Layout alterations....

[doctorwayne]

I was originally going to post this as a new thread, but it makes more sense to include it here, as the subject is simply continued-on from earlier.

Here's a view of Lowbanks, on the original single-level layout...



It's just over 30" deep, and at a height of 36.5", so very easy to lean over and allow an easy reach (and view of turnouts behind structures).  At that time, all turnouts were manually-controlled, using Caboose Industries sprung ground throws.

With the second level of the layout in place, at a height of 59", and with a relatively deep fascia to hide the lighting for the lower level, the reach to manually flip turnouts remains the same, but access is more restricted, height-wise, with the result that structures and other details are getting damaged by my hands or elbows, and turnout controls behind structures are almost impossible to reach.

Here are the two RailCrew-controlled turnouts which form a crossover between the mains through Lowbanks...



...and are controlled by a single switch.  Flip the switch one way and it's a crossover, flip it the other way, and both turnouts are aligned with their respective track.

This is the RailCrew-controlled turnout which serves both the Wagner lumber yard and Hoffentoth's coal dealership on the southernmost track, and the Lowbanks Stockyards on the northernmost track...



...while this one, hidden behind the Erie Northshore's locomotive shop, serves a siding that's being developed, as part of my "Challenge", into a fueling station for the Northshore's "BEE" doodlebug, recently converted from a gas-electric to a diesel-electric....



It's the best operating of the four, with a positive throw in both directions, a good thing as it's mostly very hard to see.  The other three operate reasonably well, but sometimes require the switch to be double-clicked.

I've also been reworking turnout controls on the rest of the layout, replacing the Caboose Industries ground throws with either a simple spring incorporated into the turnout, like this one...



...which allows the points to be moved with a fingertip, the spring holding it in either position...





For other hard-to-reach turnouts, especially on the lower level, I've turned to using the BluePoint devices, which manually control turnouts using piano wire linkage to fascia-mounted control knobs...



These seem to be quite reliable, and not too difficult to install.

With these various methods and devices, I've removed over 40 Caboose Industries ground throws from my layout.  While they have all been very reliable devices, changes in the layout have necessitated the replacement of some, while many others have been removed only for æsthetic concerns, mainly in photos. 
All of the C.I. ground throws used in staging yards will continue to serve, as all have worked flawlessly for years, and the staging areas are not generally used as photo locales, other than to show the track layout.

Wayne