Lionel Fastrack switches

[woodman]

This past Christmas I purchased a Lionel Train set for my grandson, also I purchased a lot of extra track. My question is that I am now looking for some switches, but I am totally confused as to  which ones to buy. What is the standard switch, I see 0-36, 072, 060, what do I buy? Also what do they mean by Command Control  Switches. All I want is a standard size switch that I can operate remotely. I need 6 switches for a 5' X 12' layout. I would appreciate any info you can give me.

[Kooljock1]

The basic FasTrack loop comes with O-36 curves.  So if you want to place switches within the curve geometry, then you want O-36 switches.  If they're places on straight sections, then it doesn't matter, except that they take up more length and more wallet.

Jon

[Trains1937]

Command control switches have circuitry built into them so that they can be operated directly by a Cab 1 in Lionel's train master command control system. They are very expensive and not for someone who is only interested in wired remote control.You want 0-36 switches that are described as remote controlled.

[ADCX Rob]

Trains1937

They are very expensive and not for someone who is only interested in wired remote control.You want 0-36 switches that are described as remote controlled.

Better act fast. Remote-only non-command switches are being phased out. Only remote/command switches(and O-36 manual switches) will be offered in future catalogs.

[David Barker]

Sounds like money talks, economy walks.

[David Barker]

Personally I like tubular track better, followed by Gargraves.  Includes Lionel, Marx and Flyer

[lion88roar]

The Command Control Switches have the circuitry for the Legacy Control System (LCS) built into them. TMCC (Train Master Command Control) is no longer offered by Lionel as the technology is out-of-date and too expensive to continue to support. Lionel Starter sets come with O36 curves, so the typical starting point for switches is O36. As for price... we've been down this path on the forum so many times grass no longer grows there. If you average out the price of track, foam roadbed to lift the sectional track to ballast height, cost of ballast, glue, and the time to put it all down - FasTrack is VERY cost effective and actually can be cheaper than many other track systems... take Atlas 21st Century track (what I use)... switches start at $65.00 and they do not come equipped with LCS. The track is not ballasted, and has been rising in price every year while becoming harder and harder to find. If I had it to do over I would have stuck with FasTrack and gone with all LCS Switches.

[Trains1937]

I wonder about the wisdom of phasing out the remote controlled switches.  For the layout builder who uses conventional control there will be no choice but to use manual switches.  

[ADCX Rob]

That's not true.

What they're doing is still making the remote switches, as they have been, that part has not changed.

The only change is that they have added TMCC circuitry to all remote switches and changed the catalog numbers to reflect this. They will all come with wired remotes. The TMCC switches' catalog numbers are being dropped.

[Trains1937]

A few years ago I dismantled a large layout made with tubular track and O022s, mainly because of problems with derailments on both switches and straightaways.   Replaced it with a much smaller switching layout using all fastrack track and switches.  I used the remote switches and connected them to SC-2s.  The improvement was significant and made running toy trains enjoyable again.  

[servoguy]

A few years ago, I posted directions on how to restore 022 switches to perfect operation.  Google it:  022/711 switch operating pblms.  It is on this forum.  If these instructions are followed, the 022 switches work perfectly.

[servoguy]

BTW, my favorite is tubular track and 022 switches.  It is cheap, I already have boxes of it, and it is easy to cut the track for special applications.  I have some 022 switches that I have cut down so that I can make parallel tracks for yards that are close together.