What is a double slip switch and when and where would it be used on the layout?
JaRRell
I’m gonna go look it up, but I know in the prtotype they were very rarely used, my book has a reference to them, I just have to find it first.
This is a turnout where it is possible to pass a train from either direction onto the double track coming or going from either direction. I’m afraid I do not know how it is wired for DC. Perhaps you could use this in front of a yard for example. I would like to use this double slip to re-direct my train direction but I do not know how to wire it. Peco sell this double switch in HO.
from: “basic trackwork for model railroaders”
“Slip switches are part crossing and part turnout. On real railroads slip switches are often used in yards and other areas where space is at a premium”. Single slip switches allow operation around one leg of the crossing, while double-slip switches allow trains to pass around two legs of the crossing. Slip Switches require slow-speed operation, so in open areas where high speed operation is needed, railroads would use a combination of a crossing and turnouts with broader angles."
bostonsrock, you are right. I made one once and the wireing was simple but very complex, lots of soldering. You can now buy them from Walthers. I will have one again, but they are very difficult to keep operational. and hard to put in. They fit nice in complicated yards. MR Mag has had some great pics over the years. Learn about them, but don’t start with one. Add it later when your yard is as big as you want it and getting boring.
I have 2 double slip switches on my layout. One on main line one in yard. They are both Peco and I have no problems with them. When used to cross over run at main line speed, when changing tracks sloooooowwwww and easy but no problem (prototipical). They solved space problems for me and they are cool when zig zaging.
We have two Peco double-slip switches on the Cochise & Western Model Railroad Club’s layout and have had no problems at all with them. No special wiring was required, either, because they are fully insulated. One is on the mainline where trains go through at full throttle and we have never had a derailment on them.
A double slip switch is a crossing with sets of points on each leg which allow a train to enter on any leg and exit by either of the opposite legs.
If you take a “double crossover” or scissor crossover and compress it down to where it is minimum size you get a double slip switch.
They were used in dense terminal trackage on multiple tracks where you had to have the maximum route flexibility. In N America they were most commonly found on the approaches to major passenger terminals.
Dave H.
Jarrell, take a look at this topic from almost exactly a year ago. It was a great discussion.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19576
looks like a loooong crossover with switch points to move to the other leg.
I hand build them.
Wow, that’s some pretty wild track work. Is that under construction or distruction? I wish I could enlarge that picture.
There are a lot of double slip switches on the tracks approaching Toronto Union Station. There are two parallel tracks crossing over all the approach tracks and platform tracks each way (i.e. left to right and right to left) and most of the switches are double slips. Where the crossing tracks cross each other, there are scissors crossovers (double crossovers) where all four turnouts are double slips.
When layouts are modernized (simplified) double slips are replaced by 2 turnouts points to points.
Anybody wonder why switching crews called them “puzzle switches”? [swg]
Chuck
Double Slip Switches
ESSENTIALLY 2 ‘Y’ turnout’s back to back - but shorter.
Primary usage: Passenger termial yard 'throat’s.
Primary problem: Derailment’s.