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MR Contributing editor Tony Koester makes his point – point rails that is! In this video installment, Tony demonstrates how to add the movable points, a switch rod, and guardrails on the turnout he’s built for MRVP’s HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound layout.
Even though I’m in n scale I really enjoyed this video and was able to see how making your own turnout is done. Great video and excellent instruction and Instructor!
Great segments Tony as I admire you and all viewers who have the patience to do this with the hobby. Me?… not so much!
Thanks for the segments on handlaying the track and turnout. I’ll be rewatching these as I work on my layout.
This is the Handlaying Track episode to watch 2 or 3 times. I learned some secrets that will get me over some humps I have been struggling with on handlaying turnouts. MR Video Plus has grown to the point where it is a valuable reference resource. Having a Master Model Railroader like Tony Koester demonstrate techniques on video is a great service to the model railroading hobby. The out-take at the end is really funny. I think all model railroaders have a love/hate relationship with soldering. Maybe the next Advanced Model Railroading video should be on building a small 0-4-0 tank engine in brass. That will hone our soldering skills.
Puzzled why Tony would show cutting the gap on the point side of the frog. Cutting there, the frog is still connected to the stock rails of opposite polarity = short circuit. Shouldn't the gap be cut on the stock rail side of the frog, therefore isolating the frog from the stock rails and using the points as electrical contact? Of course, if you're wanting to use a frog juicer, tortoise or blue point, you have to cut all rails leading into the frog to fully isolate it but that's not discussed.
Tony, you introduced a contradiction – if this is old industrial trackwork which was probably laid with second hand rail downgraded from mainline use, it is unlikely that the whole crossing (British terminology) would be a one piece casting. The two rails forming the nose of the crossing and the wing rails would probably be bolted in place with spacers controlling the gaps.
A previous comment questioned hinging the switch rails rather than just bending them wit the switch operator. I think Codes 70 & 83 will work with bending, code 100 may be too stiff, and need the hinge
I am modelling a c.1950 UK secondary main/branch line – no cast frogs (though I'm not using bull head rail as I should be)
Very informative, but the phrase "life's too short" keeps popping into my head.
My switch building follows an article by Jack Work in the April '63 MR. Main differences from Tony's procedure is that I do create "hinged" points rather than using a single piece of rail from frog to point. I also solder tabs on the end of the point rails. One end of the tab goes under the stock rail, while the other is drilled with an 00-90 clearance drill, and the tierod is drilled and tapped 00-90. Short 00-90 bolts fasten the point to the tierod. Advantages are: 1) the bolt allows the point to swivel slightly on the tiebar and 2) the points are easily removable for maintenance. The "hinge" is actually a pair of spikes at the frog end of the point, and this gap separates the point from the frog. The part of the tab sliding under the stock rail electrically ties the point to the rail. Frog is then powered through switch machine contacts.
I enjoyed watching Tony making the turnout, also his sense of humor, I chuckled a couple of times when he made an comment
Never thought I'd hand lay track, but now I'm ready to do it. Thanks MR
One of the most inspiring things ever from Model Railroader. I've enjoyed this series so much. Lets hand lay some track!!
I would sit there as well and play with the truck for an hour as well. Thank you for sharing this part of the series, I have enjoyed it.
Brilliant this is what MR Video plus is all about thank you all. bet you wish you had a contrast rail for the filming.
I've always been interested in hand laying track, these 5 Videos have shown me how it's done. Thanks!
Great demonstration of one of the "hardest" modeling techniques in model railroading, thanks Tony for demystifying the process. Also great camera work getting into that small space to show the details.
Wow. Thanks Tony, some great insight!
Great job Tony. I am getting back to model railroading after many years of other things. I thought I could use all my old commercial track. Wrong. The pilot trucks on my little 4-4-0's could not tolerate hinged point turnouts no matter how much I tinkered with them. I threw out all the commercial track and learned how to hand lay. I am not looking back. I can now make any turnout I need, and for about $1 each. Learn how to do this. You won't regret it. These videos show it all.
Ah, the fascination of rolling a train truck back and forth over your newly created turnout! Another example of our fellow hobbyist's obsessions that I share!
Great video series! Tony has convinced me try handlaying track.
I've always been 'afraid' of hand laying track — especially turnouts. But this series has just convinced me to try it for my first diorama. Watching makes it so much easier to follow than just reading and looking at pictures. Thanks everyone!!