SVL Extension: Manual Turnout Controls

First of all, I apologize for the long delay between posts. A lot has been going on lately and I haven't been able to spend much time on the trains.

As far as progress on the extension goes, I have been installing my manual turnout controls. The Atlas Code 55 turnouts do not provide any means to throw the turnout. Some people use the Caboose Industries ground throws but I think they are way oversized. I decided to use minature slide switches as I did on the rest of the layout. By using these switches, I can control the direction of the points and route power to the frog at the same time.

The slide switches I used were purchased from Jameco Electronics. They are listed
here. These switches have a throw (distance that the handle moves) about the same as the movement of the points on the turnouts. This is important as you don't have to compensate by bending a Z shape in the linkage wire.





Here is the method I use to install them.

1. Prepare the slide switch by drilling a .020 hole in the side of the handle. The wire that I am using is .015. Then, solder three power wires to the slide switch contacts. The two outside wires will go to the track and the middle wire will attach to the little loop on the side of the turnout. I soldered a separate wire to the loop on the turnout and joined it to the middle wire coming from the slide switch under the layout. It will help if you establish a color code system for your wiring and stick to it.

2. Cut back the throwbar on the turnout to roughly half it's length.

3. Make a hole in the foam next to the turnout. The hole should go all the way through the foam so you can feed the wires through and connect them under the layout.

4. Feed the power wires through the hole and insert your slide switch. Apply silicone sealant around the slide switch and use two small pieces of cork roadbed to sandwich the switch and hold it in place. Let the sealant dry.

5. Drill a new hole in the throwbar for your actuating wire.

6. Bend the .015 wire into a C shape with one leg pointing down. Measure this carefully as the width of the C needs to be the exact distance from the middle of the slide switch handle to the new hole that you drilled in the throwbar.

7. Insert the .015 wire into the slide switch handle and then into the throwbar hole. I also added a piece of wire to lock the linkage wire in place. It is made by bending a short piece of .015 wire in half and inserting it in the cork over the linkage wire and the switchstand tie. See the photos.

8. Hook up your power wires under the layout and you are done. I use a power bus under the layout so I am attaching to that.