What the heck, everyone is writing or talking about it nowadays. My version is the same I’ve always practiced, getting out somewhere railside and leaving the warmth of the car (it was only +2C this morning) when the distant BLAAT of a train horn wafts through the cracked window. It also helps to have a scanner tuned to the dispatcher’s channel and hear them acknowledge CN train 421 clearing Jordan.

For the first time I ventured to St. Catherine’s and got this nice view of the oncoming train from the 7th Street overpass. Will have to venture back here again, the clear view and open background is a nice change from the usual overgrown or hydro tower obstructed views elsewhere along the Grimsby sub.

After a long period of experimentation, I successfully installed my first complete switch stand mechanism that fulfills the criteria I had set for myself:

Low-profile to the fascia, to avoid snagging

Simple connection to Bill Billinger’s simple laser cut switch machine (pdc.ca)

Ability to compensate for varying benchwork depth behind the fascia, i.e. my desire was to keep the switch machines mounted 3.5″ above the bottom edge of the fascia, but the benchwork thickness under the track varies considerably, which means the switch and throw mechanisms are not always at the same relative z-height

Rotating switch targets

Slow motion actuation

Key operation to simulate what happens in real life: unlock, rotate to new position, lock

As simple and flexible a connecting mechanism as possible

The end result is based upon one of my employer Southco’s compression latches. I happen to be able to get a special version that has an even 180 degree key rotation, rather than the standard 195 degrees, which I find visually cleaner.

I designed and 3D printed a hasp that allows for padlock lockout as well as not presenting a significant snag point to operators in the aisle.

On the back side of the latch another 3D printed part allows for the 1/4″ linear translation offered by the compression latch to be transmitted to the switch machine without being affected by the rotation of the latch shaft, which is unnecessary for my purposes.

Connection to Bill’s laser cut switch machine is via a .047″ wire. The beauty of the long shaft on the compression latch is that it allows for compensation if I bent the wire slightly longer or shorter than ideal. My mechanism contains a sleeve with set screw to allow for positioning along the threaded shaft.

I am using printed CN and CP prototype switch stands purchased from Eastern Road Models’ Shapeways store. A .025 wire serves as the shaft of the stand upon which the target is mounted. I soldered a small piece of brass strip at tie level, into which I drilled a small hole for attachment of the rod from the end of the tie bar. The offset to achieve close to 90 degree rotation of the target was a bit of trial and error, as the tie bar does not move as much as I had theoretically calculated.

The final result is extremely pleasing to me. Check out the video:

I’ll spare you all the other model railway things I’ve been doing since my last post, but suffice it to say that work on the layout itself has been sparing for the best part of 2019.

Well, that changed this November when I decided to move from dead rail to powered track. While I really enjoy how quickly laying track can go when there’s no need to add feeders and gaps, etc, I have long been frustrated with the work required to add the battery and electronics to my locomotives. There’s not a lot of guidance online, the cost adds up quickly, and I just got tired of not seeming to make progress. And I realized that everyone I know who applies graphite to their rail seems to have no issues with power pickup.

So the three layout sections are one by one ending up on their sides on my workbench (one of the benefits of lightweight construction) while I planned the routing of the bus underneath and placement of the feeders. It was much easier to do than originally feared.

Where I was not spiking down new rail (and thus able to solder a feeder wire to the underside), I used phosphor bronze wire for the feeders. I would choose a tie location, drill through the tie plate hole, homasote, and foam, and scratch off the paint on the base of the rail so that I could tin it.

The phosphor bronze then got a “spike” bent into the tip so that it was essentially indistinguishable from the actual rail spikes holding the rail in place. A quick tinning of both ends followed, then push through the hole until the spike was against the rail. Finish off with a touch of the soldering iron. Easy!

Underneath the layout I wrapped the end of the wire with a feeder, quickly soldered them together, and then joined the feeder wire to the bus with a 3M Scotchlok connector.

I’ve been taking the time as well to spike all the ties that were skipped originally. It is still as relaxing an exercise as the first time, even if I’ve noticed my eyesight is not quite what it was even a year or two ago. I had to flood the area with lights and, as is the norm nowadays, use the Optivisor.

Next up, optimizing turnout construction.