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Nn3 Track Work Pages
Switches page 2

Dual Gauge Nn3 Switch
Using a template from FastTracks to build these Switches with Code 40 rail

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This project uses a Micro Engineering code 40 Rail. The fixture is machined from aluminum plate roughly 5mm thick and 7.5cm x 15.5cm in size. On the plate each piece of rail has a slot milled out for its location and in addition there are slots for printed circuit board ties on which the rail will be soldered. The ties are not grooved so isolate one rail from the other so that is a job you have to do after completing the assembly of the switch. Fast Tracks also produces a tool for creating the switch points and the frog. The various wing rails lengths are represented by machined slots on the template and there are slots to enable you to put the proper bend in the wing rails.

In the picture below the top image is what the people at FastTracks call a QuickStick. In this case it is a series of laser cut wooden tie set to match in this case their standard gauge no. 6 switch in N-scale. Below that is left hand breakout which separates the dual gauge into narrow gauge to the left and standard gauge track straight ahead. In the center of the bottom row is the FastTracks fixture or jig and on each side a dual gauge switch one left hand and the other a right hand which I made using this jig. All three pieces were made from this fixture and it could also be used for building a no. 6 standard gauge switch either left or right hand in code 40 rail. You could also build a left hand or right hand narrow gauge switches in addition to the break outs and dual gauge switches using this jig with code 40 rail. So not a bad investment for one jig.

If you are going to purchase one of these jogs be sure to take it with you when you purchase your code 40 rail as you want to be sure that the rail you buy will sit down inside the slot so your rail is in gauge when soldered to your ties. Or you can purchase your rail from FastTracks. FastTracks also makes up kits with the tie material both PCB and laser cut QuickStick to build 5 switches with a switch jig and point forming tool. The QuickSticks, pcb ties in bags of 100, Micro Engineering spikes, rail, and joiners plus jigs and point tool are all available as individual items. They frequently discount the product when showing it at shows. You can visit them at http://www.handlaidtrack.com/

We are not connected in any way with FastTracks other than as a satisfied user and supply this information for use by other Nn3 types in the hobby who might not have come across this product. We have 3 templates in total. N-gauge standard gauge No. 8 switch for code 55 template and dual gauge on left No. 6 dual gauge switch in code 40 and coming is dual gauge on right No. 6 dual gauge switch in code 40 rail.

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We we received our second jig for Nn3 dual gauge switches from FastTracks and they have incorporated my suggested changes based on the a couple of minor problems I experienced with the original scaled down version from HO. I have built a bunch more switches and am well pleased the the product. I am not too proud to say I build a better switch using the jig than I do freehand. They seem to work right out of the jig which my freehand ones did not. These jigs by the fact that they are dual gauge can produce several types of switch. A standard gauge no 6 turnout, a narrow gauge turnout, a dual gauge turnout, and a crossing to allow the narrow gauge to cross one side of standard gauge track to become dual gauge track with either the left or the right hand rail as the common. .

Here is are several other pictures of other switches available. From left to right :-
a switch made by Mike Chenoweth on the left of the left picture below;
two switches constructed using skeletons from RLW and laser cut tie beds from a Z-scale supplier
on the right of the left hand picture;
On the right is a picture of a pair of code 55 Wright turnouts, that are very well made and perform great.
All these switches have isolated frogs which need switched power from the turnout motor to get the correct polarity at the frog,
so they are suitable for DCC operation.

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Text, layout, graphics, & design © 1999,- 2006
by G.A. Hamilton
last update to this page 6th November 2009
other graphics © of the owners who donated it as noted.