Under-Table Switch Machines

Jack Swan5010 posted:

I will be soon building a layout and I want to use under-the-table switch machines.  I have heard good things about Tortoise machines, but I am concerned they will move too slow ( as I am sometimes clueless and need to throw a switch fast to avoid issues  .

They are slow, but not all THAT slow.

 Also, how well will under-the-table electronic throws  work with Caboose Hobbies manual switch stands?

Well, you can't have both on the same turnout points. I have Caboose Hobbies manual throws on all the turnouts that are easily reachable, and large 24volt "military surplus" electric motors mounted under the table, for those few turnouts that are not easily reachable.

 Thanks!

Jack,

I use all Tortoise machines for switches and I adore them. Too many reasons for me to post right now because I am quite preoccupied. The Tortoise machines will not cause issues as long as you:

a) don't run trains at 120 scale mph

b) pay attention

If you can easily reach them, use Caboose ground throws. If you need remotes, Tortoise is the best out there. Slow down and pay attention 

Laidoffsick posted:

If you can easily reach them, use Caboose ground throws. If you need remotes, Tortoise is the best out there. Slow down and pay attention 

Exactly!!!!  Then,,,,wait until you run through a turnout with the hand-throws; i.e. derailment! Model railroading is MUCH more about "paying attention", even when you do slow down.

Tortoise in hard to reach areas, Caboose hand throws in near sites and slide switch connected with piano wire in staging areas.  The slide switch can be used to power the frog which is great for slow speed small wheelbase switch engines.  Sample below:

Hot Water posted:

 

..... and large 24volt "military surplus" electric motors mounted under the table, for those few turnouts that are not easily reachable.

 

Interesting. I like unusual setups. Do you have a photo? Or, more details?

EBT Jim posted:

Hot Water posted:

 

..... and large 24volt "military surplus" electric motors mounted under the table, for those few turnouts that are not easily reachable.

 

Interesting. I like unusual setups. Do you have a photo?

Sorry, no photos.

Or, more details?

Sure: they were the motors used on the HO EMD "ELMOD Lines" layout, started in about 1946. The motors require 24 volts DC, and have a rotating armature shaft with one or two fiber contact plate, the main plate has the "economizer" circuitry, which limits the voltage after the motor is "thrown", or energized (thus not overheating the main coils needed to throw it first). Naturally, they are pretty strong, so by using piano wire, through a small diameter brass tube, the "rotating action" can be transmitted through the table and to the appropriate points throw-bar, simply by bending the piano wire. The whole set-up is almost invisible on the top of the layout, obviously being VERY careful NOT to get ballast & glue into the action.

Hot Water posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

If you can easily reach them, use Caboose ground throws. If you need remotes, Tortoise is the best out there. Slow down and pay attention 

 Then,,,,wait until you run through a turnout with the hand-throws; i.e. derailment! Model railroading is MUCH more about "paying attention", even when you do slow down.

Conductor --- "did you line that switch?"

Brakeman -- "what switch?"

Engineer -- "uh, we're in emergency!"

Terminal Manager -- "you guys need to slow down and pay attention! now lets go inside for a pee test and written statement."

Engineer -- "we were only going 3 mph!" 

Yeah ran through a hand throw (rigid switch) and then backed up... 3 autos and 1 engine on the ground. Engineer ran through 2 switches, after he stopped and looked right at them. 23 year career....terminated. 

I have had reliable operation for years from Switchmaster switch machines, which use a small gear-head motor that "stalls" at the end of its travel, keeping the points tightly in place with a very small current draw. The motor can be easily mounted under the table and connected to a section of piano wire that passes through the roadbed, where it is bent to form a crank that engages the throw rod for the points. I operate each one with a toggle switch that has additional contacts to power the frog. This may require a little extra wiring compared to Tortoise, but I like the simplicity of the arrangement.

Many of the track switches on my OGauge layout are manual switches that I converted to remote using servomechanisms to operate the switches. Seems kind of far out, but it has worked beautifully for years.

Hot Water posted:

Sure: they were the motors used on the HO EMD "ELMOD Lines" layout, started in about 1946. The motors require 24 volts DC, and have a rotating armature shaft with one or two fiber contact plate, the main plate has the "economizer" circuitry, which limits the voltage after the motor is "thrown", or energized (thus not overheating the main coils needed to throw it first). Naturally, they are pretty strong, so by using piano wire, through a small diameter brass tube, the "rotating action" can be transmitted through the table and to the appropriate points throw-bar, simply by bending the piano wire. The whole set-up is almost invisible on the top of the layout, obviously being VERY careful NOT to get ballast & glue into the action.

 

Very cool. 

I've been looking at components at Grainger to build my own.

"ELMOD Lines" ..... was that a model railroad layout that you EMD employees built in one of the buildings? Or, am I thinking of something else?

BOB WALKER posted:

Many of the track switches on my OGauge layout are manual switches that I converted to remote using servomechanisms to operate the switches. Seems kind of far out, but it has worked beautifully for years.

Far out ...... is cool!