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Have any of you modeled a turnout that was not actually a turnout? I have a place on my layout where I need to add a small siding to any industry. All I need is a place to stage a car there that does not have to be moved. I think I can fake a switch since it is at the back of the layout but it will give the illusion of a working siding. 

In the photo I want to connect to where the flex is laying on the layout. If you have done this please post a photo.

Thanks, Malcolm

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The easiest way to do this is to model a "stub switch" -- but to look 'right' that depends on

a)  the era you are modelling

b)  the era the "prototype" of that location was constructed.

c)  the type of railroad there -- backwoods, no-tie-plate shortline vs Class 1, etc

If it works mentally, a nice harp style switch stand would also be in order .......

With best regards, SZ

I had some fake turnouts on my layout only they were not fake turnouts, how is that you might ask?

Because I never know what I might be doing in the future the turnouts were laid with the idea that maybe one day they MIGHT be used it was a big might, I really had no plans for them so they were covered in dirt and just left abandoned as a scenic feature with no more thought given to them then about four years later guess what ?  They are now about to be used I scraped all the dirt away cleaned up the track soldered some feeders and soon they will be used again! I have often done this over the last 40 years the railroad changes like the real thing sometimes track gets left unused for years then and idea occurs and it goes from there.

I will see if I can find some photos. Roo.

Last edited by Roo

Malcolm.

Here are some examples of disused track on the old and new Bay Ridge Harbor Railroad (now called Yulan Valley Railroad). The first photo shows a turnout going to a old Coal dealer it's never been used one of John Armstrong's ore cars sits there as a tribute to the great man the siding could be used but I have no need for it it will just stay there forever.  The last photo shows sidings some rusty not being used can't see the turnouts. The sidings where the two EL switchers are sitting were the sidings that were never used but were connected to the yard now about to be used for Loco storage the railroad bought the factory!  photos show years ago when the yard was built. I have other photos looking them up out of thousands takes time I don't file them neatly. Roo.

DSC04136DSC04137Bayridge Yard Marcway Points 002THE YARD!Bayridge Yard Marcway Points 005Ford Factory 001

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Last edited by Roo

I have several.  I don't care for switching moves, or really much care about operating trains except to make sure they work, but I need switch points to make sure my models track properly.

Just buy castings from Right-O-Way (Jay C) and spike them in.  No need to notch the rail where the point will never hit it.

Here is another fake Turnout leading off to some unknown factory off the layout.

The idea is boxcars or whatever takes your fancy are left on the real track during a session and the invisible factory switcher comes along and delivers them for unloading or loading then next session the real switcher picks up what is there and maybe delivers more. All you need is some track and a fake turnout saves you building anything. This is a very old photo from years ago. Hard to see but there was a mirror at the end of the yard under the road bridge I've tried lots of things over the years on the layout. Roo.

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For me a fake turnout is useless.    I have seen them on museum layouts that just run trains in loops and it makes sense in that case.     But on an operating layout, a fake turnout and a boxcar that never moves is a waste of good real estate in my opinion.

It looks like that location is maybe the stores siding for a pending engine house.     a boxcar going in once in awhile is a neat idea and a little critter could switch one car in.    It would have to pull one out first.

prrjim posted:

For me a fake turnout is useless.    I have seen them on museum layouts that just run trains in loops and it makes sense in that case.     But on an operating layout, a fake turnout and a boxcar that never moves is a waste of good real estate in my opinion.

It looks like that location is maybe the stores siding for a pending engine house.     a boxcar going in once in awhile is a neat idea and a little critter could switch one car in.    It would have to pull one out first.

For many eras, having turnouts spiked out of service is extremely common.  

These include “dummy” turnouts where rail service has been discontinued and part or much of the turnout is removed to eliminate maintenance from wear and tear. 

On the train home I was able to catch video of a "deleted" turnout. Here's the frame that shows a pretty good image of the former turnout. It looks like the area was originally a staging zone for switching the industrial complex, but the access to the staging area and other parts of the complex were cut off when this turnout was "deleted." It looks like they literally removed the points and the frog and extended the closure rail. You can still see the throw bar and switch stand location in the foreground.

Deleted_Turnout--Large

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