changing points

[freelander]

Hi all, i have a garden layout without electricity and some of the points are 3-4 metres away, one set being 6 metres, how have you got round this problem of changing the points or is it get up and walk around following the train, at the moment i have a set up with a wire, spring and pully lever just as they would have in a signal box, just wondering if other have other ways. points are peco and train45

regards freelander

[MDLR]

............... and some of the points are 3-4 metres away, one set being 6 metres, how have you got round this problem of changing the points or is it get up and walk around following the train?

That's about the size of it for most of us. Can't you set a route and just let the train follow it?

at the moment I have a set up with a wire, spring and pulley lever just as they would have in a signal box, just wondering if other have other ways. points are Peco and train45

That's quite ambitious - if you can keep it working and in good order you'll be doing well!

[Keith S]

Sunset Valley in the United States has a pneumatic contraption for controlling points. I noticed it when I was ordering track from them. Seemed a bit "Rube Goldberg" at first but I looked at it a bit closer and it started to seem like a good idea if you have a big railway. Just a little air line like the one one an aquarium, and you can bury it between the controller and the points I think. Kind of an elegant alternative to electricity I think.

[Crayfish]

I wonder if something could be rigged up using bicycle brake cabling?

[Sir Clothem Cap]

I'm sure there are many way of doing it but its can whatever you come up with survive reliably outdoors. My system it the set points before the train moves of chase it like everyone else.

[freelander]

Hi all, many thanks for your replies, i was hoping to include some photo's of the setup I have but cannot get the pictures on the post, is their a way to include them from my computer? anyway I will try to explain how I have done it. Most parts can come from your tool box or those items you did'nt want to throw away.
parts you need are: a spring from a Bic pen or similiar pen, metal bracket, small pulley wheels, I used some wheels from an old toy car which had rubber tyres, brass picture screw, the type you screw into the picture frame, briad fishing line and turn buckles (for those of you and i was one who does not recognise the term they are two screw adjuster at each end of a tube to tighten or reduce the tention and the most expensive part of the set up is the lever frame.
first drill a small hole into the metal bracket and attach the spring, locate the bracket in line with the points movement lever and secure, attach the other end of the spring to the points lever and tention so that their is tention felt when you try to change the points, on the opposite side of the points attach the fishing line once done you can test by pulling on the line and the points should change and when released the points will return under tention.
depending on the type of layout you have you will have to fix the brass screws which the line is passed through, i tend to have them about 3 to 4 inch apart, the length of the line will depend on were you sit at your railway. the pulley wheels are used when you have a turn of 45 degrees to help the line from wearing. next fix the line to one of the turn buckles and screw it into it's holder, a new piece of line is then fixed to the other turn buckle and screwed into the other end of the holder, the loose end of the line is then attached to the levet frame and tentioned, by adjusting the turn buckle screws you can get a perfect movement of the points.
this set up has now been through one hard winter and no serious problems have been encounterd, it may sound difficult but to put it into practice is very rewarding when you play the engine driver and signalman, my next stage is to add signals on the simular project using pullies and fishing line I will keep you informed of the progress. if you know how to get the pictures on the post i will try to send.