I have Code 100 Peco Turnouts and am looking for operating manual ground throws. My layout is current - ie: 1990’s.
Which ones look and operate best with Peco Code 100?
I suppose the simple answer is Caboose Industries.
Some HO users prefer the N-scale ones, because they’re closer to scale for HO.
You don’t need ground throws at all for Peco turnouts, though. They have that built-in spring that holds the points against the stock rails.
Yes - the only reason for them is really aesthetics, not operation. Good question - how many people use them and how many just leave Peco turnouts as is?
Agree with Caboose Industries. Here’s their site.
I leave my Pecos alone (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it). I use Caboose Industries ground thows on everything else. I don’t use them for esthetics because actually they’re way oversize, but they sure do work good. If you want better esthetics you could use the N scale ground throws, they are however more finikey to install. You could however use some non-operating scale ground throws and targets planted next to the Pecos.
Good idea. Anyone have any pics of that?
Two pieces of advice yes the N scale caboose ground throws are closer to scale but a lot harder to operate then the HO versions. First off for them to operated correctly you need to remove that spring from the Peco turnout. Secondly go get your self some of the wooden skewers to flip the lever on the ground throw it will make matters much easier. DO NOT! use metal ones like one of the guys did at one of the operating groups I belong to. his metal skewer hit the rails causing a short halting operations and making a whole bunch of old farts really angry. Trust me when I tell you it’s not a pretty sight to be in a basement full of cranky old men.
If your not using them to operate your turnouts NJ International makes some nice ones.
http://www.njinternational.com/hoswitch.htm
Central Vally makes some cheaper switch stands.
http://www.cvmw.com/1600/1604.htm
Thanks all. I’m leaning to leaving the Peco Turnouts as is since they work so well and maybe just putting non-operational throws for looks. It seems the best option for me.
I’ve been known to “roll my own”:
Wolfgang Dudler has provided us with this really good photo essay on using Details West switch stands and connecting them to Peco turnouts so that they actually rotate when the turnout is thrown.
http://www.westportterminal.de/switchstands.html
I’ve just ordered an assortment of switch stands from my LHS. Rix Products makes one that claims to do what Wolfgang did, but without any special modifications. I’ve also ordered from Central Valley. I’ll keep you posted with the results of my comparative study.
Awesome! Thanks for posting!
Thinking about it, I’m a bit wary of applying Wolfgang’s technique to manually-thrown Pecos. His video shows the switch stands with a slow-motion machine, probably a Tortoise. With the spring, the Peco is going to snap over, rather than move smoothly, and that might be too much of a jolt for reliable operation. It’s not as jolting as a twin-coil machine would be, though, so there is hope that it might work.
Now you’ve got me intrigued. I have always used only Atlas snap switches on my past layout. My expansion calls for 26 new #6s which I will probably use the Atlas motors with to match my existing control panel and because manual throws would be a chore to “scoot” back and forth to throw.
What do you mean you leave the Pecos alone? (I’m out in the sticks here, and have only ever ordered parts by mail and never seen any turnouts other than those I order).
Peco turnouts have a built in spring so you can move the points with “whatever” an they will snap from side to side.
If you use ground throws or slow motion motors (like the Tortoise) then you have to remove the spring in the Peco turnouts, the points will then operate smoothly, just like any other turnout. The spring is only for direct manual operation or Peco’s own twin-coil machine.
I use Peco turnout and Caboose industries ground throws in all areas that I can reach easily. Motors power the ones that I can’t reach. I tried Caboose Industries ground throws that look more like a switch stand but found that they broke or the gear wore out on them. In places where I can reach and don’t want or can’t use a Caboose Industries ground throw I will be leaving the Pecos bare and use a skewer to throw them. These turnouts will eventually get dummy switch stands.
Roy
Surprise! We cranky old fart men get that way because of young pups who think they know it all, and proceed to demonstrate that they don’t.
Bob
Bob speaks the truth.
I’m an old guy at work, in a business dominated by young software engineers. In a software review meeting a while back, I pointed out a number of errors that the author had made. Someone asked, “How do you find stuff like that?” My answer was simple. “Any mistake I find is one I’ve made myself many times before. All I’ve got is a good memory.”
iv had a problem with using the caboose industrie ground throws in n scale they just look to big and well …fake i guess nayway i use non operating ones and tortoise switch machines