Switch Track Or Turnout Alternative

Madman

Madman

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Over on Large Scale central there is a discussion about switch tracks or turnouts. Someone posted the picture below. In my mind, wouldn't this design simplify matters for us in the garden. There are no check or guard rails to worry about The movement couldn't get any simpler.

switch track.gif
 
Reminds me of Hornby 0 gauge tinplate track. Whilst it is simple I suppose, It doesn't allow for 'trailing' - it needs setting for converging tracks, the same as it does for diverging (facing).
 
Madman said:
Over on Large Scale central there is a discussion about switch tracks or turnouts. Someone posted the picture below. In my mind, wouldn't this design simplify matters for us in the garden. There are no check or guard rails to worry about The movement couldn't get any simpler.

View attachment 205341
Click to expand...
In the immortal words "Well yes - up to a point Lord Copper" the fact is that the turnout looks nothing like any prototype turnout since around 1820 and most of us do like our garden railways/tramways to look something like the prototype......
 
trammayo said:
Reminds me of Hornby 0 gauge tinplate track. Whilst it is simple I suppose, It doesn't allow for 'trailing' - it needs setting for converging tracks, the same as it does for diverging (facing).
Click to expand...


Ah, very good point. As most of my turnouts are spring loaded, this design would not work very well, I suppose. Although, looking at it again, I don't see why not.
 
Try coming down the straight ahead . . . . . . .

instant derailment! :blush::blush:
 
For unusual points, you also have these single-bladed ones for small feldbahn stuff, from Bertram Heyn (he of the amazing hat...):

http://www.modell-werkstatt.de/gleissystem/weichen/einzungenweiche-2-x-75-hebel-rechts.htm

Or on a different principle from the same maker, the "schleppweiche":

http://www.modell-werkstatt.de/gleissystem/weichen/bausatz-schleppweiche-r0-375-abzweig-rechts.htm

Both quite different from the principle of the standard point/turnout that we all know and use......

Jon.
 
G-force1 said:
Try coming down the straight ahead . . . . . . .

instant derailment! :blush::blush:
Click to expand...


Ouch.....:banghead:....Just as I completely forgot about our retiree luncheon today, an annual event, I completely was not paying attention....:snooze:.... when I asked if this turnout could be spring loaded.....:(
 
Zerogee said:
For unusual points, you also have these single-bladed ones for small feldbahn stuff, from Bertram Heyn (he of the amazing hat...):

http://www.modell-werkstatt.de/gleissystem/weichen/einzungenweiche-2-x-75-hebel-rechts.htm

Or on a different principle from the same maker, the "schleppweiche":

http://www.modell-werkstatt.de/gleissystem/weichen/bausatz-schleppweiche-r0-375-abzweig-rechts.htm

Both quite different from the principle of the standard point/turnout that we all know and use......

Jon.
Click to expand...



I have seen the second one, but the first one is new to me.
 
Moving that big bit of metal with a simple point motor might be a bit difficult after a year or two in the garden.
 
I wrote to Gargraves. They told me that the photo I posted above is of an "S" gauge turnout. The "G" scale turnouts are the normal types we are accustomed to.
 
DoctorM said:
Point motor ? ! ?

Surely with this type of point the person leading the horse just walks ahead and lifts the blade across by hand!
Click to expand...

Sorry Doc, that is an even different type again. Horse and Hand Pushed Wagon Track could have a bewitdering amount of different Turnouts (note not the point word) many being indeed just a lump of Rail that was Handrolically moved. However this S Gauge Point is pretty much a Model Invention,mthough Modern High Speed Track now has something very similar.
JonD
 
"Handrolically".....:rofl:
 
dunnyrail said:
Sorry Doc, that is an even different type again. Horse and Hand Pushed Wagon Track could have a bewitdering amount of different Turnouts (note not the point word) many being indeed just a lump of Rail that was Handrolically moved. However this S Gauge Point is pretty much a Model Invention,mthough Modern High Speed Track now has something very similar.
JonD
Click to expand...

This is what I was thinking of (and it looks just like Herr Heyn's "Einzungenweiche" sans lever)

ratgoed.png
 
Some early Tramways also had a variety that moved Both of the blades having in effect no Frog at all. Somewhere there is a book on NG Tramway Track and Wagons. Probably by the Industrial Railway Sociery. Oh and another term for some of the points operation is Kick-Change (Bootrolically?).
JonD
 
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