Simple Point Control by Rodding

[Tigger]

And if I may say, all better than the amateur untidy mess I recently published in 009 News!!! ;D

[berryr99]

Guys,

Thanks for the feedback and help

I now realise that one of the reasons that Blaenau North MK 1 ran so badly was because I had not fitted polarity change switching. So current was only being conducted by the blades and any little bit of dirt would cause the loco to stall on the point.

Hopefully the MK 2 version will run better - looking at the new Peco Mainline turnouts I've noticed that some wiring is helpfully provided - similar to their standard gauge ones

Bob

[tedp]

The funny thing is I have used Peco 12" radius points without backup switches in several layouts. If they are kept clean during ballasting, and if you scratch out the seating areas of the point blades against the outer rails, the switching action of the point blades is enough. However, using backup switches ensures you will never have to admit defeat during an exhibition!

[B.Meldon]

Ted has a valid point.
If you keep the joint clean then the points do work. But if you fit the switches you never need to clean the joint.
Having one fail at an exhibition is not good, and it will inevitably happen at the most inopportune moment!

Cleaning the track regularly (I do it every day I use the layout) is bad enough but having to clean all the point blades and stock rails would be a complete pain.

Obviously you need to be mindful of physical obstructions but having the polarity switches makes ballasting and painting the points a lot easier.

As to the locos stalling in the Peco 12 inch and Y 009 points, this may not be the electrical switching as smooth running is a bit of a problem with the points made before about 2010.
Getting the back to back wheel measurements correct helps, but in many cases even with the correct back to back staling is still a problem. In my experience some slight modifications to the points as made are required.

Peco 12 inch 009 points were given a (non-publicised) makeover in about 2010 and these new ones are a massive improvement and as far as I can tell work well straight out the box.

So how to tell the difference:
The part numbers and packaging are the same, so that is no help. In fact the part number is also the same for the pre-1980 9 inch radii 009 points as well! So you have to actually look at the points, there are several small differences but the easiest one to spot is that on the old points the blades are pivoted in a fishplate but on the new points the blades are pivoted in a proper pivot. Just like the Mainline 009 points.

These days when purchasing Peco 009 points you need to watch out for old stock, as in many cases the 009 points will sit unsold in a model shops for some years!

Brian Meldon

[Tigger]

Yup, agree with all of this!

Three of the points on the L&TR have failed (well, some of them are nearly 40 years old so I'm not complaining!) and I've installed ordinary toggle switches to suppliment the point blades.  It's wonderful to not stand and curse whilst trying to hold the blade over with a cocktail stick during shunting!

[clayliner]

Interesting to read all of the above, as the Burnbake and Woodyhyde line (currently under construction) has adopted Ted's system using bicycle spokes under the board, which are somewhat more robust than coat-hangers. As his diagram shows, if these are run through the front of the baseboard they do also need some stabilisation at the far end; in my case I've used a small block of insulating material (like dense polystyrene) with a hole though the middle, glued to the underside of the baseboard. This also adds a useful amount of friction to the 'pull' of the rod. I bent the rod through 90deg and soldered a track pin to the top to engage the hole in the tie bar. Using brass electrical connectors would probably have been easier for adding the 'tail', rather than soldering a rearward extension on. As the line isn't fully open yet it remains how well this system works long term, but Ted's comments seem to suggest it's fairly durable, which is good news!

David.