How do you guys do it? And now that you do it one way, do you wish, or plan to, do it a different way?
My benchwork is up, my track is down, and I’m about to order a DCC system. But I can’t decide about switch control. I’ve fooled around with ground throws from Caboose Industries and I like them. But one of the things about DCC that caught my attention was hand held throttle control of the switches. Since DCC elimates control blocks, I don’t want to build a control panel.
I have a 2’ X 14’ HO switching shelf type layout. My two sons and I will be operating 3 engines, pushing single or pairs of cars around. Most, but not all, of the switches are concentrated near the center of the layout, making for some complicated switching.
So, how would you like to do it. The more hands-on ground throws, or switch selection and operation in the palm of your hand? How do you identify each switch on the layout if using DCC operation, how do you mark it so you know which switch to throw?
Hand thrown as much as possible. I use Peco switches almost exclusively because of t heir positive action. Also, since I’m in N, I don’t want the oversized look of the other kinds of ground throws I’ve seen and used before.
Where i do have to use motor drives, I use the Peco motors, and power them by a capacitor discharge unit.
If money were no object, I might well go Tortoise for the joy of seeing those points move more prototypically.
I’ve read where the DCC handheld’s ability to operate switch machines puts the engineer in a position that doesn’t exist in the prototype, that of operating turnouts from the cab! I guess it boils down to how you define your fun. [8D]
If your talking money and time, then hand thrown. If your talking prototypically then it depends on the era and location. You could feasibly have your ctc be a hand held dcc controller. You could control all your switches from a controller not assigned to a loco and do it that way. Since your kids will be running and depeneding on their age it might be easier for them to use hand thrown. It might be easier for them to operate since they won’t have t o remember what code to switch. they can just run up to the switch and move it then keep running. which on a switching layout would be more prototypical.
Andrew
Walk-around DCC control of the trains with CI ground-throws for switches that I can reach. Three small panels on the fascia (Opposite the switches) for motorized switches that I can’t reach and switches on hidden track.
Hand thrown wherever possible ( as long as I can reach them comfortably) and tortoise machines for the few I can’t reach. I built small recessed panels into the fascia in front of the powered turnouts for the control switches.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins
I use hand throws on all except the mainline. Those get Tortoise powered by NCE Switch It decoders. I usually include a local pushbutton on the fascia along with Red and Green LEDs to show turnout position. Very simple and quick to hook it all up.
if its a switching layout the prototype would be all handthrows(low maintainence) with only mainline ans interlocking switches be powered. with kids my son like the switches he can operate by hand. less confusing.
Caboose Industries ground throws where I have room. If I do not have room I use little “toggles” that were mentioned in an article about ground throws in MR that are made from paper clips. These can be a little difficult to make work, but if I don’t have the space, then these are almost the only things that work other than a Tortoise machine or other such under-the-table machines.
Reed
I like to use remote control turnouts for hidden staging tracks, and for junctions and passing sidings that on the PROTOTYPE would have remote control turnouts handled by a CTC operator or dispatcher. Those are mostly on heavy mainlines.
I grew up with my bedroom about 100 feet from a remotely controlled turnout on the Houston Belt and Terminal. It controlled a track that made one leg of a wye at a junction.
But that situation was an exception.
Most industry spur turnouts are hand-throw. Most flat-yard switching too. Train stops (or at least slows down), switchman hops off and goes to throw turnout. On the model rr layout, that might mean moving from or at least looking away from the throttle to turn attention to the turnout throw. Might take a few seconds. But it is an interruption that happens on the real railroad. So it is appropriate and adds to the fun.
I am using non-automatic turnouts most of the time from now on, and where I have old “snap-switch” Atlas automatic turnouts that have a little tab where they can be turned manually, I turn them manually if they are within 18" of my aisle, even though I could use the electric “snap”.
I thought sure we were going to have a Switchmaster/Tortoise arguement on our hands. Amazing how many of us (myself included) use ground throws.
If you’re modeling a prototype, the decision is somewhat made for you. If the segment you model is CTC, then all mainline switches and such will be controlled by your dispatcher on a single panel. Same if you have an automated yard. I have a branch line, so it’s individual turnout control for me, and I prefer ground throws to local switch machine control. Plus, I can easily reach all my turnouts, and see their orientation, so I didn’t feel the need for switch machines.
I think the DCC feature is cool, but I won’t need it with my ground throws. Maybe someday I’ll interface it with a dispatcher’s panel or computer screen.
I do what the RR’s do. Powered Mainline switches and hand throws for everything else. Powering toggles (blocks and switches) are fascia mounted along the right-of-way. I’m the Engineer,Switchman, Gandy-Dancer, as well as Purchasing agent…
EXCEPTION: I am using some Caboose hand throws with SPDT contacts to power switch motors. The ground throw is top mounted alongside the turnout and wired for multiple switches to throw at the same time. Example: in Passenger Station crossovers, or yard routing .
In ALL cases, I’d follow Antonio’s advice and power any and all turnouts that are not easily reached.
Hand-thrown, using Peco switches. My switches are mostly in the street so instead of switch stands I carry a plastic skewer (intended for opening Kadee couplers) to poke into the switch to move it one way or the other–the skewer acts as my “virtual brakeman”!
I think that all the switches on my mainline are machine; 2 are tortoises and the rest are twin coil. I have one station that is all machines; another is all hand throws. The big station is in an intermediate state, with machines to be installed as finances permit.
After operating other layouts I’ll say: make sure that crossovers have the same type of control for both switches. Don’t mix Tortoises and solenoids randomly.
I model early 1950’s and use North Coast DCC. My main line switches have tortoise machines controlled through Switch-It stationary decoders. I throw them with either the handheld controller, or with my JMRI ‘CTC’ panel. Yard and industry tracks are hand throw with either Peco C75 or Walthers C83 (with CI ground throws).
I have about 25 turnouts on my layout, all powered by Tortoise machines. Since I have DCC (Digitrax), I control them with a combination of Digitrax DS54 stationary decoders and Team Digital SRC8’s. Individual turnouts or routes can be thrown from any of the DCC throttles, or from the Dispatcher’s Panel that I created on the “Train 'Puter” using the open source (free) JMRI Panel Pro software (http://jmri.sourceforge.net/index.html) that CSHARP mentioned. Future plans call for the addition of small control panels around the layout, when the fascia is done, giving me a third option.
