My turnouts are also solid rail with the point rails soldered to PC tie
throwbars. They are made with both code 100 and code 83 rail. I notch the
base of the rail where the point rail transitions to the closure rail to allow
for more flexing. The only exception is if the point/closure rails are shorter
than normal, where they may not be as flexible, such as on less than #6’s like
the abbreviated #6 Shinoharas, I hinge the straight point rail with a rail
joiner. I have almost 100 turnouts now, and they have gradually been put into
use starting in 2008. I use Tortoise and Blue Point switch machines. I have
had a couple failures due to poor solder joints, easily fixed.
Roger Nulton
From: Peter Vanvliet
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 6:00 AM
To: S-Scale@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Hinged or solid points to throwbar
I used code 83 and all turnouts are solid rail with soldering directly to PC
ties (for throwbars). I've had all the track up now for 4 years, and I do
several "mini" operating sessions each week. I've had one rail pop loose, which
was like Jim Martin, a bad soldering job. I doesn't take but a few minutes to
resolder the joint. That was probably about three+ years ago, and it hasn't
broken since.
Our club, the Houston S gaugers, uses handlaid code 100, also solid rail with
soldered throwbars. I've been with the club for over 5 years now and we do 3 to
5 shows a year, and the modules are stored in a non-A/Ced storage unit. Not a
single one has broken since I've been with the club. The modules were built in
the late 1980s.
I will use this same method again for a future layout.
- Peter.
On 10/05/2013 5:26 pm, meldri...@lincolnglen.org wrote:
Time for a final (?) decision. Should I solder the point rails to the
throwbar, or solder a tab to the rails and put a screw through the tab into the
throwbar? I'm most curious to hear from people that solder the rails to the
throwbar. Fill in the blanks: In ____ years of operating them I've had _____
solder joints come apart.
-Michael Eldridge
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Peter Vanvliet (pe...@fourthray.com)
Houston, Texas
My Model Railroad Site (RSS feed)
Fourth Ray Software
Houston S Gaugers
N.A.S.G.
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