Hello everyone, I would like to have the experience of members who use Peco 55 turnout, do you modify them like suggest by Alan Gartner, ( cut the closure rail before the frog , and solder a wire between the closure rail to the stock rail ) I modify one last night and found a pain …. …. To remove the plastic between 2 sleeper, and solder the wire. The raison why I will do it it’s in case I would have a loco who will short the point and the stock rail, but for now I have only diesel engine and for steam few challenger and the new big boy from Athearn, and they are far to touch booth ( the point and stock rail). So do you modify or not Thanks Gerard
Peco 55
Peco 55
Gerard
FWIW:
I have tried the soldering way for (Insufrog) Dead-frog Peco code 55 medium radii points over the years, and quite honestly found it wasn't worth the trouble - too much effort for too little overall gain. I honestly wouldn't care to repeat the performance - it's cheaper and quicker to simply purchase a new unit - at least you know that it will work, and so don't have to worry about electrical difficulties because of possible 'doubtful' workmanship.
And as far as locomotive-stalling is concerned, I would not be too concerned - experience indicates that this is very rarely a problem, as diesels, being two-bogie units that usually each have independent pickups, tend not to suffer from this malady. My understanding (which may not be correct - and if that is the case I will learn as well) is that in this situation - the 'lead' unit of such locomotives is propelled across the 'dead' frog by the 'live' (rear) unit, and that during this transit it goes 'dead' very momentarily until the lead wheel once again picks up the current and it becomes live once more. This process is of course repeated by the 'trailing' set as it too moves over the 'dead' section of the frog, until the lead unit can once again pick up current. The 'dead' time is so small as to be almost imperceptible to our eye.
Experience also suggests that in respect of steam-outline locomotives, it is only the very small-wheelbase steam locomotives (especially the likes of the B'mann's 'Dockside switcher) that tend to stall on 'dead-frog' (Insulfrog) points, and that the larger units don't have any problems in this area.
As I said, FWIW - hopes it helps.
Komata
"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . ."
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Joined: 2008-07-22