Are These Points Welded To The Stock Rails ?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I initially posted this question on the Classic Trains forum, but I got few views and no replies, so i though that I would try here.In the Winter Issue of Classic Trains magazine, there is a photo on page 42.

That photo shows two right hand turnouts, back to back, just to the left of the 2-8-2 engine.

Some of the points seem welded to the stock rails. How do the engines avoid derailments?

Is the photo just not completely clear. The points must be moveable.

Rich

2

Without the picture it is hard to answer. But do the points seem welded to the stock rail, or to the closure rails?

3

I have looked at the photo to see if I can see what you see. I can’t even see two right hand turnouts back to back, as you describe them. Among all the turnouts I can see, and especially their points rails, I see nothing to suggest any of them might be ‘welded’ to their stock rails.

If you mean the two turnouts with facing points that are to the right of the Mike (you said left…?), I can see two throwbars operating the points and two tower switchstands between the pair of points and the engine.

Crandell

4

Crandell,

Excuse my poor terminology. Yes, the two turnouts with facing points and two tower switchstands. In the magazine, they are to the left of the engine in the bottom left portion of the photo. I am sure that they are movable, but at least in my copy of the magazine, there appears to be no separation between the points and the rails that the points are up against (whatever you call them).

Rich

5

There should be no separation between the point and the stock rail on either switch, so I assume you are looking for a line delineating one from the other. The problem is the resolution of the photo doesn’t reveal that level of detail. And of course the fact that it is printed in a magazine fuzzes the details even more. You can be sure the points are not welded, otherwise why are there switchstands?

6

Rich, I posted a reply earlier this afternoon, but it doesn’t appear here. I understand you better now. I believe the problem is one of distance, angle, perhaps the resolution of the lens, and definition in the image. They are certainly mobile points, but they are clearly well machined and adjusted so that they do a very good job of guiding the flanges.

Crandell

7

Thanks everyone for your replies. I guess it was the quality of the photo, or maybe I should say, the lack of quality.