To be clear, he and i do not know who constructed this layout. The turnouts are either ross or curtis highrail. The location on the offending turnout precludes manual throw along with several others. Yes, lighter cars derail but that can be corrected by weighting them, that was part of my plan. Many of the turnouts throughout the layout (except one) hold the points fine and yet allow a train to pass through if necessary, wiring for non derailing may be a solution i will have to look up the instructions. My concern with non derailing is the time to throw is slow, not at all like a dz1000 which is where i guess the name comes from. Next time i visit I'll try to post a picture from the underside, it looks like the throw wire strikes one side of the install hole and whoever installed it bent the wire to make it work. They also placed mounting screws at an angle then added benchwork adjacent to the machine rendering removal all but impossible unless i can cut off the screw head.
Yes throwing the turnout is more realistic but my friend is very much a newbee who had this layout thrust upon him. (a long story for another time) For now simple solutions may be best.
Thanks for responding, updates to follow.
