I am just at the track laying stage of my first “big” layout (15 x 24). I have a lot of walthers turnouts to put in, and I have bought Caboose ground throws for them (5202s). I have seen some people remove the long ties and just have piano wire going between the throw and switch. Can these ties be taken off and turned around to go out the other way if there is not enough room for the long ties and ground throws between two tracks? Should I just cut off the long ties and have only piano wire between the throw and switch? This noobee needs advice and photo’s if ya got’em. Also on the Walthers turnouts there is a bump on the top of the throwbar. Should I shave this off to attach the manual groundthrow? As always thanks.
you should be able to remove the “throw” tie and reverse it. also scratchbuilding is the norm …so what ever you have to do is ok. but if your placement of turnouts is that tight maybe you need to rethink your plan… when your attempting operation will it be user friendly??? you dont say how the tracks are to be laid …“…between two tracks?” but remember you may have to use the 5 finger crane to retrieve a car so leave room.
I’ve got a photograph somewhere in my slides of a double-track location where one of the tracks was so close to a concrete retaining wall that the switchstand for a facing-point left-hand switch had to be located completely over beyond the adjacent track.
Funny you should come along with this because I actually thought of doing this. I was even going to pose the question on the forum. (think and you will receive).[:)]