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I plan on using decoders for my switch machines eventually, but right now my priority is to get everything up and running. Apparently, if your looking for cheap and are running tortoise machines on your switch's, you can use cheap engine decoders- for some reason, and I don't recall why, they only work well on "slow motion" units and not the "snap" machines like Tenshodo, Peco and Atlas. So for now I am using hand throws (caboose hobbies). If you are building your "life time" layout, then you might want to use quality electrical switch machines. There are two types (I've blanked out on their technical definition); snap machines and slow motions machines. Interestingly though many long term hobbyist's are moving to slow motion machines, still others prefer the "snap" machines; but to be honest this group is in the minority now. As I get older and older, I get lazier and lazier. As a friend pointed out to me - "Rick, when I hear the snap of that machine working, I don't have to check the track visually to make sure it worked. There's something reassuring in that "snap" sound." So he likes them because he doesn't have to check them. The long standing quality snap units were put out by Tenshodo, now I believe they are called NJ International. The reason I can recommend these is that I can take you to layouts in the Greater Vancouver (BC) area that have the same ones installed after 30 years of heavy layout use. They just hang in there, better than the EverReady Bunny. The two slow motion electric machines are Tortoise and Switch Machines. Of the two, Tortoise is the better know, however I have actually met two gentleman who are very knowledgeable electrically and have built many layouts who actuall prefer Switch Machines - they feel they are more robust. Either type will serve you well.
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