Model Railroading > Model Railroading is Fun......but not all the time.

This hobby can sure be frustrating at times. During testing I discovered I was getting a short when I tried to go down the center track of this 3-way switch with just some locomotives. Other locomotives and the testing truck seen here didn't cause a short. I eventually narrowed down the shorting spot to the one marked here on a short section of powered rail between the unpowered frogs. Since the opposite rail is part of the dead frog, it requires the wiring in the locomotive to connect the circuit to powered rail. I put a piece of scotch tape on it to confirm that is where the short was happening. Now I need to use a Dremel to notch the rail a little and fill in the notch with some super glue and file it smooth so that the spot is insulated from passing locomotives on the other rail.

Ted Curphey
Cheney, WA

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Thanks for posting this. I have downloaded it and filed it for future reference.
Bill Pyper
Lacey, WA
 

I need to rebuild my double track diamonds and just haven’t gotten up the gumption to start, sometimes it’s not all fun and games.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

May I ask what brand this is?  I had a quality control issue with a Walthers turnout while trying to power the frog.  If I soldered to one side of the outside frog rail, I wasn't getting power to the whole frog assembly.  If I soldered to the other side, it powered the whole frog just fine.  The construction was similar to your below.  I know use a meter and continuity setting to check the whole frog and any solder points before touching it.

-Sean
Ankeny, IA

Clear nail polish is a good temp fox.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/21 15:27 by santafedan.

Looks like a Shinohara which also make or made the Walthers turnouts?

Victor

Yes, it is a Walthers 3-way turnout.
 

Ted Curphey
Cheney, WA