Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
Layouts and layout building
»
Turnouts…Is one brand better to use than another?
Edit post
Edit your reply below.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
Bill, <br /> <br />I pretty much agree with Claycts assesment of switches. I prize looks and reliability. I have installed lots ME with no problems at all. Many people use crash and banger switch machines with these switches and they are too delicate for that. Those who use slow motion stall motors have better luck with ME. I have installed stops on my motors to limit the pressure exerted on the points in stall postion. If you wire the switches for DCC or use the DCC friendly type, you don't have to have tons of pressure holding the points against the stock rail because electrical contact is a non-issue. I use switchmaster motors. Yes they are more expensive, but it looks and works great. I bottom feed on Ebay anbd have picked up lots of deals on turnouts there. The problem with ME is that there is not a lot of variety. I end up using Walthers for curved turnouts and wyes... <br /> <br /> I also have some Walthers Shinohara....Pretty good as well. I have Peco code 100 in staging........Bullet proof. The Atlas stuff doesn't pass the looks test (and other issues) and Peco code 83 has quality issues with the points in their code 83 line (run a cab forward through the diverging route and watch it jump as the point rails roll slightly under the weight). <br /> <br />I would add another higher category of turnouts and that would be Railway engineering, BK enterprises and the old Darr brand. These are pre-built switches (rails only, no ties) that you spike down to ties that you glue down on the roadbed. Halfway between ready made and scratchbuilding. These require more work, but they operate and look great. Everone has different opinions about turnouts. You don't have to use just one type...I have used at least five different brands of turnouts on the new layout so far and have had very few problems with any of them.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
Update Reply
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up