?Here is my overall take on "how to set up your turnouts".
?
?I "go to Ops" ... a lot.? That means that I've seen just about every method of
wiring and/or controlling a turnout that there is.? Without question the best
overall solution - to me - is the one that mounts a slide switch on a block of
wood that is mounted to the fascia "in line with the points".? You put your
finger in thru a 1" PVC cap and push to move the points away from you, pull
to bring them towards you.? This method is very intuitive and is picked up
by the operators who are new to the layout without problem.? In areas where
there are a lot of turnouts closely spaced at least one layout owner I know
chose to put labels on the actual turnouts (such as "A", "B", "CC", etc.) and
also labeled the "holes" the same.? The turnouts were/are all powered, usually
with Tortoise switch machines.? For truly complicated areas such as what?
would qualify as an "interlocking that is operated by a tower" a panel can be
created that has toggle switches mounted right in the panel (and may/may not
have LEDs to indicate current position) ... flip the toggle in the direction of the
path desired.
? I -used- to say that I was 'ambidextrous' and didn't prefer either selecting a
route or moving the points ... but after several decades of using both I find
that I am much more likely to not make mistakes if the method is 'points'
versus 'routes'.
?
? On several large layouts I have had assignments where I could watch the
crew thruout the entire session - my observation is that 'points' wins over
'routes' in terms of the crew not making mistakes.
?
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?
? Another quite successful method is to mount the slide switch directly into
the layout surface and use a short 'throw bar' (spring steel rod) from the slide
switch to move?the points.? The slide switch activates the Tortoise.? This method
works well but is not as visually pleasing as the one?that puts the slide switch
in the fascia.
?
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?
? I have also operated on many layouts that use a momentary push button
(usually on a panel) that toggles the turnout back and forth.? Even though
this method is accompanied by LEDs that indicate current position ... it is
common for the operators to push first and watch the points and then push
again ... because the turnout was already the way they wanted it.? *G*
?
? Don't misunderstand me - do what YOU want to do on your layout.? I am
merely sharing my observations of methods and how successful they are/aren't
for both myself and others.? No, I will not "pass" on a layout with methods
different from my preferred (I'm an "ops slut" and proud of it).? No, if you are
using a different method I do -not- recommend you change methods.
?
? The LEAST successful method is one that uses more than one method on the
-same- layout.
?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?- Jim in the PNW
Myron Lind