Locking up your layout - 5
fingers. I came up with a way to secure the throwbar from
being moved unless it was first unlocked, using inexpensive
and readily available hardware items.
Whatever method you have to control your turnouts, it’s
important that the locks you use are “keyed alike.” These
locks allow the same key to open multiple locks. That way,
your crews aren’t trying to match the right key to the right
lock on your layout. A simple web search for “keyed-alike
locks” will turn up a variety of options and styles that are
available to purchase.
The “Rube Goldberg” Method
Since I wanted to prevent my turnout points from throwing
unless they were unlocked, I had to come up with a method
to secure them in one position. Unfortunately, most of my
turnouts were already installed, wired and scenicked before I
started adding locks to them. Had I decided to incorporate locks
earlier in the construction of my layout, I would have saved
myself a lot of torment.
In the end, I developed a system using inexpensive and readily
available hardware items to retrofit lock-type devices to my lay-
out. It may seem like an overly complex and convoluted setup
that would make Rube Goldberg proud, but the final product is
effective, easily manufactured, and inexpensive to implement.
I found that the best way to hold the points in place was to use
stiff piano wire. The wire extends through the roadbed and
into the turnout’s throwbar. I drilled a hole in the throwbar
9
9: Holes were drilled in the throwbar with a #67 bit.
Any larger, and the wire wouldn’t fit snugly in the
hole, allowing it to move even when locked.
8
8: Despite most of his layout being scenicked,
James was able to retrofit his equipment locks to
his turnouts, gates, and other items.
MRH-Dec 2013
