| Here is a picture of the original switch located in Snaefell on the Isle of Man. |
| Unlike my previous two switches, I decided to build this one in situ as its geometry is critical. |
| I decided to extend the ties from the new track all the way to the existing main line so that when I rebuild the grade crossing, the entire thing will be supported and will move as a single piece. |
| The outer rails of the wye are temporary in place to check the geometry. |
| At that point, one of the inner rail still needs to be cut. Keeping it long made it easy to check the alignement. |
| The blade is in place! It is made of a flat steel strap used by carpenters for connecting beams together. There is a steel tip welded at the end to act as a thin point (while a rail could be filed down to the right shape, the aluminum would not be very robust). The pivot is made of a half inch diameter steel rod welded to the bottom of the plate and resting into an oversize tie. |
| This picture and the next show the two positions of the blade. It does not close completely yet: the base plate needs to be ground some more. |
| DSC00467.JPG |
| The rail is held in place by a "few" screws... |
| The two diverging rails are held in place by screws holding them to a steel strap bent at a right angle and attached to the oversize tie. |
| DSC00470.JPG |
| The two grey plastic strips seen across the tracks have grooves machined in them to keep the rails in gauge. |