开云体育

I think we have discussed this before but I thought I would ask if anybody else remembers the two unique track elements from the first generation of track products again.

The three-way switch and double slip switch.

I never had any of them due to the exhorbitant cost ($8.95!) at the time in relation to my income but my old friend Emmett (RIP, he was about the age I am now when I first knew him) had one of each on his large layout (actually, I think he may have had two three-ways but I'm not sure).

On the Atlas forum, there is an ongoing thread entitled "Who Are You?" and on page 12 of that thread there is a picture of me in 1974 (try not to laugh) operating Emmett's layout.



There is a three way switch right in the foreground next to the spool of brown wire. The double slip was right in front of where I was standing and can't be seen in the photograph.

I remember Emmett had HO previously and didn't really like doing the close work on N scale track at the time and so I would do it for him. I filed the points on these so the cars wouldn't pick the points but I think that's about all the tweaking they needed.

They had two switch machines each and, on the three-way, each machine operated one of the points and, depending on the combination of how they were thrown, the route was set for one of the three ways. This was unlike most HO three-ways where there were two separate sets of points.

The two machines on the double slip operated the pieces in the center of the switch and, again, the combination of movements of them controlled by the machines determined which route was set.

These switches were based on the number 6 regular switches with the three-way being like two #6s laid over one another and the double slip like four.

They were made in Italy by Cassadio just like the other original switches and rerailer.

I don't remember either of these being particularly troublesome but, then again, I was very young at the time. \:^)

Doug