 Joined: 02/08/2014(UTC) Posts: 783 Location: NEW JERSEY, USA
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Hello all, Purely by accident I noticed a gap in the outer rail of one of my curved switches. I was surprized because after all these years only now I saw it. I believe the factory did this so they would be able to just use rail from a 5200 and a make-up section (not sure of the #). There is no rail joiner here and some degree of misalignment can be an issue with age and condition of the switch. I am curious though, Did this gap ever have any other purpose such as an insulated rail for signaling a relay etc? Thanks, Mikey   |
I love the smell of smoke fluid in the morning . |
 2 users liked this useful post by analogmike
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 Joined: 18/11/2008(UTC) Posts: 495 Location: Oakville, Ontario
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Hi Mikey,
My 5142 (5140R) doesn't have that gap - the outer rail is a single piece. I only have this one curved switch in my M track collection. I believe it was bought in the late 60s or early 70s. I does have the tiny lantern box to show switch direction.
This doesn't answer your question, but probably creates more confusion. Maybe there was a change in manufacturing methods of these switches somewhere in Marklin's history?
Cheers,
Harold.
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1 user liked this useful post by Crazy Harry
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 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,475 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: analogmike  Hello all,
Purely by accident I noticed a gap in the outer rail of one of my curved switches. I was surprized because after all these years only now I saw it.
I believe the factory did this so they would be able to just use rail from a 5200 and a make-up section (not sure of the #).
There is no rail joiner here and some degree of misalignment can be an issue with age and condition of the switch.
I am curious though, Did this gap ever have any other purpose such as an insulated rail for signaling a relay etc?
Thanks,
Mikey
I wonder if this was a very early production where they did use the rails from the standard parts to see how popular this point was in terms of sales before making custom parts. I think I would look at fitting a rail joiner to ensure they stayed inline. Th ejoiner may need to be shortened to fit between the sleepers though.
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1 user liked this useful post by kiwiAlan
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 Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC) Posts: 9,593 Location: Australia
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I have heaps of these and will check tomorrow.. I have never noticed a gap either..  |
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1 user liked this useful post by xxup
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 Joined: 20/01/2015(UTC) Posts: 1,201 Location: Kerikeri
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JHI Mikey, I just checked. Both curves on those points are 5100. The join almost coincides with the outer rail on the 5100 track. I think from yours to mine, and using the socket as a guide, the outer rail on the 5100 is just a smidgeon longer, but maybe the socket can be in different places. Who knows, but that's my guess. None of my 5140 sets have that join though.
Dereck |
Northland. NZ REMEMBER 0228 for ä |
1 user liked this useful post by dominator
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Joined: 20/01/2015(UTC) Posts: 1,201 Location: Kerikeri
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Maybe workers throughout the world are the same. A practical joke every now and again, and the quality controller saw it and let it go through.
Save it. You know, mistakes can be worth a lot of money in the future.
Dereck |
Northland. NZ REMEMBER 0228 for ä |
2 users liked this useful post by dominator
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Joined: 02/08/2014(UTC) Posts: 783 Location: NEW JERSEY, USA
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Thanks for all the replies, last night I went digging and thought for sure that I would find the right hand switch of the pair, but no...All I found out was that I have way too many of these damn things in my collection. This isn't counting the nine more on the layout. It's confirmed: I am an official Marklin hoarder! Chuff, Chuff, Chuff  Maybe I can post it on Ebay for like $9,000,000.00 "Rare! One of a kind! Exclusive! Don't miss out on this highly collectible Marklin artifact!  Mikey  |
I love the smell of smoke fluid in the morning . |
5 users liked this useful post by analogmike
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Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC) Posts: 9,593 Location: Australia
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Sounds to me like your layout must be too small if you have all those track pieces left over.. |
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2 users liked this useful post by xxup
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Joined: 06/07/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,316
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Originally Posted by: xxup Sounds to me like your layout must be too small if you have all those track pieces left over.. Might be even worse than what we are being led to believe. Can you imagine being told to “ mind the gap” with that turnout! The horrors! 
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3 users liked this useful post by michelvr
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Joined: 20/01/2015(UTC) Posts: 1,201 Location: Kerikeri
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Maybe I can post it on Ebay for like $9,000,000.00 "Rare! One of a kind! Exclusive! Don't miss out on this highly collectible Marklin artifact! LOL
Mikey
Attaboy. Goforit
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Northland. NZ REMEMBER 0228 for ä |
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Joined: 02/02/2017(UTC) Posts: 694 Location: England, South Coast
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Hello, can you tell me postage cost to Outer Mongolia?
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