Manual "scale" switch stands available?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I would like to manually “throw” my turnouts, but like the look of near scale switch stands. Is there anyone who makes nice looking switch stands in HO scale that can be turned to control the turnout by ones fingers?

I have some Caboose throws, which of course are made to be handled, so they are oversize. Should I stick with these?

Mike

2

Mike

NJ International has all brass switch stands that operate.

http://www.njinternational.com/hoswitch.htm

These are HO scale.

Pete

3

How little are your fingers? This is an age old question, but the answer remains the same. it is difficult to make something like that scale size and have it strong enough and easy to operate.

My advice is to decide which is more important, throwing by hand or scale appearance.

I use sub mini slide switched mounted in the roadbed next to the throw bar. They may not look like switch stands, but are small, rugged and have electrical contacts. I came up with the idea because I needed a manual ground throw with contacts that would fit between 2" track centers.

Sheldon

4

M Sharp,

can you post a picture of your Caboose Industries switch stands? I am also looking for a solution to this questions. All I have seen of CI´s switch stand is their own picture on the web page, so I have no idea, how much “oversized” they actually are.

Does anyone have any experience with the NJInternational switch stands?

5

There are a couple of the Caboose Industries switch stands visible in this picture. Some folks have commented on them, but I’m so used to seeing them that I’m no longer aware of them being out-of-scale. [swg]

Wayne

6

Wayne,

thanks for posting this great picture. I think the ground throws are quite ok, but how about CI´s tall switch stands?

7

Sorry, I’ve used only their ground throws.

Wayne

8

I’ve made my switch stands **movable **with my under the layout push-pull-device.

Wolfgang

9

Thanks Pete for the link. Those stands look good, and their signals, etc. are nice as well. Wayne, thanks for the photo of the Caboose Ind. throws. I have yet to install mine, so a photo was not forthcoming form me. Wolfgang, I have admired your videos for some time. Excellent work. I may try using your method of controling turnouts. It looks like something I could “handle”.

If anyone has more ideas/photos, keep them comiing.

Mike

10

Ulrich

The NJ International units work as fine as they look - I’m using them in N; they probably look even better in HO. They have a short throw, but it’s ample for what’s needed.

Robert

11

Thanks Robert.

Mike

12

Thanks, Robert - they do look much better than the ones from Caboose Industries. Can I use them with Atlas turnouts, i.e. do they press the points strong enough to the rail? May be a “dumb” question, but the guy in my LHS stocks only European equipment and thus cannot answer question like this one.