I just love the way that you narrirate these videos, so easy to listen to. The terminology we call them turnouts, the British call them the points, British steam is so neat, yea it grows on you, I so glad that there is a very active preservation in the UK.
Great video! I’ve just started using these, have two points controlled by these. Really loved the tear down as I have one lever that has a locking mechanism come adrift inside, now I know what’s inside I think I can fix it.
These really are a quality product. I made a frame a few years ago and have had no problems with contacts at all. The levers on mine are connected to relays to do the switching but one lever does directly power a solenoid motor and has never failed. In the past I used H&M switches and until trying these had not found anything to equal them for reliability. I enjoy using the lever frame as much as running the trains, the realistic operation of them cannot be beaten unless you were able to scratch build a locking frame.
So loved this video, Thankyou Jenny: one of the things I have always lived about model railway was the hornby point levers - these are so fantastic. Would have to build a small building for this. Oh dear what an investment. Love the way you have done this video just like all your others, so easy to listen to and understand. Thankyou so so much. All best Marc
Hi Jennifer! I'm Shane! I live across the pond----way across the pond! I just got my point rodding a couple of days ago. This is very, very cool!!! I can hardly wait until I have it all working on the interlocking s! My railroad is the Utah, Promontory, and Wasatch of the Wasatch Range for short! I loved your video! It is the easiest to understand of all the reviews!
Good stuff Jenny, I've been eyeing off these levers for some time but never was sure how they would integrate with DCC. Your video explains it perfectly, thanks. John
the spacer i see as a fail. it would have just been better to make the housings a bit wider. (1/2 half the spacer thickness on each side of the control stand) so no "added" part required. not sure about use on my layout...yet. but looks good.
An excellent description of using the cobalt lever. On my layout I intend to use mechanical interlocking of levers. This would only be possible with cobalt levers if they included an accurately machined hole and a stirrup connection to which the locking tappets would connect. I fear such modifications would be prohibitively expensive.
Hmmm... what you've got there is roughly 300 pounds invested in the signal levers and ancillaries, and yes, it looks wonderful, and I'm sure the quality is superb. Is the setup really worth that much more than a row of cheapy hornby, peco, trix whathaveyou passing contact levers that do the same job? Unlike dcc loco control dcc controlled turnouts still operate exactly the same as analogue. Arguably the wiring advantages are excellent, especially for comprehensive layouts. For that matter though, for a more comprehensive layout I wouldn't know if a thousand pounds spent on a row of levers would outweigh wiring? Realistically, on an old layout I had 96 points, that's 1,600 pounds for levers alone. Even a moderate design with say 35 points is still 600 odd quid. Fantastic equipment but???? I think a more plausible target might be an exquisite shelf O layout, with say 4 points and signals maybe?
Aaah Jen!! You made it!!❤️❤️ Looks brilliant 👌👌 Also The new intro music is great, reminds me a little bit of "symphony of destruction" by Megadeath!😉❤️
Hi Jenny. Thanks for an interesting video. I have been using an ADS-2sx. The only drawback I have found is that if the point is moved by hand, for example, because there is a derailment, then the system does not detect that! Peco make a microswitch called PL-15. It is meant for changing the frog polarity, but you could use it to indicate which way the point was physically set, for example, if it was jammed by a derailed loco. You may like to experiment with this and that'll be another video! Thanks for uploading.
Hey Jennifer, here’s hoping that you will do a video on the new DCC ESP system - I love DCC products but their instruction pdf’s seem to go out of their way to complicate and confuse things.
Nice video Jenny 😉👍 I had some old Hornby ones donkeys years ago of these switches. Probably dead now. At least If I ever get settled I know I could get newer ones.
It is only in the last 6 months that I found out that Distant semaphore levers were painted green. I have not seen a model lever frame reflecting the earlier practice. Maybe I should make my own.
Can these be opened and used manually?? That is using the lever to push and pull a wire that is going to the turnout. My layout will not have any powered turnouts and I am looking for a way to control them. I like the idea of the push and pull with the break as my turnouts have no springs on them, they are the less expensive ones here in the states... I'm so very glad that you took the unit apart. I can see that I can drill a connection hole in the arm where I can place the push wire. If these are not to much money, I may be using them a lot... Sounds like they may be more than I want to spend but I have gotten a lot of ideas on making some myself. Thank you...
Thanks btw. You have covered the construction and robustness nicely, but I am presuming that was with the view to a sensible operator. Would you let a couple of 7 year olds loose on them?
Is there a tie bar if two points are serving same purpose or just leave it as one lever and just leave it programmed to 2 points. I suspect so I guess just gut the second unit and it will give a look as there were two put together. For pathetic only. Cheers. Have a nice day
They are very nice and would look great on anybodies layout, but when you have 40 + Points and many isolated sections on your layout it works out very expensive so they are not for me. I am still waiting for a reply from DCC concepts on some questions that I sent via their website. maybe I will hear something soon. Good to everybody that will use these lovely Levels and control units. Martin. (Thailand)
I was thinking the same, I have around 40 cobalt motors which wasnt cheap. Very good though. My ecos controller powers them all with a map as well showing point position. She has done a good job.
Thank very much for this video about your lever controled model railway layout. A question I have, how did you realized your lever interlocking? Normally the levers working together in addition with an interlocking register. It is cascade interlocking system which allows to switch the levers into other position after one special lever had been switched first and than do switching the other levers. The modratec levers from Australia coming with Saxby & Farmer Interlocking register as kits or for extra money as ready to use leverframes. Me I am building my own lever interlocking register built by interlocking register plans of german Buessing (built by Juedel in Brunswick) Interlocking register, a nice combination of british levers with german interlocking register. Greetings from Germany, Ingo
So my question is if you were to change a point using the handset what then happens with the levers. Obviously they don't physically move but they are then in the wrong position?
Hi Jenny & Zoe. They are lovely levers. They are also very Tri-ang ish. As you may know I am using old Tri-ang passing levers but hard wired to escape the awful push in pins. Are these lever passing contacts switches. Regards PVA Jaycloth Alan at Buckland Junction :o)
I mused on the whole design and wondered if any died in the wool modeller went the extra mile ( and chain ) to connect these lever frames up to rodding and signal wires? Is it feasible?
Many years ago, I bought a kit of 21 levers and quadrants that were 1/12 scale of a Stevenson frame. I can't remember who made them, but would be surprised if they are still around. Anyway, I built the frame up to operate the points and signals for a small branch terminal, and they were all operated mechanically, except for one distant signal that was electric. The finishing touch was that the levers were all mechanically interlocked, so that a signal could only be pulled if the correct route was set, and once the signal was cleared, none of the points in that route could be moved until the signal was put back. I still have the frame, but the layout has long since been dismantled.
If you have a mimic panel can they work with that? Presumably if you control your points from the cab / or a mimic panel with control switches / or any kind of auto track planning software then the levers are now wrong ?
Yes, the levers cannot change if you change the points from the handset, however it isn’t a problem as the levers just synch with the points next time you move either.
dear Jenifer. some of us have real sound systems and being suddenly blasted with awful music is off putting. if you must do a music video. please can we have the horrible music at the same level as the narration. drop the music and talk to us your views and opinions are whatwe want to hear, not bad music
Hi Jenny I really enjoyed the video I am in the process of buy these levers so you helped me quite allot cheers.
They’re so colorful like the real thing. Lever frames are one of the most appealing aspects of signaling.
I just love the way that you narrirate these videos, so easy to listen to. The terminology we call them turnouts, the British call them the points, British steam is so neat, yea it grows on you, I so glad that there is a very active preservation in the UK.
Many thanks!
Excellent informative video Jenny I really like that each lever is 3 switches in one,I can see me installing some.👍😀😀😀😀🚂
Great video! I’ve just started using these, have two points controlled by these.
Really loved the tear down as I have one lever that has a locking mechanism come adrift inside, now I know what’s inside I think I can fix it.
So Cool! What a detailed description
Great description of the levers and how they work. Look really excellent.👍
Thanks!
You are very welcome and credit for building that in a confined space.👍
This was soo cool, thanks Jenny, im so inspired
Your bank of levers look lovely.
Also, I approve of your new intro.
Thanks!
Very nicely done Jennifer. You did a fab job on the DEMO on this product .And it looks really neat set up.
Thanks!
These really are a quality product. I made a frame a few years ago and have had no problems with contacts at all. The levers on mine are connected to relays to do the switching but one lever does directly power a solenoid motor and has never failed. In the past I used H&M switches and until trying these had not found anything to equal them for reliability. I enjoy using the lever frame as much as running the trains, the realistic operation of them cannot be beaten unless you were able to scratch build a locking frame.
So loved this video, Thankyou Jenny: one of the things I have always lived about model railway was the hornby point levers - these are so fantastic. Would have to build a small building for this. Oh dear what an investment. Love the way you have done this video just like all your others, so easy to listen to and understand. Thankyou so so much. All best Marc
Wonderful I loved the way you shared you time making this video.
Very good video Jenny I have been looking at these lots of functions in one lever they look well made as well. I am still building my N gauge layout.
They are incredibly well made - a joy to use.
Hi Jennifer! I'm Shane! I live across the pond----way across the pond! I just got my point rodding a couple of days ago. This is very, very cool!!! I can hardly wait until I have it all working on the interlocking s! My railroad is the Utah, Promontory, and Wasatch of the Wasatch Range for short! I loved your video! It is the easiest to understand of all the reviews!
Good stuff Jenny, I've been eyeing off these levers for some time but never was sure how they would integrate with DCC. Your video explains it perfectly, thanks. John
You’re welcome!
Really great presentation jenny 👏 and well explained 👏 think ill be purchasing a few leavers myself 👍
Thanks! You won’t regret it.
Thank you Miss Jennifer
Hallo Jennifer schöne Grüße aus Elsfleth Deutschland, schön dich zu sehen. 👍👍👍👍❤️
These are 10000% going on the new layout!
Excellent!
the spacer i see as a fail. it would have just been better to make the housings a bit wider.
(1/2 half the spacer thickness on each side of the control stand) so no "added" part required.
not sure about use on my layout...yet. but looks good.
They look fantastic
Quality UA-cam! Thank you Jenny!
Another great video Jenny, really informative!
Thanks!
An excellent description of using the cobalt lever.
On my layout I intend to use mechanical interlocking of levers. This would only be possible with cobalt levers if they included an accurately machined hole and a stirrup connection to which the locking tappets would connect. I fear such modifications would be prohibitively expensive.
So cool the levers, never seen them on a layout before
Hmmm... what you've got there is roughly 300 pounds invested in the signal levers and ancillaries, and yes, it looks wonderful, and I'm sure the quality is superb.
Is the setup really worth that much more than a row of cheapy hornby, peco, trix whathaveyou passing contact levers that do the same job?
Unlike dcc loco control dcc controlled turnouts still operate exactly the same as analogue.
Arguably the wiring advantages are excellent, especially for comprehensive layouts. For that matter though, for a more comprehensive layout I wouldn't know if a thousand pounds spent on a row of levers would outweigh wiring?
Realistically, on an old layout I had 96 points, that's 1,600 pounds for levers alone. Even a moderate design with say 35 points is still 600 odd quid.
Fantastic equipment but????
I think a more plausible target might be an exquisite shelf O layout, with say 4 points and signals maybe?
That is really cool!
That's what I was looking forward to. Thanks!
Aaah Jen!! You made it!!❤️❤️ Looks brilliant 👌👌
Also
The new intro music is great, reminds me a little bit of "symphony of destruction" by Megadeath!😉❤️
It’s actually a snippet of the instrumental version of a track called ‘casual boys’ by the group Terry Poison.
Hi Jenny. Thanks for an interesting video. I have been using an ADS-2sx. The only drawback I have found is that if the point is moved by hand, for example, because there is a derailment, then the system does not detect that! Peco make a microswitch called PL-15. It is meant for changing the frog polarity, but you could use it to indicate which way the point was physically set, for example, if it was jammed by a derailed loco. You may like to experiment with this and that'll be another video! Thanks for uploading.
Hey Jennifer, here’s hoping that you will do a video on the new DCC ESP system - I love DCC products but their instruction pdf’s seem to go out of their way to complicate and confuse things.
Damn, I was trying to build the layout on the cheep using only the electronics I had and then I saw this!
bang goes my savings!
Nice video Jenny 😉👍
I had some old Hornby ones donkeys years ago of these switches. Probably dead now. At least If I ever get settled I know I could get newer ones.
awesome video
Think Ive still got some of the dublo point switches in storage in my loft!
It is only in the last 6 months that I found out that Distant semaphore levers were painted green. I have not seen a model lever frame reflecting the earlier practice. Maybe I should make my own.
Can these be opened and used manually?? That is using the lever to push and pull a wire that is going to the turnout. My layout will not have any powered turnouts and I am looking for a way to control them. I like the idea of the push and pull with the break as my turnouts have no springs on them, they are the less expensive ones here in the states... I'm so very glad that you took the unit apart. I can see that I can drill a connection hole in the arm where I can place the push wire. If these are not to much money, I may be using them a lot... Sounds like they may be more than I want to spend but I have gotten a lot of ideas on making some myself. Thank you...
Really good so with all this available maybe somebody should make a modern version of the Triang signal bell kit ( I have 3) and prices are crazy
Very interesting and informative, thanks
Wonderful video. Great explanation. Thank you.
Thanks btw. You have covered the construction and robustness nicely, but I am presuming that was with the view to a sensible operator. Would you let a couple of 7 year olds loose on them?
They are actually really sturdy and with supervision I think 7 year olds would be safe to use them.
Is there a tie bar if two points are serving same purpose or just leave it as one lever and just leave it programmed to 2 points. I suspect so I guess just gut the second unit and it will give a look as there were two put together. For pathetic only. Cheers. Have a nice day
SOLD!
They are very nice and would look great on anybodies layout, but when you have 40 + Points and many isolated sections on your layout it works out very expensive so they are not for me. I am still waiting for a reply from DCC concepts on some questions that I sent via their website. maybe I will hear something soon. Good to everybody that will use these lovely Levels and control units. Martin. (Thailand)
I was thinking the same, I have around 40 cobalt motors which wasnt cheap. Very good though. My ecos controller powers them all with a map as well showing point position. She has done a good job.
Love the fact you've got the signaller's armchair in the corner. Might still be a bit small to pull any levers though hehe
There real nice id love to add them to Penna Lane but tbh i think another layout for them is needed
Love this
Thank very much for this video about your lever controled model railway layout.
A question I have, how did you realized your lever interlocking?
Normally the levers working together in addition with an interlocking register.
It is cascade interlocking system which allows to switch the levers into other position after one special lever had been switched first and than do switching the other levers.
The modratec levers from Australia coming with Saxby & Farmer Interlocking register as kits or for extra money as ready to use leverframes.
Me I am building my own lever interlocking register built by interlocking register plans of german Buessing (built by Juedel in Brunswick) Interlocking register, a nice combination of british levers with german interlocking register.
Greetings from Germany,
Ingo
Jen, Is it possible to purchase a (Wear Yard sign) For my layout, from your site?? Awesome video! 🇺🇸 😎
It was bought from a company that makes them to order. I will look to do a video on the details in the next few weeks.
Looks fantastic!
Would I be able to use the levers to operate the Dapol motorised signals in a DC system?
The momentary contact switches would trigger the Dapol signal.
So my question is if you were to change a point using the handset what then happens with the levers. Obviously they don't physically move but they are then in the wrong position?
Nothing happens. When you then move the lever the encoder sends the signal but as the point is already set that way it stays set that way.
@@JenniferEKirk thanks :)
Hi Jenny & Zoe. They are lovely levers. They are also very Tri-ang ish. As you may know I am using old Tri-ang passing levers but hard wired to escape the awful push in pins. Are these lever passing contacts switches. Regards PVA Jaycloth Alan at Buckland Junction :o)
What point motors/solenoids are you using Jennifer? Great video by the way!
I mused on the whole design and wondered if any died in the wool modeller went the extra mile ( and chain ) to connect these lever frames up to rodding and signal wires? Is it feasible?
Many years ago, I bought a kit of 21 levers and quadrants that were 1/12 scale of a Stevenson frame. I can't remember who made them, but would be surprised if they are still around. Anyway, I built the frame up to operate the points and signals for a small branch terminal, and they were all operated mechanically, except for one distant signal that was electric. The finishing touch was that the levers were all mechanically interlocked, so that a signal could only be pulled if the correct route was set, and once the signal was cleared, none of the points in that route could be moved until the signal was put back. I still have the frame, but the layout has long since been dismantled.
Can you wire a cobalt s-lever to a cobalt ip or do you have to use an alpha between them?
Does this only work with NCE as I prefer the gaugemaster prodigy dcc02 ?
They work with any DCC system.
If you have a mimic panel can they work with that?
Presumably if you control your points from the cab / or a mimic panel with control switches / or any kind of auto track planning software then the levers are now wrong ?
Yes, the levers cannot change if you change the points from the handset, however it isn’t a problem as the levers just synch with the points next time you move either.
More vinyl records! They're going to get scratched.
How to turn a hobby into to a tech nightmare to change a point , my god ,lol rocket science at its finest . Great video for electrical engineer's.
dear Jenifer. some of us have real sound systems and being suddenly blasted with awful music is off putting. if you must do a music video. please can we have the horrible music at the same level as the narration. drop the music and talk to us your views and opinions are whatwe want to hear, not bad music
Might be a little TOO realistic lol
fab i must get a load were yours free Jenny ?