LGB three way point: Only R1?

I'm not 100% sure, but I THINK that there was an early 3-way point made that was a larger radius.....? But (if it even exists, and isn't a figment of my bad memory!) I think they are VERY rare and hard to find......

For many years, Piko have been promising a 3-way point, but so far it hasn't appeared. As Neil says, you can get them from Heyn, and also from Thiel I think, but they will be very expensive. Similarly GRS (Garden railway Specialists) or someone like 3.0.1 Models would make you one to your design and measurements - but again, it won't be cheap.....

Jon.
 
So delving back into my extensive and sometimes expensive set of Catalogues I found the following in my 1979/80 LGB Cat. So it is not an urban myth, the early LGB 3 way point was a mish mash of radius 660 MM Righ and 990 MM left and they match R3 points in geometry presumably due to differing lengths etc.
image.jpeg image.jpg
 
Zerogee said:
I assume they can be replaced with more modern LGB point motors or manual switches?

Jon.
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Never tried it and got rid of it as it was not any use to me. I would think that with some hacking Newer LGB Point Motors but certainly my choice of Air Power would be feasible.
 
dunnyrail said:
So delving back into my extensive and sometimes expensive set of Catalogues I found the following in my 1979/80 LGB Cat. So it is not an urban myth, the early LGB 3 way point was a mish mash of radius 660 MM Righ and 990 MM left and they match R3 points in geometry presumably due to differing lengths etc.
View attachment 238875 View attachment 238876
Click to expand...

Even though part of a circle matches R3 sections, 22.5 degrees in "length", the curve through the switch is not R3... so I'd be careful equating it with an R3 switch.
The 600mm radius is exactly R1, but the 990mm radius is not R3 (1198mm) but greater than R2 (778mm).
 
Greg Elmassian said:
Even though part of a circle matches R3 sections, 22.5 degrees, the curve through the switch is not R3... so I'd be careful equating it with an R3 switch.
The 600mm radius is exactly R1, but the 990mm radius is not R3 (1198mm) but greater than R2 (778mm).
Click to expand...

Given the "flexibility" of even sectional LGB track (not in the literal sense, but in terms of its ability to cope with less-than-perfect alignment), I would say that the similarity to R3 is "close enough for Government work", as they say...... ;)

Jon.
 
I believe you completely missed my point, while the overall curve will "fit" in an R3 "space", the curvature of the switch inside is R1 and R2+...

So my point is the switch is not going to allow certain rolling stock through it that would be fine on a REAL R3 switch but not on an R1 switch.

There is no "flexibility" within the switch, you can't bend the rails.. and they surely do not flex as the train goes through it... ;)

Greg
 
Greg Elmassian said:
I believe you completely missed my point, while the overall curve will "fit" in an R3 "space", the curvature of the switch inside is R1 and R2+...

So my point is the switch is not going to allow certain rolling stock through it that would be fine on a REAL R3 switch but not on an R1 switch.

There is no "flexibility" within the switch, you can't bend the rails.. and they surely do not flex as the train goes through it... ;)

Greg
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I agree - the over-all length and curve may be R3 or what ever but the actual curvature through the point may be sharper.
 
Yes, and LGB was even kind enough to supply the exact curvature of the switch in both directions so no confusion. I wonder what the radii of the "available" 3 way are? The first time I ever actually ran on one, I watched a Bachmann shay skate across one, it pretty much jumped out of the switch... and shays are usually pretty good on tight curves. I think one path is sharper than the other, but I don't remember.

Greg
 
As mentioned earlier, I keep hoping that Piko's promised 3-way will one day appear.... it's been part of their track geometry diagrams since they first started releasing G45 track, but it's never actually been produced. Mind you, their curved points took a good while to make it to the market but then finally arrived, so I guess there might still be hope.....

Jon.
 
I couldn't stop thinking about this switch, so I checked some german forums and found in an old posting a useful hint: (https://www.enigon.com/raily/modules/en/lgb.html#_)

12350 LGB switch Length: 440 mm Radius: 950 mm Winkel: 22.5 Dreiwegweiche 22.5 - old Version with R2/R3
the posting metioned that this switch was originally manufactured by company AZB in Strengelbach (CH) for LGB

12360 LGB switch Length: 375 mm Radius: 600 mm Winkel: 30 ElektroDreiwegweiche - newer Version with R1 only

The Position of the switch blades can also be a distinctive indicator.
I think I found here an example for 12350, please compare the picture with this 12360
 
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