There are three stub on 3' narrow gauge railroad at Kent, CT which lined up using high stands. They are very secure and tight rails, and are as easy to bend the iron as any other switch. On the main line move which crosses the switch to the yard, they have drilled a hole and install a locking pin for special protection. They had one failure with one of the internal switches to the enginehouse where the attach-brace from the operating rod to the bending rails broke under service, but no derailment occurred. The rails seldom will move while the weight is on the bending rail, but as soon as free will spring off alignment.
When operating a stub switch, always inspect the alignment of the rails before you signal a movement. In that video, the Durango & Silverton employee failed to inspect the alignment before waving a move, but he did stand and watch each wheel as the engine moved over the stub. When signaling a move over a stub, alway move the wheels to the first spiked tie, beyond clearing the point of the stub, therefore clear of the bending rails.
Disadvantage of a stub switch: The switchstand must always have a target account the alignment of the rails are often puzzeling to see if they are the correct location. All approach rails must be full anchored so they do not move and lock the stub when it becomes a hot day. (have a cold water hose available).
Advantages of a stub switch: They are very easy to build. They work great under deep snow and will never get iced up. (good time to have a target on the stand too.)
Just a few miles from that station on the RGS, D
OLORES is a private museum of Val Trusen where there are the parts from a three-way switch which most likely came from DOLORES. Other interesting parts in the Line Camp museum include some RGS-made fork hooks for pulling drift wood out of the river that was up against a bridge, and many other track items.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2009 06:21PM by John E. Bull.
