A while back there was an article on using bent wire to become spring like , to throw turnouts with your finger, does anyone remember this? does anyone use it and would it work using 2" foam as layout base?
Yes, I remember it. A friend uses it on a small HO layout and is quite happy with it. I tried it and didn’t like it and went back to ground throws.
It should work on foam if you put the wire in a brass or plastic tube. That way the wire won’t enlarge the hole in the foam.
The wire should be “music” wire or similar very hard steel.
It should be completely self contained within the structure of your turnout. It can be laid on ties next to the turnout, or in the center of the turnout.
The concept here, is that the wire wants to be straight, but is forced to bow when the points are not thrown one direction or the other, and is bowed less when the points are all the way one way or the other. Both ends of the wire should be constrained, one end moves with the points, but is not allowed to straighten out.
check out this site for some ready made throws, I plan to use them in my yard.
www.humpyard.com
bill
how does this throw work without causing a short?
thanks
Kevin
This is how it looks. I used music wire(I can’t remember the exact diameter). I have done
a few of my turnouts this way. It works great for those turnouts that are within arms reach.
You have to make sure that the wire has tension on it. Good luck, Dave
Click for a close up.
Dumb Question? How does it work? Is the principal that you HAND move the switch off center and it “SPRINGS” to the deired route? We had spring switches in the old days on reverse loops, you went in then on the way out the switch would SPRING over to that route, whent in again and the process was repeated. Same Idea?
George,
It works like the Peco turnouts, a flick of the finger springs the points to one
side or the other. The wire has tension on it and holds the points firmly
against the rails. Dave
…and because it fits into a hole in a tie at one end and a hole in the throwbar at the other this means:
- there is no short
- foam or plywood it doesn’t matter
I tried it and it worked OK except: - took a bit of fiddling to get the length exactly right: too long and it’s too hard to switch, too short and there is not enough spring pressure
- I use powered frogs so i needed an electrical switch. You can use a microswitch under the roadbed detecting the throwbar movement, but I chose to go to a slide switch which gives both the electrical contacts and the mechanical locking action