Control panels, how do you control switches? (Pics)

Great looking panels. I especially like the 1st. picture. Must be that name in the center of the panel. (LOL)

Except for three locations, all my turnouts are manual. Thus the operator must throw his own Caboose Hobbies ground throws, in order to properly align the turnouts. Since my whole layout is command control only, the operators must "walk around" with the locomotive/train if they desire to do any switching. 

I dispensed with electronic modules and changed over to direct toggle control from a fixed location. Very simplistic schematic panel of toggles operating 17 Tortoise motored turnouts. One glance at the panel and toggle handle tells me the orientation of a turnout I am throwing.

Fancy huh?

Spence - Thanks.  I'm calling my upper level my Milwaukee Road branch line.  That's what served my home town of Spencer, Iowa.

Jack - The Caboose Industries ground throws do work very nicely.  They are made by the way in Lena, IL where the train show is this weekend.  I was torn between going this way or with my control panels that represent centralized control like the real railroads have done in many instances.  I really like having tower operators that control all the switches in their district.  It adds a busy, fun job on operating sessions in my opinion.

Art

I have seen Art's control panels and they function as well as they look.

Art...your control panels are beautiful!!  As far as my layout, I have over 100 turnouts and currently all of them are manual.  I did this on purpose since I like to follow the train and will be near the switch anyway.  I designed the layout so that the switches can be reached either by hand or by what I call "the stick".  There are two switches that I am going to power however since they require too much of a stretch.

Alan

I'm in the planning stages for my layout and am very interested to see others control panels.  I'm going old school conventional and would love to see other's designs for inspiration.  I would particularly like to see panels that can quick disconnect from the layout.

-rog 

Dewey - They sure look good to me.

Brian - Thanks, you remind that it's past time for an operating session.

Alan - Thanks.  A hundred switches would make an awesome panel.

Roger - Any panel could be made to be a quick disconnect, but the more elaborate the panel the more connectors it would take.  Not necessarily more difficult but it would take longer to build.

Art

Art- great control panel!

I do not use one.  Switches are thrown either by pressing the button on the fascia (if you are walking around with the remote) or by using the CAB-1 remote.  It's faster to press the buttons.

George

Here's my old layout's control panel....

I'm currently building a new layout and I'm not sure what I'll do for a control panel yet.  I'm glad you started this thread Art, I'm interested to see what others have done.

Paul

I've always envied you guys who could construct these professional looking panels!

Slightly Off Topic:

I do like the FasTrack Command Control Switches. All the control on my Cab1.

One of the great things about control panels is that you can control the same switch from more than one location.  For example, I will be able to control my freight yard lead from the Proviso freight yard panel and also the Union Station passenger yard panel.  The reason is that the switch is located right by the passenger panel, but is used by someone working the freight yard normally.  It can also be controlled with the DCS handheld by an engineer by using the AIU.  The way that mine is set up the only thing you can't do is control the switch manually.

Paul - You had a very nice looking panel and controls.

Terry - The new FasTrack switches are very nice.

Art

So far I have 7 control panels built, but only 3 installed. I've been busy laying track and haven't had a chance to finish the other 4.

The panels are all local, near the switches they control. They are also temporary, because eventually there will be a computer system which will accept commands sent from a cab-1.

Right now there are 50 mainline turnouts that are powered. Non-mainline switches are thrown manually. I'll have to count them. My guess is there are around 50 of those, and the layout is only a little more than half done.






There will be more before they all go away.

That's a big job, Elliot, but you make it look easy.

Art

Curious to know if anyone has tried to program a computer or iPad version of a control panel.  

Thanks Art. Yours make mine look sad.

The camera makes them look a little nicer than they really are. They're just done with tape and stick on letters.

Wow you all seem more advanced than I am. My switches are just Lionel switch controllers lined up from left to right, corresponding to switches from left to right. I have toggle switches below them to control track power.

I do have push button switches near the controller, and just bought a Lionel 437 knife switch board to turn on and off power to accessories.

Marty,

Absolutely amazing!   Joe

Marty,

Someday I hope I'll get an invite to see all of the gizmos light up and see where my NYC 999 took a spin after you fixed her.  Beautiful job on the control panels which have served you well for all of those years!

Best,

Dave

To answer your question, I also prefer to just control the trains with my remote and use control panels for my turnouts and uncoupling tracks.

.....

Dennis

Marty - I love your control panels!  I think they add a lot of drama to the scene in addition to their operational attributes.

Art  

Marty; Whew!! Great looking panels.

Dave, all OGR forum members have an open invitation to come by any time.  Thank you everyone.  My panels are older but work very well.  Doing a panel is a lot of work and nothing you want to keep doing over.  Use good components and do it one time.

Wow, just wow.  As for control, caboose industries ground throws throughout.  No wire, no buttons.  The three turnouts that cannot be reached easily by hand are the 2 button z stuff controllers with one switch just set as a spring loaded fixed route turnout.  

Mine are pretty basic; haven't done the "final" panel yet ... so in the meantime ...

A couple of weeks ago at the Timonium show, there was a vendor displaying a touch toggle system that would allow users to build their own touch-screen control panels.  The web site doesn't have any photos, but seeing it in person, it was very impressive and would allow users to easily lay out a control panel on a computer, print it, and mount it behind glass with the toggles.

Andy

I Admire Marty's Control Panel, And his Awesome Model Railroad...I have watched his OGR VIDEO 0ver 100 times....Control Panels are neat, Functional, however are hard to make. Being that my layout is Modern Technology, I Chose TMCC/LEGACY, WITH Total Block Control, Switch Control, with new LIONEL BPC's, ASC's, TPC's...I Run the Entire Layout with Cab 2, each Turnot can be operated by Push buttons, or Cab 2...Around my Turntable Area I Have one BLOCK from the BPC set up with 16 Toggle Switches for easy on/off trackso around the turntable....I think the Control Panels are neat, just not necessary on my layout...

Larry, although my layout is a toy train layout I do have Legacy, TMCC and DCS.  My layout can run remote or old fashion hands on.  Thank you for your kind words.

Marty's layout is the best!!!  His control panels are simply a work of art!!

Alan

Hi Marty, i sincerely was not inferring Your Fine Layout, (All those Beautiful Passenger Trains, and Multi Track Roundhouse and Roundtable) as being old Technology, I know Your Layout is TMCC/LEGACY/DCS....ALSO, You can Repair almost, if not all, Lionel and MTH and Weaver, Atlas O, and most others...I Congratulate You and Your kind Contributions to Our Hobby....If You see OGR VIDEO #10, You will see "Leapin Larry's Looney Lines RR". Thanks for the reply.

Here is the main one for my lower level.  I just built a similar one for the middle level last night.  It is 8.5x11 so I could sketch the tracks and then transfer them to the board.

Thanks for all the great contributions to this thread.  There are so many ways to get this job done and is very interesting to see and compare them.  And I always learn something or get a new idea to improve something.  That is a testimonial to this forum and all the great people that participate. 

Art

The west end of the station I use manual control; the east end uses the non-derail of the switches.  Saves a Hades abount od wiring!

Art

I hate you and will probably tell you that at breakfast next week if I can remember.

You know that your panels are the best around.  Show off!!

Alan - Thanks, I think? 

That's right next weekend is DuPage again.  Hopefully we can have more spring-like weather this time.

Art

Larry, I appreciate all your nice comments.  Thank you.

My control panels are not very high tech they are slide panels under the platform ,they are were ever the switches are, my layout is to big to run from one spot, if I didn't have a remote it would be hard for me to do any switching form my yards , I use delair for my switch machines .

Guy