The problem was that a critical turnout between the yard and the main line was hard to get to, especially as frequently as necessary. So I installed a Piko turnout motor with an easy to reach, remote control switch. All worked fine for a few days, then not. I tore apart the control switch, could find nothing wrong but replaced it anyway. No go Joe. So then I went down to my local auto parts store, bought a 12’ choke cable, installed it, and now I can throw the turnout manually like a champ from 12’ away. Several guys in our club took a lesson from my experience and are also installing choke cables to their hard-to-reach turnouts. Now you guys in LSC, c’mon and tell me that you’ve know of this technology for years and wonder what rock we just came out from under.
There are very few “new” ideas in this hobby. Fr… Fred and his gang of merry men up in Ottawa have been using choke cables for some time. Recently the even mounted them on raised holders so no bending was require to reach the handles… The following from: http://ovgrs.editme.com/Switches
(http://ovgrs.editme.com/files/Switches/Throw-C.jpg)
Cool, Jon. Thanks. I do remember having see the second of your pictures before, therefore the Ottawa solution was probably ingrained in my subconscious.
What a great idea!
-Kevin.
Yeah. I’m surprised no one ever thought of it before… :lol: 
Watch out with that automotive choke cable. Back in 2007 I built a train yard and part of it was under steps which made the throws hard to reach so I used 4 choke cables to make em work. The first summer they worked great (big pat on my back) right WRONG after the north east winter was through with them that Spring they had rusted up and were junk.
In retrospect I should have pulled the cable out of the sleeve and filled it with grease to stop the rusting. I went back to the manual throws.
Recently I set up another turnout leading to a WYE which is about 8’ away and under a bush so instead of choke cables I got a plastic line used to bring water to a refrigerator and ran a greased up metal wire through it. So far so good.
That is a great idea to run the knob up a pole so you don’t have to bend over.
Todd
I think you’ve got something there, Todd… And hobby shops sell all plastic model aircraft control rods in plastic sleeves like long soda straws. I’ve only seen 3-footers, but that length might be useful in some locations. I bought about four of 'em in 1969 for this purpose… they’re still down in my workshop! Such foresight…
Bicycle brake and gear changing cables which are enclosed in a sheath?
Wendell Hanks said:Wendell, I've given that some serious thought, and even tried a mockup, but no joy. The cables in a bicycle brake or gear cable are stranded, and require springs to activate.
Bicycle brake and gear changing cables which are enclosed in a sheath?
Choke cables a solid wire an require no such thing.
Think of herding cats, and that is how effective a bike cable will be… :lol:
Just means you have a return spring at the turnout… and then you have to be able to latch the cable in the “activated” position…
too much more stuff than the simple solid choke cable in my opinion.
Greg
Hello Fellow Model Railroaders,
I think you all have some GREAT IDEA’S but I have not seen any mention of the OUTBOARD MOTOR SHIFT or THROTTLE CABLE. A new cable can be very expensive but if you visit boatyards and Boat Repair Shops I am sure that they will save the used one’s or broken one’s for you. The advantage of using this cable is that it is MADE for THE OUTDOORS and they come in many lengths. This Spring I installesd a new cable on my boat and that is when the idea came to me.
This is just my 2 cents.
Happy Railroading,
Most good choke cables seem to have a stainless steel wire in them, and only require a streak of plain old WD30 motor oil on the sheth once a year to prevent problems…I have several that have been in place for over 5 years without anything but a dribble of oil once a year. I tried running them in a plastic tube, but it was of little help, in fact it seemed to promote rusting.
Hello again Fred, and that sounds good, too, Ron…
Fred - yr avatar, the old familiar boozy monk - it’s good to see that little image flipping back and forth here again! Hope you’re feeling MUCH better…
choke cables are geting harder to find but you can use the cables from lawn mowers
I learned that the local auto parts store calls them a “utility cable”, and they don’t seem to be hard to come by at all.