Urbandale Runaround, the engine is uncoupled from the train
and proceeds past the north siding switch. The conductor
dismounts from the locomotive and reaches for his key. He
unlocks the switch and throws it for the siding, then signals the
locomotive to back past the switch. Once the engine is clear of
the switch he sets the points back to the main track and relocks
the switch. The conductor boards the engine for the trip down
the runaround track.
After arriving at the south siding switch, the process is
repeated. The conductor again unlocks the turnout and lines
it to allow the locomotive to leave the siding. When it’s in the
clear, the switch is thrown back to the main and relocked,
Locking up your layout -10
19
19: The cabinet lock cam arm presses the shim tight
against the sub-roadbed and lifts the wire into the
throwbar, preventing the switch from being thrown.
Several cam arm lengths are available for cabinet locks.
allowing the train to proceed back to its cars, couple up, and
shove to Beisser Lumber.
Once in Grimes, the conductor again dismounts and begins
unlocking and opening all the equipment, including the turn-
out, derail, and industry gate.
As the train pulls empties and
spots loads, the turnout at the
Beisser spur will be thrown
from the open to closed posi-
tion many times. However, the
switch will be left unlocked
while the crew works Beisser
to expedite their tasks. Once
the tasks are complete and the
crew has reassembled their
train on the main, the conduc-
tor will relock the gate, derail,
20
20: When unlocked, the
weight of the shim pulls
the wire down, allowing
the switch to be thrown.
The lowered cam arm and
the roofing nails prevent
the shim from falling out
of the sub-roadbed.
MRH-Dec 2013
