K-Line Switches

[Anonymous]

....the O gauge type....good or bad? Tell me what you think. Thank you.

[spankybird]

I have used the 027 low profile K-line switches for years with no problems. I like them.

Much better than the Lionel ones.

[brianel027]

K-Line recently revised their turnout design. The older ones have a very large switchbox housing... even worse than the Lionel ones. The news ones have an extremely low profile housing, even though the oversized "footprint" base is still the same size. Other than that, I think the basic design (even the older ones) of the K-Line turnout is better than the Lionel ones (as far as 027 track goes). Lionel is using the same design that was developed in 1970 during the MPC era of Lionel.

I would have rather seen Lionel make long needed minor improvements to 027 track, especially the turnouts, rather than have come up with FasTrack but opinions differ on this.

Do a search here for K-Line turnouts. There was a detailed thread on them at one time, with lots of info. The overall recommendation on the new ones is mostly positive, like Spankybird's. Walt Rapp had much to say on the new K-Line 027 turnouts.

[waltrapp]

Very easy to summarize - nothing but positives!!! [:)] Well, execpt that I had to trim some plastic off of a few of the right hand switches to prevent derailments (Interestingly all 6 of my left ones were OK).

It was SOOOOO nice being able to run ALL of my Railking stuff (i.e., passenger cars) on trackage that had switches, something I was unable to do when I used the Lionel switches.

But I have to admit, I miss that incessant buzzing! Yeah, right.

I am giving all of my 36 Lionel ones away, little by little. I'm not even trying to sell them.

I used the K-Line ones tied in with DCS and also stand-alone ("conventional"). Good performers. One switch seemed to need the auxiliary power to ensure that the non-derailing feature worked well, but hey, thank goodness K-Line gives us that option.

- Walt

[tadowler]

I was wondering if these are the switches you are referring to:

http://www.k-linetrains.com/products/viewprd_new.cfm?prdID=1B17620E-6C6C-11D4-ADA90060B0576B82&secID=B17A068D-6D44-11D4-ADA90060B0576B82

or

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=3773

It is hard to believe that they are so affordable.

- Todd [:)]

[spankybird]

Todd, those are the older style switches. The ones you want look like this



part number K-0265 & K-0266

be sure to ask if they are the low profile ones.

[jimhaleyscomet]

Todd,

K-line 027 switches are unbelievably affordable and high quality as well. I wondered how good they would be until I purchased my first set. I will never buy anything else for O27 track!

Jim H

[tadowler]

I have a loop of Atlas and I like the quality. However I have heard that the switches are not all that great. Atlas and O27 have nearly the same rail height and Atlas does sell joiners that would allow me to make the connection.

I was wondering if anyone had used K-Line switches with Atlas track? Do you think it is a good idea? Thanks!