Designing turnout actuators

This section allows guests to comment or ask questions. Posts from guests require explicit approval (which generally takes a day or so), before they appear, so that we can prevent unwanted spam.
Proto87stores

Designing turnout actuators

Postby Proto87stores » Sun Jan 30, 2022 2:56 pm

Having decades of experience of being tall, with low height baseboards in tight places, I have 4 suggested key requirements for well designed turnout actuators. Add getting old and or even sightly physically disabled to the aforementioned, makes them critical requirements.

1.Installation is simple and practical from the top surface of the baseboard
2. Alignment adjustments are simple practical from the top surface of the baseboard
3. Operating throw adjustments are simple and practical from the top surface of the baseboard
4. Power and control connections are simple and practical from the top surface of the baseboard

Further more, operation should be reliable and maintenance free for ever and similarly not cause any damage or maintenance issues with scale models of turnouts.

If anyone doubts such designs are possible, I refer to the work of your own John Wright from "up North" who produced the renown "Federal St." exhibition layout.

Andy

User avatar
grovenor-2685
Forum Team
Posts: 3918
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:02 pm

Re: Designing turnout actuators

Postby grovenor-2685 » Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:29 pm

And must not have any non-scale parts visible in the scenic area.
Regards
Keith
Grovenor Sidings

User avatar
Paul Townsend
Posts: 964
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:09 pm

Re: Designing turnout actuators

Postby Paul Townsend » Sun Jan 30, 2022 3:57 pm

Was that actuator written up anywhere other than the 2013 Model Railroader article?

Proto87stores

Re: Designing turnout actuators

Postby Proto87stores » Sun Jan 30, 2022 8:49 pm

One advantage of using full scale thickness sleepers is that wire in tube is thin enough to be completely hidden in the ballast and can so pass through multiple tracks on the way to a turnout on the far side. Similarly, a hidden under ballast (or ground colour painted) half sleeper height sub base supporting scale point operating bars can work on the roadbed surface.

Andy


Return to “Guest Book”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 0 guests