Missing from available track are gantlet (gauntlet ) switches and scale platform tracks.I think that both items would add a new dimension to operation.A scale track could be made into a working model of a facility common to most terminals.A gantlet (gauntlet) switch would add to the improvement of operations on all size layouts.What do you think?Armprem
Yes, scale tracks need to be made by a manufacturer. For as common and important as they were on railroads, you think someone would produce a REALISTIC track scale. There are bridge tracks, triple diversion switches, but you still have to handlay if you want a scale track. (Since I model the midwest they are pretty important since grain elevators usually had one nearby.) BTW, what’s a gauntlet switch?
Gantlet tracks are where two sets of track overlap (track 1 left rail, track 2 left rail, track 1 right rail, track 2 right rail) to make it through a narrow space or bridge. I don’t think that the single rail crossovers at each end would be considered a switch though.
This might be a gantlet switch though - it does fit into the original posters passenger station thing:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/21407479/21408446TYxdWWDXor
Yes, actually a gauntlet track is more like a crossing diamond, than a turnout. Nothing moves and a train can’t move from one track to the other. It may be spelled both ways, however, I have seen it gauntlet, more than gantlet.
Gantlet: Turnouts can be modified for each end of the gantlet section - Start by removing the points. The overlaping lines between could be made by adding two properly guaged rails to flex track, or even sectional track.
Scale: Use modifed turnout, remove the frog
When I started model ralroading, there was a company that advertised gauntlet and stub and other switches, and I puzzled over them for years.
I heard that some places there were sort of gauntlet switches where the points were on one side of a road and the frog on the other, and the tracks in the middle ran parallel. This kept the parts that requires maintenance out of the roadway.
Here: this explains it much better and with pictures as well:
http://lios.apana.org/~craigd/ppt_faq/faq2.html
http://ransford.org/images/2003/gantlet.jpg
There’s other sites with information on them, i’ve seen it, just not finding it this morning.
There’s also special signals used with Gantlets to prove if an engineer ran the stop (can’t find a pic of them this morning as they’re also ion the sight i saw before)
Jay