I’m building a new N layout and using WS risers and inclines for the first time. Most of my turnouts/track will be Peco and I’m testing both Peco and Blue Point machines for controlling turnouts. My question is in regards to mounting and having access to the machines. Do I mount the machines to the base plywood (which will be 2-3" below track level in most cases) and use extended throw rods, or mount them directly under the track but I’m afraid they would end up being sealed into the scenery and thus difficult to reach in case of problems, or to saw access holes in the base ply to access them?
Looking at the stack of subfloor, it would be (bottom up): l-girder and 1/4" ply with 1/2" foam board forming the base level, with track on 1" up to 4" risers and foam roadbed. Total size of layout is 6’ x 9’ u shaped.
Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.
What I would do is use a torsion tube arrangement. This is one of the oldest methods around. You put a brass tube in going from the turnout down to the bottom of the benchwork. In that tube you run a piece of music wire with a square U bend in it on the turnout end. The tube is the pivot and should be a couple of ties away from the throw bar of the turnout. The long end of the U goes in the tube, and the short end of the U goes in to the throw bar and should not go below the throw bar at the bottom. Once the wire is in the tube and in the throw bar, bend the bottom of the wire 90 degrees so it won’t come out of the throw bar at the top. You will then have to make a link between the switch machine and the bent wire at the bottom of the layout.
There are a couple of variations on this method, including using a tube within a tube. Do some research and Internet searching and you should be able to find some photos. This method has been written about and shown in the Model Railroad mags every few years or so.
Peco machines are designed for Peco turnouts. They are best mounted directly to the underside of the turnout. Peco’s take more of a kick than other twin-coil machines like Atlas, so they should be driven with a capacitive discharge (CD) circuit. Besides the bigger kick, a CD circuit also protects the switch machine from burnout if the toggle control sticks.
I’d suggest mounting them as designed. In all likelihood, they will never cause any trouble if installed correctly. Don’t use a lot of glue attaching the turnouts, so if you ever do have to remove them it won’t be that big a deal.