New Turnouts

Interesting.

Just what Joe G had posted over there, looks pretty cool.  I agree with Joe that if he offers a super detailed switch (ties,tie plates, rail braces, throw bars, gauge plates) and in other rails sizes i.e code .125 and code .100 that he will probablly get a good response providing he can keep the cost low enough to draw people in.  As it appears now you would still need to add ties and what ever other details you want.....  I know what my cost is for a #8 in terms of parts/rail and so on....I am interested to see what he is able to do.... it does look promissing.   

I would agree with Chris's comments.  He did stop by my tables at the Chicago Meet and showed me a couple sample turnouts.  They were very nicely constructed.  If he adds the additional details and offers them in the different rail sizes I would think he'll do very well.

Tom: What European manufactures do a decent American prototype turnout?

Thanks in advance!

 

George/nw2124   "Progress - either you are for it, or get out the way!"

George, there are several, No European sleeper chairs or tie/rail clamps.  kindly contact me off list.

 

tom_thorpe(at)comcast(dot)net

 

www.curvedbenchwork.net

i wouldn't expect them to be priced less than Old Pullman's Products. OP's prcing would be the starting point I'd suspect. The cost is in the labor. Anyone know who this is and where he is located?

He is located in Michigan. 

 The only thing there, on the page, is a contact. Should we proceed to generate interest? Is this a sure thing already? Looks promising for me. I hope it's dcc/dcs friendly.

I would think they would be Joe with DCC being as popular as it is.....shoot him an email.

Joe & Chris,

 

Please forgive my ignorance here but, what is required for a switch to be dcc/dcs friendly?

 

Jay

 Well, I ordered some switches in the past and forgot to mention I run DCS. The frogs were not isolated and they shorted out my layout. I simply cut the rails with a dremel and added insulated rail connectors. My cuts were rough and the switches don't look that good. I would hope to avoid that one again.

Joe,

 

Thanks for the reply but I guess I still don't understand, when using 2 rail track/switches, how one type operating system is different from any other, even just plain old DC.  My experience is whatever rolls across the track causes the short, not the type of system.  Obviously, I'm missing something here.

 

Jay

DCC turnouts started back at the dawn of DCC. Unlike DC DCC had a constant higher voltage so when a short occurred on the points of a turn out the point would melt and wheels could become burned. Now the circuit breakers are so much better that the danger of that is almost nonexistent. I personally power both points from the frog to the tip of the points and have had no problems. Ken the guy from AR

Hi Jay C, yeah it's about power and not the system...you can see what it looks like here....http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm

 

But basically it's

 

Features that Make a Turnout DCC Friendly:

Points:
   - points that have no hinge. Each point rail is a single piece with its closure rail, or
   - each point rail is connected to its closure rail with a rail joiner.

Frog:
   - frog is plastic, or
   - frog is isolated from the frog and closure rails.

 

 Wow, that's a great read. I thought I knew the answers and had trouble describing them. I got schooled,..............AGAIN. Ties in well with John S's last article about adding lights for misthrown switch runnin'.

 I still have not powered my frogs. Only my Allegheny gives me troubles there.

The hot short problem is when the back side of the wheels of a long rigid wheel base steamer or a long wheelbase, plastic bodied 6 axel fat flange diesel truck happens to contact the opposite polarity open point of a conventional power routing turnout. tt

Gents,

 

I hope there are curved ones offered! I have been on the Atlas forum asking

for curved turnouts.. Now, here!

 

Hope all is well. I am new here!

 

Dan

I sent them an e-mail here'swhat I got.

 

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the note.
My plan is to ramp up at as demand dictates. Currently I am finishing up the design of the code 148 #8. The pre-production samples were shown to the Boys at O-scale Train Magazine, Lou Cross of R.O.W., John Pautz of American Switch and Signal and others at the Chicago show.
Suggestions were made and I am incorporating them  into the design.
The turnouts are designed to the NMRA and 1921 Maintenance of Way standards.
Initially I will offer code 148 #6s and #8s followed by the same in code 125. #10s sometime after that.
There has been interest in P48 so code 125 #6, #8 and #10s will follow as well.
I've been considering curved turnouts but will need to come up with "standard" radius on 4" center-lines. With the time and cost of producing the construction/fabrication fixtures, offering custom designs would be too costly for the end user.
I have not finalized the pricing but my goal is to be less than  the current offerings from Atlas.
Availability of code 148 #8 within 1-2 months. #6s mid summer.
Any input on your end would be greatly appreciated.
Take care and I will add you to my email list.
Bill
-- Bill McConnell, III Oscaleturnouts.com P.O. Box 818 Hamburg, MI  48139 USA (phone) : 810-231-4461 (fax)   : 810-231-4461 (cell)  : 810-571-1616 (e-mail): info@oscaleturnouts.com (e-mail):wmrent@earthlink.net

Very nice to see an enterprising individual taking on one of O Scales main issues...good turnout! I wish him great success.

 

Bob