Standard gauge switch project

Clever, and it looks to be nicely executed. Have you installed and tested it yet?

agreed!

Thank you both for the nice responses. I was planning on building a std. ga. layout to display at our local train show but the project is now shelved. I needed a crossover and a curve in the same spot so this switch was the result. I only have a boxcar and it tracks quite well through the switch. Don't think there is anyone in my city that has a std. ga. layout where I can take this switch to for more trials. Once again...thank you 

You live in the toy train capital of the world PA. There has to be someone close by. Try a hobby shop.

On the down side if the engine is not going through the crossover I do not see any center rail connection for the rollers.

Yes Erie pa. the old home of Marx! No hobby shops left...one train shop...no std.ga. The center "X" and the small strip above it is powered...

OMG, that thing is ART!!!

It does this.

True...but i didn't have the room...

I want to echo the comments that it's an ingenious work of art !  Can you tell us a story about how it was built?

photo posted by Wabashdave

Understood. I drew it to show what it does.

BTW another thing that can be done with cutting switches is to take older 42 diameter switches and cutting half the curved section off to make tighter track spacing in Yards.

First I want to say that it was EXTREMELY NERVEWRACKING cutting up two brand new switches. I knew if my calculations where not correct I would end up with...well..scrap. So after many doublechecks a jig was created to mark both frames which were then cut on a bandsaw. Three pieces from the old frames were used for the new frame. A mending plate holds all three pieces together ( which can partially be seen under both straight power rails). The center black piece is made of a very hard, durable,non conductive material that machines quite nicely. The machining was done on a Bridgeport ( It helps when your cousin owns a machine shop...thank you Dan!). A special jig was made to machine the curve radius. The three ground "triangles" are machined from brass along with the bottom ground strip which the wheel flanges ride on. I'm hoping I can do away with the center power "x" and the small power strip above it. Well thats basically it...

Ok. I see it now where the single strip powers the center roller on the curved portion. A very nice job on the project.

Wabashdave, it must be the only one of its kind in the world! Great work! Now if you can just find a good place to use it ...

Thank you Ace and everyone! The credit and inspiration for this project has to go to Miss Barbara Jones...pictures of her standard gauge layout are on another website. She has a switch on her layout that is actually FOUR switches put together to form two curves and a crossover. After corresponding with her about where she got it and how it works I figured that this project was totally "do-able". Thank you Barbara!

I think I found it !  Standard gauge double slip !

http://www.tinplatetimes.com/profiles/barb/barb.htm

Thats it!

Rich Reichard sells plans for making "0", "027" and Standard gauge switches. A Standard gauge double-slip switch is pictured on page 21 of the TCQ V58-3 (July '12). Email:

Ron M

Wow.  Wabashdave, I am very impressed.  When I first saw your photo I thought somebody was having fun with Photoshop.  That is a really incredible job all the way - the concept, the design, and the craftsmanship.  It resonates with the way I was brought up with tinplate: don't be afraid to take a pair of pliers to it and make modifications.  This goes well beyond that.

I have been thinking of taking a saw to one of these switches to reverse the position of the motor from the inside to the outside.  This gives me encouragement.

Looks like trains should track through it very nicely and quietly - there aren't any "holes".

This really has to be one of the more amazing things I've seen lately.  Thanks for sharing it.