SWITCH TO SWITCH STAND DISTANCE

I'm sure there is, but in a modeling context, even if you want true prototype accuracy clearances for longer equipment on sharper turnouts need to be factored in. We've had a couple of Caboose ground throws sheared off by low-hanging equipment over the years.

Generally next to rail...sometimes set away by six or eight feet.....some times literally in the guage between the rails if the tracks are in a street area.    Railroads always make things work. So if it looks right to you then there you are !  When visitors are looking things over unless they were in the track dept of your local railroad, wont even notice.....Only sweat the big stuff !  conrail john

If your operating the new Atlas CZ cars that switch stand has to be a looooong way from the inside curve.

Following on Clem K's line of reasoning:  Take your longest car, put it on your tightest curve and measure the inside overhang.  Allow another quarter inch or so and you have your distance for switch stands on the inside of a curve, at least for that switch.  You can also standardize with that distance.  Do similarly for your longest engine and measure the outside overhang.  Add a quarter inch or so for safety, etc.

Ed

I've experienced trouble here. Locomotives go forward through switch fine but reverse through switch takes more room. Not quite sure what geometry is going on to cause this?

Duh !!!!! i never think out of the box ! sorry about the prototypical line of thought......a swing and a miss ! conrail john

Is there a good quality brass hi stand that can be made to operate?

CHRIS ALLAN,

Redcliff Miniatures has a nice high level throw & ground throws that can be run off the action of the throwbar to turn the target or lamp on top of the switch stand.

All Aboard Trains is coming out soon with a Prototypically working ground throw that has a working lamp on top of the 'stand that spins when the  switch handle is turned 1/2 a turn. The same 'stand type will be offered with a dummy throw arm & I believe will be battery operated.

Hope this helps.

Al Hummel

AGHRMATT,

I've seen day targets bent other targets have only 1/2 of the target in place. This must be as a result of poor location of the groundthrow is all I can figure but what you said makes 100% sense.

Thank you gentlemen,1 and all, for your help. I'm like the Scarecrow on Wizard Of Oz-"If I only had a brain," I'd have thought of the overhang problem as being the determining factor for switchstand placement.  Thinking back 17 years or more,I believe I did check my diesels & rolling stock to make sure they cleared the groundthrow before working out my placement. As 1 gets older the mind goes....need I say more.

Al Hummel