I’ve been reading through the forum for almost a year now and I’m gaining a massive amount of knowledge. I’m starting back into the hobby after a lengthy time away. I’ve been starting with various modules while I experiment with different techniques (as the last layout I had was almost 20 years ago as a kid). My question today (as I’m sure I’ll have many more) deals with turnouts and adding either a switch stand or a ground throw.
I’m primarily using Atlas code 100 turnouts (#4 to #8). I’m going to have most of my turnouts use manual power with only a few hard to reach ones attached to switch machines.
I’m curious as to what most use or prefer, either a ground throw (looking at Caboose Industries Ground Throw Sprung) or adding a switch stand? Also looking at the ground throw pictures online (at my closest hobby store), will the Caboose Industries Ground Throw attach to the Atlas turnouts out of the package as it appears they won’t without some type of modification.
Mounting a Caboose Industries ground throw to an Atlas turnout will require modificaiton of the Atlas throw bar. Your best course of action would be to purchase a sprung ground throw so you know exactly what one looks like and how it operates.
Caboose Industries also makes a high level operating switch stand. The sprung model is 204S. They also come with several styles of linkage one of which will fit the Atlas throwbar without modification.
Thes work very well but they are a bit more delicate and prone to breakage than the ground throws. It isn’t that they are not well made. It is us clumsy operators that fail to reach high enough or around them, breaking them with our hands, arms, sleeves, etc. I plan on using some but only when there are not a lot of turnouts in a small area.
I had eight of the 204S high level switch stands in my passenger station but finally removed them. They require a lot of assembly, they are delicate, and they are prone to failure. Besides, the details are so small as to be almost undectectable unless you have your eyes within about 12 inches of the switch stand.
I have about 5 of them as well (ground throw, sprung) and they went on without any modification: just use the correct tip. They are not very prototypical (too big), but they are very strong. I highly recommend using them As anything close to photo will be super delicate.
I used to be a big fan of Caboose Industries manual ground throws, particularly the 202S for HO scale turnouts. But, alas, my love affair with these ground throws has all but ended, although I still have a lot of them on my layout.
Yes, they are oversized in scale, but they also don’t have enough range of travel in my experience. You have to place them just right to get them to fit snug against both stock rails, depending upon which way the throwbar is flipped. And, it can be somewhat of a struggle to secure them to the layout. I use track nails, others may screw them down or use caulk to hold them in place. Not easy because they are relatively small.
Bob, that’s a great idea. But, at least so far, I have been too lazy to implement it.
Rich, I have had no troubles like you describe. Yes, they are larger than scale and not prototypical but I have never had any trouble with any of mine. I find they have plenty of “throw” keepint the points on the appropriate rail. I use track nails to secure mine to the Homosote, starting them with needlenose pliers and finishing with a nail set.
Speaking of nail sets (yes, a little off topic) I cannot see how any model railroader can live without one. The dimple in the end of the one I have fits over the heads of Atlas track nails perfectly–no slipping off as I set nails. If you use track nails for anything, try using the correct sized nail set.
Roger, for the turnouts where I use Caboose Industries’ groundthrows I’ve never had trouble getting them to operate properly either. I use model 218S types and also find that they have more than adequate throw and are easy to position. After drilling out the base, I also use Atlas track nails to secure them through my vinylbed roadbed to the underlying plywood, with the aid of a nail set for the final few blows. I guess great minds think alike. Lol.
I use mostly the 202S and 206S ones, with a couple of 220S models where needed. All, including the 206S, which are meant for N scale, work well with Atlas, and Walthers/Shinohara HO scale turnouts.
The only modification to use them with Atlas code 83 turnouts is to remove the raised nub from near the end of the Atlas throwbar, although the code 100 turnouts may have a different arrangement.
I have about 50 Caboose Industry ground throws and they work fine. I use the rigid type in HO with Atlas code 83 turnouts. I recently picked up a couple of N Scale rigid throws to see if they would work as well in HO. They seem fine and are smaller so less obvious. Does anyone else have experience using the N Scale throws in HO? Before I swap them out, I’d like to know if I am in for trouble down the road.
Lefty, I use only HO scale manual ground throws on my layout, but there are members of this forum who use the N scale version on their HO layouts since the N scale ground throws are smaller and closer to scale.