When people operated on my previous S scale layout (Port Rowan in 1:64), one of the highlights for many was my use of garden scale switch stands to control the turnouts. I was determined to revisit this idea for my current S scale project, the Niagara St. Catharines & Toronto Railway.
The challenge was that my original source for the stands – a garden railway supplier called Sunset Valley Railroad (SVRR) – no longer produces these. Naturally, I salvaged the stands from Port Rowan when I tore down that layout, but the NS&T is a more extensive system and I didn’t have enough for my current needs.
Fortunately, I did some searching online and discovered a very similar stand is now offered by Accucraft – one of the largest suppliers to railway modellers working in the outdoor scales. They are not exact copies of the SVRR stands so I ordered a few to confirm they could be converted to my needs. Once I was satisfied, I placed a large order to ensure I have enough for present and future requirements.
As with the SVRR stands, the Accucraft models needed a longer shaft to extend through a shelf, plus a lever on the bottom to operate the control cables supplied with the Bullfrog manual switch controls offered by Fast Tracks. I also decided I wanted to add taller shafts and CNR-style oval targets.
I now have 10 of these in operation and I’m very pleased. At some point, I will add chains and padlocks to the stands that control switches on main tracks, as on the prototype.
The Model Railway Show 