The Randall Museum in San Francisco hosts a large HO-scale model model railroad. Created by the Golden Gate Model Railroad Club starting in 1961, the layout was donated to the Museum in 2015. Since then I have started automatizing trains running on the layout. I am also the model railroad maintainer. This blog describes various updates on the Randall project and I maintain a separate blog for all my electronics not directly related to Randall.
2021-10-28 - Randall Repairs: Turnout T161 (2nd fix)
Category RandallAffected |
Turnout T161 (end of siding between Bridgeport & Sultan). |
Description |
Intermittent loss of power on frog. |
Summary Fix |
Deactivate turnout (always straight). Bypass the frog polarity contact/inverted. |
Description of Issue
Back in 2018, we had engines stop-and-go on turnout T161 for quite a while, especially steam engines, or short non-MU engines. The turnout was always in the normal position when this happened. Back then, it was determined the frog power routing on the Fulgurex created a resistance. This was solved in 2018-12-12 by replacing the Fulgurex. The issue re-appeared recently.
Description of Fix
Allen spiked the frog in place by inserting a screw on the throw bar, opposite side of the turnout motor (not visible on the picture above).
Ironically, in retrospect, all this likely happens due to the lack of using the turnout. A bit of electrical contact cleaner on the Fulgurex contacts would likely help, combined with some kind of dust cover, and all that combined with exercising the turnout once in a while by using the siding.