Operating Switchstand

[Mike Trent]

Many of you are aware of the "Low-Tech" elements featured here in Dickey. Sort of the last outpost of advancements in technology of this hobby. From my ancient Controlmaster V throttle to the alligator clips that make electrical things work. Until today, the prime stub switch near the depot has been controlled with a spike to hold rail in place on the diverge setting. It's worked for years.

A few months ago, Tim Schreiner sent me a pair of brass working vertical switchstands to help bring me a few decades into the future with respect to my operations, but, being in no hurry and with other things to do, I blew it off. A week or so ago, I was visiting Jim Ferenc's terrific HO Scale C&S Northern Division in Boulder. One of the things that caught my eye was that he has a lot of operating vertical switch stands on his layout. So, I started thinking that if Jim can use them in HO Scale, I ought to take another look at the brass stands collecting dust in Dickey. Rob Smith has used operating Harp Switchstands for ages on his layout, and I thing Tim has used them too. Recently, Tim used a couple of these on his new layout and recommended them to me. Some of you may already use these on your layouts but I've never seen them used on stub switches until Tim told me about them.

Well, today was the day.

I use Code 100 rail on the mainline (On3) and have always used Grandt bridles on my switches, all the way back to 1980. Tim has not had good luck with the Grandt bridles and I don't know anyone who has actually successfully used the Grandt Derlyn connecting rod to the bridle. To provide less pressure on the bridle and rod, I moved the first spikes from the bridle to the 11th tie. This helped a lot. All that is necessary for the switch stand to move is to the diverging position. With so little pressure, it was easy to do that. The handle slips into a notch on the back of the stand to lock it. I had to open it just a bit with the Dremel. To release it, all it takes is to lift the handle and the light pressure allows the bridle to slide easily into the open position. To secure the stand in exactly the correct position I spiked the rail into the proper position and acc'd the stand on to the supporting tie.

This particular stand is part No. SSR01 by RACOR, and requires assembly. It may be a bit oversize, but it's great and is easily operable. And I think it will be fine going forward with the Grandt connecting rod.

Not sure if this helps anyone, I may be the last guy to be using these, but they can work on stub switches and you'll be happy with them.

 

[Tim Schreiner]

Looks Fabulous!! Btw the company that makes these is Right-O-way, and RACOR is the manufacturer of the prototype. In my opinion they are the best made O scale stands on the market.