switchstand models up to be parallel with the straight leg of the switch no matter what. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWB Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 For that matter, here's a more modern switchstand on the Los Angeles Junction, which seems to be very popular on this forum. It has an ergonomic handle and is almost certainly not a Star, but I don't know what it actually is. Someone else might be able to help. Here's a Star switchstand on the San Joaquin Valley Railrod (former SP Coalinga branch) at Hanford, CA. The SJVR has apparently replaced the round Star targets with diamond shaped ones, but everything else is the same. Both round and diamond shaped targets are supplied with Central Valley and I think Details West Star switchstand kits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Postie arrived a little earlier and delivered a box 10" x 7" x 2", and in it - together with a lot of paper packing, were these little HO scale darlings, for my Canter Packaging layout. These are non-working models of the modern "back-safe" ergonomic switch throws. Taken with Fuji S5500 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 They're good aren't they, I only needed 2 and I'm very chuffed with them. Can be seen at tvnam if anyone is interested. Did you get caught for any extra duty on them Jack? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 From "NJ International", Jack? Cute little alien suckers aren't they? Best, Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Having a "D'oh!!" moment reading this thread... One thing I realise I'm missing on Schiller Point is switchstands... 1 - Are there any for O Scale? 2 - Can I get them within a week? 3 - If not, will people point and laugh at my layout at TVNAM..??!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 No, Dave - no extra duty - Jordan, I see some paper-clip bending in your near future! - Pete, they are NJ International, and came from Dave Brosh in Lowry MN ,about a week door to door - cute little aliens as you say. beautifully cast - more so when you realise they are only 16mm across! Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Jordan, I see some paper-clip bending in your near future! ... Aren't those "paper clip" types a bit too modern, though, or were they around in the 1970s/80s...?? I might have to make a couple of 'dummy' target types, and hope no-one notices they don't turn with the points... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 The HO paperclip ones don't operate either - I wouldn't worry about it. AFAIK the Caboose ground-throws are the only ones that move, and they are way over scale Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Having a "D'oh!!" moment reading this thread... One thing I realise I'm missing on Schiller Point is switchstands... 3 - If not, will people point and laugh at my layout at TVNAM..??!! I didn't notice before you said anything and I probably will have forgotten by next week! Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Jordan - just a thought - could you use the HO Caboose ground throws (much as many users do with the N gauge ones in HO), and replace the "weighted" lever with a bent and Araldited paperclip? - If you are stuck, I might be able to find you some - I could get a couple in the post soonest, as it looks like that is all you need - you could even mount them as is - as dummies - send me your address if it will help Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Don't know if this would be any use? Americanrailroadcentre O switchstand Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longers Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 1 - Are there any for O Scale? 2 - Can I get them within a week? 3 - If not, will people point and laugh at my layout at TVNAM..??!! Answer 1 Yes, I've recently looked into these myself and finally settled on http://www.njinterna...com/oswitch.htm These were a close 2nd https://tomarindustr...com/signals.htm Neither are cheap but like you I dont need that many and they make a huge difference in O Scale seeing as they operate. I recall someone somewhere at a show who made the PSC ones mentioned above work, but it took a lot of effort apparently and was not 100% reliable. If you only want dummy ones they are obviously a bit cheaper from here http://www.grandtlin..._all_scales.htm and http://www.sanjuanca...m/?page_id=1760 If you wanted motors rather than stands, you have http://www.oldpullma...pers_Throws.pdf or http://www.irishtrac.../trackwork.html If you went for either of those you could also have http://www.njinterna...com/o_scale.htm Answer 2 Unlikely if you want to order from the US, but if you go for the PSC ones from the American Railroad Centre you might have time to receive them and install as dummies. But note, when I checked a couple of weeks ago they were out of stock... Answer 3 You are in the fortunate position that your points are about as far away from the viewing position as you can get so the lack of a switchstand might go un-noticed, but now you've asked the question I wouldn't guarantee someone NOT pointing it out Good luck with the decision! Cheers, L'rs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I am flying over from Gotham to Heathrow, getting a rental car, driving up to Staffs., find TVNAM take in my loudhailer and will be announcing the lack of switchstands on Schiller Point. So there! Best, Pete(really....) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 mmmm... yes, thanks, Pete.... I think!! Thanks to everyone for the replys too!! Some useful links to peruse, there! Jack; I have more Caboose Industry ground throws available if needs must; the points are thrown by them anyway, but hidden out of sight not least because if they were in view on the layout they'd be impossible for the Operator to reach!! My concern with the "Bent paperclip" type (covered in MTI I recall?) was the time frame - when were these type of ground throw introduced? Although my road vehicles are not as date-consistent, my locos are from the 1970s/80s Era; I'd have thought more 'traditional' Switch levers would be in use back then? The Precision Scale Co one looks nice but HOW MUCH..??!!?? If I get time I may well have a go at making my own, that look vaguely like that sort of thing. If I don't get time, please form an orderly queue at TVNAM to join in the howling, pointing & derisive hooting at such a basic oversight... according to the floor plan I'm not far from the entrance, you won't miss it.... :laugh: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 I was thinking more of cosmetic CI throws fitted beside the turnouts rather than working ones - decorative only Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 I was thinking more of cosmetic CI throws fitted beside the turnouts rather than working ones - decorative only Yes Jack, I realise that, and I have some I can fit as decorative; I was thinking more in terms of ones that have those 'targets' or red/green indicators (showing my ignorance here!!).... and having the indicators, they really ought to move with the switch, especially in O Scale... Just the presence of switch stands makes a difference though; I'm thinking of Jez's Harrington in particular, where the use of Peco Code 83 track, and cosmetic switch stands really made it stand out for me, even amongst an Exhibition of nothing but US-outline layouts.... Well, chaps, looks like I've found my Last Minute Panic subject!! :laugh: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.