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Hello,

I have a layout with 13 switches around the set.  They are Atlas-O and until recently I had been using the switches that came with the set (little toggles).  They work, but my problem is, it is too hard to tell which little toggle goes to which switch when there are so many and they are lined up in two rows.  I came across the Touch-toggle system from BarettHill trains and have been trying to get them to work for the last 3 months.  I drew the layout on computer, printed it on paper, and attached the toggles to the paper for each switch.  I really like the way you can see each switch light go green or red and I thought it would be ideal.  The problem is the touch toggle system is inconsistent.  Sometimes one will work and then it won't, then another one will  work and not work.  I have rewired, checked everything a dozen times and concluded that the system is just not reliable.  So I am searching for a method to be able to throw the switches, but have the toggle placed on an outline of the track.  I have seen the use of three-way toggle switches attached to a board or plexiglass.  Is that the way to go or do you have other suggestions?

Thanks for your ideas.

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Here's the one photo I have on my hard drive of what I did...   I used single pole double throw Momentary NO toggle switches  ON-OFF-ON...   They have to be Momentary so that as soon as you stop pushing, they open and don't damage the switch coils...

I went the somewhat complicated route and wired them through Atlas Snap Relays which are double pole relays.... Reason I did this was so that I could power Green and Red LEDs both on the control panel and on the layout if I wanted to add a dwarf signal later..   

Here's a photo of how it came out... My Atlas O switches are the ones on the second line from the top of the panel, the Yard Ladder...  The bottom row of stub yard switches are Ross Reg. 11 degree and I used the DZ1000's and supplied pushbutton controls..    

So there are 4 Altas O - 072 switches running off this panel with the wiring descibed above.   The panel was painted flat black, then 1/8 inch RED pin striping was applied, then I clear coated the whole assembly then installed the toggles, and momentary NO push buttons to operate the uncoupler tracks.   Hope that helps.

On this layout I have all my control panels hinged so that I can get inside without going upside down on the creeper cart that I built, while it works great, I still prefer to be sitting in a chair looking down at the work.   

 

DSCN3361DSCN3362

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Here is a picture of my layout main control panel.  I used momentary push button switches to throw the switches and located them on the line on the diagram where the switch should be to make the train follow.  The red and green buttoned switches are for the turn outs.  One can used lighted switch buttons.  The blue are for uncoupling magnets.  The black slide switches control track power to the section of track they are on.

I used cheap mini push button switches from Radio Shack but now get them from eBay.  I have only had to replace a couple of them in fourty years and this was from breaking the plastic shaft of the button not burning them out.

Here is a link to my post on how I built my O27 Lionel toy train layout with 27 switches and a working $10 turntable.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...fties-era-027-layout

Charlie

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Last edited by Choo Choo Charlie

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