Ground Throws and Switch Stand Clearance question

Wider radii on the switches, don't use the diverging legs, undermounting the switch machines or mounting anything that sticks up on the outside of the switch are all possible options to avoid issues.

.... and don't call me Shirley.

 Yes. My wife wanted a Triplex after seeing one at York. I thought it was a cool engine. Just not in my operating scheme. Well we came home with one. On it’s maiden voyage the steps on the tender would snag the ground throws in the yard. Not wanting to hack away at the steps. A simple bent spring wire got the throw further away.

 Can’t help you with the lighted switch stand. I’ve seen operations type layouts that paint the ground throw red on one side and green on the other for a quick reference without looking at the switch points.

I didcovered the same problem with the Atlas California Zephyr cars. I moved the hand throws to the straight side of the turnouts. Using the standard 11 degree Ross turnouts. 

Hi Paul.  All good tips.

I am planning to use my #50 lighted switch stand. I picked up some small leds  1.8 mm, from Evan Design. The square nub at the bottom of the bulb needs to be sanded a bit.

Don, Dave, LISteamer and Boilermaker.

Thanks very much for the input and tips. Funny the things you never think about when planning a layout.

Have a good day gents

Paul

@DMASSO posted:

Hi Paul.  All good tips.

I am planning to use my #50 lighted switch stand. I picked up some small leds  1.8 mm, from Evan Design. The square nub at the bottom of the bulb needs to be sanded a bit.

Is it possible to use these switch stands with a DZ-2500 controller?  I purchased a #50 and can not figure out how it is to be fastened to the switch for operation.

@Dave_C posted:

 

 Can’t help you with the lighted switch stand. I’ve seen operations type layouts that paint the ground throw red on one side and green on the other for a quick reference without looking at the switch points.

That's what I did with my ground throws...used some testors paint, red on one side and green on the other. Makes for an easy visual.

I have Ross turnouts with DZ machines or ground throws. The turnout has ties on the opposite side to attach your #50.

If not, you can make something to attach them.

We use a lot of Ross #5's. In the staging yard we have some with ground throws. On one turnout, the ground throw was on the diverging side. It worked great until it was cut down in its prime by a Superliner -- sheared it right off. We put all ground throws on the other manual turnouts on the straight side and had no further problems. By the way, the Atlas Gunderson Twin-Stacks also hang pretty low so ground throws on the diverging side coule become an endangered species.