3 way switch

[garethjellis]

I built a 3 way switch probably over a year ago based on Ondrew Hartigan's experimentation. Today I finished it by balasting it. It was pretty tricky but losley based on the instructions at l-guage.org

3 way Lego train switch by Gareth Ellis, on Flickr

3 way Lego Train switch ballasted by Gareth Ellis, on Flickr

[davidzq]

I am very surprised at how well that ballast worked out (even if there is a piece missing in the top left!). Well done!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I would have your rails collection ...this switch is a piece of art!

Have you any pictures about building this switch?

[higgins91]

nice work ! can you detail the assembly ?

thank's

[garethjellis]

Thanks for the compliments,

Ondrew Hartigan was the pioneer of the switch hacking, here are some excellent photographs of his work.

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=142467

[3D LEGO]

garethjellis,

I am sensing a strong need for the god hand here. But brilliantly designed none the less. With the ballasting it almost hides its multi-faceted capabilities as if to detract fro its intended purpose while hiding in the guise of yet another run of rail and ties. I wonder how prevalent such configurations are in real life application. It seems to me that it would be one of those evils to avoid if at all possible yet learn to live with if no other choice was available. (Cost, room constraints, etc.)

Now lets hope that that is not the junction switch where the mainline diverges into three separate directions. I would hate to be the man in charge of that switch. An untimely sneeze, a momentary memory lapse and the president and his entourage are long on their way to New Orleans... and not Chicago.

3D LEGO

[TheLegoKing]

I love this!!! Im doing it as my next major project!

[kieran]

Very nice, well done. Must have taken ages cutting those switches to shape

[legoman666]

What happens when you throw both levers :)

[Phoxtane]

What happens when you throw both levers :)

Bad things - but since it's the only choice out of four different positions for the switches that doesn't work, I imagine that avoiding that particular setting would become second nature quickly.

[TheLegoKing]

Thanks for posting this and the original place you got the idea. mine is half done, i just need to buy plastic cement.