I have number of ground throws that are toward the back of a wide yard, about 28 to 32 inches from the front edge of the shelf. The ground throws are seldom used in this area of the yard, but when they are, I have to stretch to beyond a comfortable reach to throw them. Since I don't use them that often, I've put up with the reach rather than spend the money to motorize them (as I've done with a number of other hard to reach--but more frequently used--turnouts at other places on the layout). When some friends came over to operate recently, John commented it would be nice to have some tool to reach the ground throws at the back of the yard, so we brainstormed and came up with an inexpensive Ground Throw Thrower. The parts: a scrap piece of brass rod about 2 feet long an insulated spade terminal a strip of vinyl electrical tape I secured the spade terminal on the end of the brass rod and put a collar behind the spade to steady the tool when it was being positioned and used on a ground throw at arm's length.
To use the Ground Throw Thrower, you position the arms of the spade terminal on either side of the lever on the ground throw. Then twist the ground throw lever up... ...and all the way over. A heck of a lot less expensive than motorizing a half dozen hard to reach turnouts that are rarely used.
