WORKING SWITCHSTAND?

The last good Email I have for them is aatlarry@earthlink.net

The website seems to be down but will be  at: all-aboard-trains.com

I saw these at Indy where I shot the photos and talked with Larry. They work well and look great and I think the small ones work by hand or machine.

Try calling 256-653-7215

Dan,

Thank you VERY MUCH for the info,will get in touch with Larry ASAP. This would be a FANTASTIC accomplishment especially for O Scale as no other scale would have a model that works manually like the Prototype if Larry has 1 that does.

Thanks again.

Al Hummel

RAILROAD-GUY

Thanks a million for referring me to ALL-ABOARD-TRAINS!!

I contacted Larry via email & he responded quickly, a fine gentleman. You were "right on" about the switchstands. 1 is a manual working ground throw with moving targets that's controlled by the throw handle on the switchstand. This moves the points,or derail, as the case may be.

Larry also has a 'stand made to be used for under table switch machines.

He's working on linkages for the switchstands that will compensate for the required travel used by different turnout manufacturers.

This is a first for the entire model railroad industry and should give O Scale a BIG boost in new members.

Larry hopes to have his website up this coming week & should,hopefully,have castings in hand over Nov.& Dec.,as he's working with brass casters now,which he stated has been his biggest problem,but he thinks he has that problem pretty well whipped now.

This is FANTASTIC NEWS!! MY congratulations to Larry for taking "the bull by the horns," so-to-speak," & getting modelers fantastic new products.

Al Hummel

I also just talked with Larry and he is looking at the end of November to have all the castings. Looking forward to getting some myself.

"This is a first for the entire model railroad industry"

This is a nice new product, but HARDLY a first for the entire industry.  Caboose Industries has had working high level swtichstands in HO for years.

What would be nice is working PROTOTYPE APPEARING "switch stands".

To me that has to include a New Century 51 which is one of the most popular and long lived switch stands that's currently in use.

For the modern guys it would have to include a Back Safer bow handle.

Smoky Mountain Model Works has two versions.  Excellent scenic detail item...trackside and outside the maintenance shed.

SWITCH STAND KITS (S and O Scales)
The Bethlehem 53A and 53B kits consist of a single, 3D printed body, throw arm and counterweight PLUS white- and red-tinted urethane targets and Phosphor Bronze wire to create the target spindle and connection to switch point.

NOTE:  throw arm and counterweight are available in LEFT HAND and RIGHT HAND orientation; they cannot be repositioned and do not operate.  These are "functional" details, meaning you can link the targets to switch points to allow targets to rotate 90 degrees.

Switch stands DO NOT operate your switch ... they are operated BY your switch if you connect the switch points to the cast urethane link.  Targets require NO PAINTING ... they are cast in white- and red-tinted urethane.  Base & target spindle (wire) require painting.

53A (low-profile) includes (5) target styles & instructions
53B (intermediate height) includes (4) target styles & instructions

Bob&Rule 292,

Bob,I didn't mean to discredit Cab Industries,I've been using their groundthrows for years. This is a 1st in the sense that a prototype groundthrow like the new 'stand is being produced.

Rule292,I asked Larry about day targets & a New Century counterweight as well as the bow handle,but he hasn't replied yet. With the new gear design now in place,the "sky is the limit," so-to-speak, on ground throw designs. I'm not sure,but I think the counterweight like is on the smokey mountain model could be fastened on the throw arm.(?) I think the targets could be purchased from smokey mountain to be used on the working groundthrow, don't you think?

Al Hummel

I find it difficult to believe that switchstands have been a major impediment to growth in O Scale.

This is funny. I too talked with Larry today and he said he was hoping to get his site up in a few days. He also stated that at this time of the years his sources push other product lines. 

The thing that I liked about his product was it was a manual ground throw with lighting. It is a blend of the #50 light unit with the Caboose Industries ground throw.

Alan Hummel posted:

Bob&Rule 292,

Bob,I didn't mean to discredit Cab Industries,I've been using their groundthrows for years. This is a 1st in the sense that a prototype groundthrow like the new 'stand is being produced.

Rule292,I asked Larry about day targets & a New Century counterweight as well as the bow handle,but he hasn't replied yet. With the new gear design now in place,the "sky is the limit," so-to-speak, on ground throw designs. I'm not sure,but I think the counterweight like is on the smokey mountain model could be fastened on the throw arm.(?) I think the targets could be purchased from smokey mountain to be used on the working groundthrow, don't you think?

Al Hummel

Yes Alan, it sure would be nice to see some working switch stands that are accurate in appearance.  How easy it is to make them or how affordable they are is another story. 

RAILROAD-GUY,

At the Indy show,did Larry have a price established yet on his manual groundthrow?

Thank you,

Al Hummel

I connected them to the Atlas switch motors with brass wire. Foggy head at the moment doesn't remember the manufacture or supplier.  They were acquired at York.  NJ International Click on the link.  The base was fabricated from particle board.

Alan Hummel posted:

RAILROAD-GUY,

At the Indy show,did Larry have a price established yet on his manual groundthrow?

Thank you,

Al Hummel

Don't quote me but I thought it was around $25

RAILROAD-GUY,

Dan,

Thank you that's close enough just needed a rough idea.

Al

Old Goat posted:

Smoky Mountain Model Works has two versions.  Excellent scenic detail item...trackside and outside the maintenance shed.

I just received the low and tall O scale Bethlehem switch stands from Smoky Mountain Model Works yesterday.  These are beautifully 3D printed items (and pre-primed by Jim King - thanks!).  It is nice to have such a realistically detailed and scale sized stand.  They rotate to indicate the current route thru the turnout - they are not operable like Caboose Hobbies and others.  i.e., the points are moved and operated via a different mechanism.  If you are desiring a stand that is both super-realistic looking and an indicator of position, look no further.

These look very nice, they are on my short order list. Thanks for the links.