Friday, May 1, 2026

[Zephyrus52246]

Morning all,

MAYDAY!  MAYDAY!  Yesterday felt like an air emergency here.  My finance call took an hour and we still didn't get the 457(b) transferred over.  The finance guy needed to check and make sure there were no tax ramifications.  It's not like we haven't discussed this for 3 months...

Then I was fixing a dead spot on the layout when the wife called.  "Are you doing something down there that made the TV go off?".  Yes, our 17 month old TV is dead.  After a 15 minute call with a woman who had a very grating voice, Best Buy will be glad for $127 to come look at it next week.

I found the track issue (broken solder joint on the rail).  I noted the rails beyond the frog had no power on two of the turnouts as well.  This hasn't been an issue, as I rarely use this section of track, but figured I'd add power drops to these as well.  After vacuuming the area to pick up wood bits from drilling and solder bits from filing, I ran a loco over which derailed due to one of the closure rails missing.  I'm not sure how I'm going to fix this, but of course the turnout is at the back of the layout.  

Anyway, rainy and a high of 57 F here today.  Hopefully a better day than yesterday.

Jeff

[deemery]

Well, what a way to end April....  On the missing rail, could you use a loose rail joiner to hold the closure rail?  You'd still have to attach the other end to the throw bar somehow.  Might be better to just replace this altogether.  

Wife went to her exercise club today.  I hope she takes it easy, but she does need the exercise, both physically and mentally.  

Today I think I'll make a pigpen.  I cut and stained parts for that Monday, before the crisis... 

dave

[KentuckySouthern]

Wet and cold in MI. 

The switch looks challenging if at a stretch to reach position.  One layout I OP at has been going through and replacing the throw bar with PC board pieces, takes delicate manipulation, but is one possibility.  Dave's idea of a rail joiner is one I've seen used on switches as well.  OR, replace with a new one and do the repairs on the bench and use the fixed one as a spare. 

The Doll would hint that a pigpen is my daily status quo.

Inside stuff today, that's the plan anyhow.

-30-

[jbvb]

Good morning, all.

The missing part in Jeff's photo is a switchpoint, often shortened to point.  The closure rails are to the left in your photo, between the points and the frog.

My PanaVise will hold rail down to Code 70 by the base. If you have a vise that can also grip rail by the base, cut a piece of the same weight of rail to length, and file down the base and head to match the shape of the remaining point (but reversed). Check fit by inserting into the existing rail joiner.  Once it matches on the stock rail side, put it in the vise the other way and file the head on the other side down till it's almost sharp.  Spike it in place and test with cars and locos.  Once everything is happy, remove the spike and touch a soldering iron to the joint with the throw bar.

If you don't have a vise that can grip HO rail, you can clamp the rail in a Vise-Grip or other locking plier. The filing will be a little more awkward.

[Zephyrus52246]

You are correct about the terminology, James.  I misread the diagram I was looking at.  Again, if I can't find the missing rail, I have another turnout here for a "donor", or I may just replace the throwbar or the whole turnout. 

Jeff

[ACL1504]

Morning all,

Jeff, I've had that happen to me in the past. Check your vacuum for the missing rail section.

Have a great day ya'll.

Tom

[GPdemayo]

Afternoon all.....