Trains.com

Lionel Post War #042 Manual switch Question

552 views
1 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 15 posts
Lionel Post War #042 Manual switch Question
Posted by rahway valley on Monday, November 6, 2006 5:31 PM

I'm building a Lionel "display" type railroad using Lionel manual Postwar #042 switches.( 031 path)
Will current production Williams and MTH Railking trains operate thru this type switch without a problem? I"ve read that these older switches can cause derailments.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Don

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Lake Worth FL
  • 4,014 posts
Posted by phillyreading on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 10:55 AM

I think that you have the issue turned around, mainly from what I have read in CTT magazine the current MTH & others should have no problem with these older switches. The problem is when you use pre-war trains with newer switches as the grooves in the newer switches are too shallow for pre-war or post-war locomotives to go thru.  Some of the wheels on the pre-war like the 226 were made with larger drive wheels with flanges that are an extra 1/16 of an inch larger than the 224E.

Lee F.

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month