can a tortoise (with an appropriate wire) reliably throw an LGB turnout? I'm working on a layout where going to tortoise (or similar) drives while be finacially beneficial. Powering 30+ tortoises will be easier than powering 30+ twin coil machines. Obviously they won't through simultaneously, but the power requirements are clearly smaller. Thanks for any and all help.
Lyle Dowell
Hello. Lyle ,
Do consider Switchmaster, Scale Shops, Roto Motor - and a cost of kits at $6.79 .
Bruce
When I had originally posted the first question I had yet to remove the LGB twin coil machine from a turnout and hadn't learned how easily the points throw manually. I'd like to ask another question, a bit more specific, to see if anyone has a suggestion. To make a long story short, I've been contracted to work on an a G scale indoor layout to add automation to it. I'm an HO modeller, and this is my 1st experience with G scale equipment. I'm adding a lot of staging tracks and am using LGB track for this purpose. I want to use tortoises on the turnouts wherever possible, but in a few places I won't have clearance directly under the turnout due to trackwork/etc. on lower levels (3 level layout). Is there a way to connect to the throw-bar on the top side of a turnout that I'm not seeing? There is not much plastic exposed on the outside of the rails once the switch machine is removed. I ask as I'm wondering about placing these tortoises on top of the benchwork (these are in a staging area -- not visible) and having a linkage pull/push the throw bar on the top of the benchwork. Circuitron does make a right angle mount that performs this function, but I can't see how to attach it top-side. If anyone has any thoughts or alternatives I'm open to suggestion. Thanks for any and all help.
Lyle Dowell
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