Piko Turnouts

[pennsyj1fan]

Has anyone used Piko turnouts. I have Aristo and frequently the locos derail as if the frogs are too high. Please give me your opinion with Piko if you have them as they seem affordable to change out if I need to. If there is any way to fix the Aristo turnouts please let me know also. Thank you, Steve

[cacole]

To answer the first part of your question, no, I have not used any of the Piko turnouts.

But, I've had similar problems with some of my Aristo turnouts and it turned out to be uneven roadbed allowing a slight twist in the rail.

Take a level to your turnout that is giving you the problem and make absolutely sure everything is perfectly level all the way through.

I don't know why, but Aristo turnouts seem to be very susceptible of uneven track causing derailments.

[captain perry]

I would add that keeping the tracks which are imedeately adjacent to the switch level is also important.  if the track imediately dips or rises, you can have probelms

[dwbeckett]

If your Aristo turnout are of the 10wide type ( older ) aristo has a fix for the high frog. The cost of $1.00 is cheap compaired to the problems. I had 4 of the older type that I repaired and have almost eliminated switch derails. My switch's sit on 8" x 16" cap stones and are ballisted lightly and they are level, side-to-side. hope this help's I run B-mann, Aristo and USA trains engins.

Dave 

[Greg Elmassian]

The frogs aren't the only problem with the WR turnouts, the guardrail flangeway width is also a problem, plus they often can take some grinding on the points to make them fit better to the stock rails and thin the tips.

I have a few pages on this on my site: http://www.elmassian.com/trains-mainmenu-27/track-mainmenu-93/aristo-track/aristo-wide-radius-switches-mainmenu-96

It's not normally just the frog.

Regards, Greg

 

 

[MRTerry]

Dear Pennsy Fan,

I reviewed the Piko R1 turnouts, and I use Piko R1 and also R5 (1243mm radius) turnouts myself. I've found them to be excellent, and I'm very satisfied with them. I can run relatively long-wheelbase steam locomotives through them without problems, and in my experience they are consistently in gauge. They also feature a built-in spring that holds the points in place.

Thanks for reading Garden Railways,

Terry

[pennsyj1fan]

Terry, thank you for your reply, I need to change out my Aristo basic turnouts and will try the Piko items. thanks again, Steve

[MRTerry]

You're welcome - good luck with your railroad!

Terry

[mcapp1087]

I agree that PIKO turnouts are great.  I got so frustrated with my old turnouts causing derailments and making some engines "jump" through the switch that I finally took them out and dumped them.  I've yet to have a problem with the PIKO manual turnout and it operates smooth as silk.