I’ve reached the stage where switch machines are about to go in. Layout has 23 turnouts. I have 16 Atlas (#65) switch machines the rest are goin’ to be Caboose Hobby #206-S manuals. Here’s my question…would any of you “dump” the #65’s and only use them on the un-reachables…or would you agree with my original plan?
Thanx
Use the Caboose Industries ground throws on everything that can be reached by hand, to avoid the hassle of having to wire those Atlas switch machines.
Personally, I never use an Atlas switch machine – I have no experience with the ones you are planning to use, but don’t like any type of solenoid machine.
The #65’s are the under-table Atlas machines.
I guess a lot depends on how you will be operating your layout, and whether you will be including signalling or position indicator lights. If you will always be within a few feet of the train you’re running, then manual throws are fine. If you like to sit in one place, then you will need remotes.
If you use Atlas #65’s, then you MUST throw them electrically. Pushing the points over by hand will not work. Unlike the Atlas surface-mounts, there is no way to activate them manually, since they are below-table. Also, these have short pins, so you can’t mount them below the table if you are using 2-inch foam.
Hard to answer, since we don’t really know what your original plan is, other than to power some turnouts and not power others. What’s your rationale for which will be remotely operated and which will have ground throws?
For example, if you’re simulating a heavy-use mainline, turnouts off of it on a prototype would be remotely controlled via CTC. So you may want to emulate that and have your mainline turnouts remotely controlled (some folks go so far as to construct a realistic CTC board for their layouts), with easily reached non-mainline turnouts controlled via ground throws.
Personally, I prefer the ground throws for turnout control for all accessible turnouts - it gives me a more “railroady” feel when I run trains (although sometimes I do miss being able to just a flip a switch and throw the turnout).
It really is a matter of personal preference tempered by practicality (making sure you can reach a ground throw).
But if you will explain your plan in more detail, it will help improve the suggestions you’ll get.
I think ground throws look neat, but I don’t use them. My goal is ‘hands-off’. To me, there is no difference in a huge hand reaching down between the tracks to throw a switch and the same hand reaching down to uncouple cars. If I wanted to do that, why did I spend so much converting to Micro-Trains couplers?
My ideal of this would be for the ground throw to operate with the turnout by hidden switch machines. Hard to do in N scale!
Darrell, quiet…for now
[:)] Thanks all who have answered…you given me food for thought since this is my first foray into the world of modelling. Here’s a link to my first pics of the Spindler’s Ridge layout…so far is all original on my part. Based “loosely” on the CSX in West Virginia
http://photobucket.com/albums/b371/waahuu/
Funny you should mention that - on my layout, a giant hand with a giant uncoupling tool reaches down from the sky at vaious times…[:o)]
I use switch motors almost everywhere. I don’t want hands reaching into the scene except to use uncoupling picks…I also think the ground throws look bad…very out of scale. I use the ground throws as an intermediary step before I install motors so I can run trains…They may stay on certain turnouts for years.