I have not used fastrack switches, but they have a good reputation.
If you can live with manual switches, try Lionel 1024s. They are prewar/early-postwar. Relatively easy to find and inexpensive. And very, very, reliable.
DJSpanky,
I don't want to upset your apple cart so to speak but I am not impressed with Lionel's track systems lately. I have had some of Lionel's Fastrac and used it for about six months. I am not impressed with it even 1%. Some people love Lionel's Fastrac, but me I have learned to hate Fastrac after using it. It is a major expense to buy!!
That is why I have gone over to Gargraves switches and track. I have sold or traded off almost all my newer Lionel switches that I had, especially the O gauge 6-23011 series switches.
Lee F.
Neither Gargraves or Ross offer an 027 radius. I'll contact Lionel & see what they say. Thanks again. -Mark
Thanks, Bob. I'll give this a try. This layout is not permanent. I just wanted to run my Grandad's pre-war trains and built this small layout. But I went nuts buying all sort of stuff for it, so now I'm committed to large-scale. But the long-range plan is an O-layout, moving the pre-war to 027 track on a ledge in the basement, no switches. I'm going to send this to Lionel too & see what they say. -Mark
Yes - since all these switches are brand new, the non-derailing feature works on all, but there is a lot of electrical "activity" going on as all the cars pass over the track immediately on either side of the switches. This messes with the electronics of each locomotive I run. The new locomotive is a Lionel New York Central 0-8-0 from Freight Set #6-30103, with traction. -Mark
Thanks, Lee. I'll look into the other two switches you mentioned. Plus I'd better test the few FasTrack remote switches I have already purchased to make sure THEY will work! -Mark
I built a door sized layout for my nephew last year using 4 of those switches and they are a pain to operate over. The same thing happens to me with them but not on all of them. If the train is moving quickly over them then they seem fine but you can't creep over them or else that will happen. 2 of them have derailing issues on the straight leg when approached from the trailing side since I have a curve attached directly to it. A small straight piece would solve my issues.
I'm not real sure what to do about it at the moment. Over the summer I started a small O scale track company based around my stud rail system but I am currently working on a new line of O and O27 switches to take care of many issues with existing ones. Those are still in the development phase though but you can be sure that the tight O-27 switches will get tested out on my nephew's layout first and hopefully I can solve those issues. We'll see.
As an experiment, try running with everything disconnected from the three terminals of the turnouts. Be sure that you have the insulating pins installed in the control rails, that is, the two short rails of the turnout that make a V at the frog.
Bob Nelson
Does the non-derailing function of the switch actually work? On both older and newer equipment? What is your newer equipment? Is it furnished with traction tires?
I can't say what is going on with those 027 switches but maybe you should use another brand of switch like Ross Custom switches or Gargraves switches, as I have had problems with my Lionel switches in O gauge as well.
Fastrac gets expensive very quick and that is why I don't recommend it!! Wait until you need a very small piece of Fastrac and then you will see what I mean. Switches in Fastrac cost about $100.00 a piece(or $200.00 a pair) at my local hobby shop. Also Fastrac uses a larger curve radius than 027, so there is area of curves to be considered as well.
Does anyone have suggestions for a problem I am having with my small 027 layout? This is a door-sized layout with a figure 8 within an oval and one short spur to unload passengers at the station. I'm using 5 remote switches for this layout (65-122 & 65-121). The problem is (I think) with the non-derailing function of these remotes. I simply cannot run the new Lionel locomotives I just bought, and can only run my pre-war locomotives with the switch in the "only forward/only reverse" position. The engines short out with all the anti-derailing going on and stop dead in their tracks. It seems at least to me - a novice at model railroading. Can something be done in the wiring process to eliminate all this shorting going on? Or do I re-sell all my 027 stuff and go to FasTrack only? Thanks. -Mark
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