When I was installing track for my layout, i used a Peco curved turnout. All the diesels went through it without any issues but
the only steamer I had, a Bachmann 2-8-0, would ever so slightly occasionally lift up going through smaller radius direction.
All the wheels were in gauge, ran the engine slowly through the turnout while trying to observe what may cause the issue.
Could never identify the cause. It ran through every other turnout without a problem.
Building a turnout was on my bucket list. I decided to construct a curved turnout with a slightly larger radius to replace the
Peco. Downloaded a fastracks template and bought their HO pcb ties at the Amherst train show. Couldn't justify the cost of
a turnout jig just for one turnout. Made my share of mistakes during on and off periods of construction and finally got it
"pretty good"; but not good enough to replace the Peco turnout.
After all this this time, the mysterious lifting up of the 2-8-0 disappeared so the turnout sat in the box of track stuff. All
my turnouts are Caboose Industries operated or finger flick springs. Saw a miniature linear servo on Amazon and it
piqued my interest and promptly ordered a box of 2.
You can see my attempt at installing ties while trying to maintain rail alignment and getting everything glued at the same time.
Here's the servo mounted to the turnout. Have a servo tester attached and I can activate the throwbar by turning a knob. Been running
engines through the turnout on a jury rigged setup on the workbench. Kind of neat running a loco and car through the turnout, turn the
knob---zzt---throwbar moves---- run the train through the other side----.
All of this is academic right now since I no longer have a need to replace the Peco turnout. Some day I may have a use for this and I can
then dig out the Arduino and write some code to remotely operate the turnout, route power to the frog if needed, and illuminate some
route indicators on a fascia panel.