Switch Hardware

So here's a little more on the switch hardware, what I know and what I don't.

It started with this photo by Jim Karl, in August 1949. 

One of the things that jumped out at me, pretty much from the beginning, is the track and switch hardware, and the trackwork itself. Part of this probably has to do with how much track, and how few trains you see nowadays railfanning. But it's also in the forefront of photos like this, just as model trackwork often is in layout photos.

Later on, we came across this slide from moments earlier.

What's front and center is the switch hardware for two crossovers.

We can clearly see the small signal box (with the rounded cover) in front of the rear switch stand, along with the junction box where the signal line goes underground. On the front ties is the rodding that uses a crank and a connecting rod that is as large as the connecting rod from the switch stand itself. When you zoom in on the first picture (I need a better scan, but you can see it on the original), there is a small curved metal connection at a right angle at the end of the point closest to the signal box. This is where that connecting rod is attached to the points, and is much smaller than the connecting rod from the switch stand and the rod that runs along the tracks. Just to the right of the switch stands, on the adjacent track, is a small cylinder with wires apparently welded to the tracks. Part of a signal circuit? The crossing gates at this time were still controlled manually so it couldn't have been for those.

The following picture shows the rodding coming from a signal box on another switch at an unknown location on the New Haven. It's much smaller, and you can also see the strap steel brace that keeps the two ties in alignment (this is also visible on the first picture, next to the signal box that is on the left side of the tracks since the switch rodding is taking up too much space on the right side.

I will also note that the rodding that runs alongside the track is only on the crossover that connects the Berlin Line to the Highland Line. None of the other crossovers have them. At this point I'm not entirely sure what they are for, but I do expect that I can model their appearance.

Although Alexander Models has a signal box, it's the wrong one. Details West has a switch stand set that has the signal box (SS-914, although I think SS-915 also has the details). For the switch stands themselves, the Rapido ones are a no-brainer for me because they were modeled after the New Haven switch stands, starting with the tall stand that's in Bill Schneider's front yard.

For the point rodding, the British modelers seem to have an edge. Here's a great page with more detail. Here's another using Model Signal Engineering parts. Here's an excellent post about using the Wills (Peco) rodding.

For those who enjoy fiddling, here's an installation in 4mm (slightly larger than HO at 3.5mm) with functioning rodding. It doesn't actually throw the turnout, but moves when the points are moved, which is the approach I'll take if I decide to make it "operational." Check out the video at the bottom of his page.

You can find the brass etched details at Brassmasters and the Wills (Peco) point rodding kit is a popular non-working plastic option, available at Model Railways Direct or via Walthers. There is also an extension kit.

C&L Finescale has working point rodding for 7mm (O) scale.

For other track details, I've been using a mix of parts from the Microengineering turnouts themselves, joint bars from Precision Design Company and Proto87 Stores.

I have the Proto87 stores tieplates and spikes as well, for scenic elements. You'll want to click on this to see a larger version to find them...

I-2 #1300 at the station

So, I had a great time at the Springfield show, and had somebody stop by to tell me they enjoy my "occasional" blog. So I figured I ought to actually post something. And no, I don't intend this to be a one-time thing!

I have actually gotten a few things done in the basement, and have a few projects in the works. Actually, when I think about it, there is probably quite a bit to report on. So I'll get to that shortly. In the meantime, here's a classic Kent Cochrane photo.

This shot of I-2 class #1300 with an 8-car racing special is facing eastbound on an unknown date c1946/7. Note the large wrench leaning against the line pole. I still need to pick one up. The shot offers a pretty good view of Siderowf Paper Company in the background.

The baggage car is being loaded with (storage) mail and will go to Hartford on Train #463.

Also of note is an ATSF Bx-11 box car, #124518. The original Bx-11 box cars had radial roofs, but this is clearly a peaked roof.  From 1941 to 1944 they were being rebuilt with Murphy roofs, many raised by a foot which is quite obvious as seen in a photo on the Proto48 Modeler site. This car received a more modest 6" increase in height. A Westerfield #4600-series kit will be my starting point for this, with a new roof.

Other details are the speed limit sign (we see the back) and just in front of that is the back of the ring post, similar to a whistle post but with an "R" instead of a "W."

The rodding that parallels the track in the foreground runs under the track just in front of the locomotive and continues alongside it to the switch mechanism. I don't have a good picture of the end roughly where Kent would have been standing. My assumption is that it is some sort of locking or switching mechanism for the crossover, since Kent is standing on what is the Berlin Line, and the locomotive is on the eastbound main, Track #2. There is no evidence, nor any notation on the valuation maps that there is a derail here. I don't know if a hand-thrown crossover could use rodding to throw the other end of the crossover, but I suspect not. To start with, it would have to actuate the hand throw at the other end. Instead, I suspect it was a locking mechanism since throwing this crossover fouls the mainline. However, if there were locks at both ends, then I'm not sure exactly how that would work either. Perhaps somebody can shed some light on this?

Working with MicroEngineering Turnouts

A recent post on the Canadian Model Trains post asked about curving commercial turnouts. I can only comment on using MicroEngineering turnouts because that's all I have on my layout.

MicroEngineering turnouts specifically note that this is possible in their instructions. Here's how I've been using them, with some additional modifications.

Unfortunately the turnouts are all installed, so I can't show you the the underside of the webbing, etc, but here's the basic process.

1. Curve toward the diverging route. This will make the radius on the diverging route sharper. ME only manufactures #6 turnouts. You can curve it the other way, which makes more of a wye than a curved turnout and doesn't work quite as well.

2. Leave the areas through both the hinged points and the frog straight (it works better and is prototypical). In other words, only curve the section between the frog and hinge, and the portion beyond the frog.

3. Cut the webbing on the outer rail of the curve, along with the inner tracks, leaving the webbing intact on the inner rail only. I cut the webbing between every other tie. You can do all of them, but the more you curve the turnout, the more of a gap you'll get between the diverging rail and frog.

In addition, I make a few other modifications. First I try to eliminate the short sections of rail just past the frog.

To do this slide the short pieces of rail out of the turnout. Then remove the ties from the next piece of track, and cut the main rail short enough to allow the other rail to reach all the way to the frog (leaving a gap of course to avoid a short). This eliminates a joint and the need to solder a feeder to this small section of rail. 

Notice that the short pieces of rail to the inner tracks left of the frog have been eliminated.

Where needed, you can nest the next turnout up to the frog. 

1. Prep the first turnout by removing the small piece of rail after the frog on the appropriate route.

2. Measure the outer rail on that route to determine the correct length. Using track cutters, press the rail very hard against the ties on either side of your cut, and cut the rail to length. This will prevent it from lifting the rail when you cut it, which will at best mean that you have to figure out how to reassemble the turnout, at worst it will break off all of the scale spike heads that hold the rail in place and you'll need a new turnout.

3. Cut out all except the last two ties behind the frog.

4. On the second turnout, remove the first two ties, then slide the rail into the last two ties on the first turnout. Solder the outer rail to strengthen the turnout and maintain electrical continuity. 

Here's an example:

The points of the middle turnout is much closer to the frog than the points of the turnout on the left.

Using this same technique, you can create crossovers. The length of the turnout beyond the frog places the track centers at about 2". This is less than many people use, but more prototypical (still too wide). So if you're going to use this approach it's best to work it into your layout plan from the start.

In this case, you'll leave half of the ties on the diverging route on each turnout so you can slide the outer rail from each turnout into the frog on the other turnout. You'll also need to shorten the ties between the two turnouts, some all the way to the edge of the tie plate to clear each other. 

I don't worry about the gaps between the middle of the ties. I fix that while ballasting.

Crossover.

Note that the middle two turnouts are also nested end-to-end, eliminating the short sections of rail.

The outer two turnouts are not nested, and those sections of rail remain.

And here are two nested back to back with a handlaid diamond crossing.

Still have a few ties to add.

You might be able to tell that some of the wing rails is an experiment in using CMVW plastic ones from their turnout kits.

A prototype for everything...

Due to a recent comment on the Steam Era Freight Cars list...

This is a picture taken from the May-June 1948 Along The Line magazine published by the New Haven Railroad.

Rusty Bumper and Oil Spill

Works in progress...