Re: How about a Bryant switch? *PIC*
| August 24, 2004 11:00AM |
I have an article about how I built one in 7.5" gauge to be published in Live Steam magazine.
There was an article in the September 1971 issue of RMC which was how I discovered the obscure switch.
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum offers a reprint of an article from an 1879 issue of “The Railroad Gazette” concerning the Billerica and Bedford. Inside is a wonderful illustration showing the Bryant Turnout in both normal and reversed directions and a very good description of how the mechanism worked. This is available from The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum, 58 Fore Street, Portland Maine 04101 for $10 plus $3 shipping.
Just so it is more confusing (in the photo), the turnout is sitting on my track jig for 7.5" gauge.
It is part stub, part point and part monstrosity
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This photo shows the turnout in the normal position. Trians ride through without being on a point.
The right side is a point and the left is a stub block with an embeded point.
If a car comes from the diverging route (ie against the turnout), the point and the point guardrail guide the car. The inside wheel (on the left of the photo) comes down the track and the steel wedge between the two left most rails picks the car up on the wheel flanges and across the head of the through rail and then drops BANG onto the running rail - no derailment (hopefully).
" />
Doug
There was an article in the September 1971 issue of RMC which was how I discovered the obscure switch.
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum offers a reprint of an article from an 1879 issue of “The Railroad Gazette” concerning the Billerica and Bedford. Inside is a wonderful illustration showing the Bryant Turnout in both normal and reversed directions and a very good description of how the mechanism worked. This is available from The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum, 58 Fore Street, Portland Maine 04101 for $10 plus $3 shipping.
Just so it is more confusing (in the photo), the turnout is sitting on my track jig for 7.5" gauge.
It is part stub, part point and part monstrosity
" />This photo shows the turnout in the normal position. Trians ride through without being on a point.
The right side is a point and the left is a stub block with an embeded point.
If a car comes from the diverging route (ie against the turnout), the point and the point guardrail guide the car. The inside wheel (on the left of the photo) comes down the track and the steel wedge between the two left most rails picks the car up on the wheel flanges and across the head of the through rail and then drops BANG onto the running rail - no derailment (hopefully).
" />Doug
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.