I recently purchased a Hornby 22.5 degree turnout to use in my industrial area. I ordered it thru Amazon and it took a month to get to me.
I have only used Atlas snap switches. I was very impressed with the Hornby. Seemless pivot points. Curved point rail. Clips that hold the points in place and best of all, supplies power only to the siding in which the points are lined. Shutting off power to the other siding. They are built for manual operation but can be converted and the power switch, it seems, would not be good for DCC. I am DC at this point.
Are these features available in other brands of turnouts? I want to order more Hornby but they ship from Chesire, England and took a month to arrive.
Pat Bandy
Try Peco Code 83 track. Peco is a top notch manufacturer of track for nearly all kinds of scles, including narrow gauge. While Peco is, just like Hornby, a UK-based manufacturer, Peco track is also availabel in the US.
I don't know where on the planet you live, however, I have friends in Austrailia that order from these two stores and often get things in under a week. They are both about fifteen minutes from my house and I often buy things from them that can be used for North American railroads as well as European railroads.
You have peaked my interest, I think I will take a look at those Hornby T/Os next time I am in. Also, one of them has given me a good quote on a couple of up and coming steam loco's that a certain Canadian manufacturer is coming out with.
http://www.britanniamodels.com/ordering
http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/index.asp
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN I don't know where on the planet you live,
I don't know where on the planet you live,
I live in Oklahoma, USA. Shipping time was three weeks. One week to ship. I chose the cheapest shipping method from the two options standard and express.
It was well worth the wait. All of my track is 35 years old but I did purchase a new Atlas snap switch from my local hobby store and was pleased to see Atlas had refined the snap switch. I was happy with it until I got of hold of the Hornby.
The Hornby lists four companies on the packaging. Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef and Electrotren. I will do some research on these. I've heard of Rivarossi but not the others.
IgnatoskyThe Hornby lists four companies on the packaging. Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef and Electrotren. I will do some research on these. I've heard of Rivarossi but not the others.
Lima and Rivarossi are both Italian brands.Both companies more or less collapsed a few years ago and Hornby bought the name and some of the patterns. Lima and Rivarossi products are no longer made in the UK, but in China. Lima used to be of the cheap train set quality, but has seen a step-up improvement to be par with the market average. Lima as well as Rivarossi have mainly Italian prototype models, but also a few German locos and cars.
Jouef is a former French make, bought by Hornby. Jouef´s range of products is mainly following French prototype. Manufacturing is also done in China.
Electrotren is a traditional Spanish company, which was also bought by Hornby, who moved the production to China. Electrotren markets mainly Spanish prototype locos and rolling stock.
Hornby also owns the name of Arnold for their N scale range of products, which has been supplemented with TT scale just recently.
Hornby switches follow European geometry and tie arrangement, so they are not really suited for a US prototype layout. Peco code 83 is the better track.
The difference is that Peco is still made in the town of Beer in the UK, while the Hornby is made in China.
Hi ignatosky
If I may ask a question. why on earth would you use a chinese made train set track.
When a train set track section of the same geometry is avalable that is made in England by Peco and is a superior product, and to follow on from that.
Why Use an English OO scale point when Peco make HO scale US pattern track work.
Sorry but this is not making any sence to me as the two types of track have a very different apearance.
regards John
John -
John Busby Hi ignatosky If I may ask a question. why on earth would you use a chinese made train set track. When a train set track section of the same geometry is avalable that is made in England by Peco and is a superior product, and to follow on from that. Why Use an English OO scale point when Peco make HO scale US pattern track work. Sorry but this is not making any sence to me as the two types of track have a very different apearance. regards John
I was looking for a number 2 turnout for my industrial area and Hornby was the first one I found. I see no difference and it fits quite nicely. It has clips under the points to hold them in place and routes power only to the track in which it is aligned. Very nice features that I am looking for in other brands.
I have recently come back to our hobby after 35 years and I'm trying all kinds of brands of all kinds equipment. I just bought my first set of Kato well cars and a brand new Athearn SW1500, DCC ready and a H16-44. The quality of both straight out of the box made my jaw drop. I cleaned up all my old BB Athearn locos and they work like a champ until I bought the SW1500. I am amazed at the slow speed of the new one.
Want to try Peco and ME turnouts next. All my old turnouts are Mark II snap switches. Price at that time dictated quality of equipment. I will be fully retired in two months and want to try my hand at hand laid track and turnouts.
Hi iganatosky
Thanks for the explanation it makes sense now.
If I may offer some advice find the quality brand track system that suits you best, don't skimp on it and take care laying it.
It will pay dividends in reliabillety and there for the fun you get out of your layout.
And don't skimp on the control set up for the same reasons.
loco's well you can get away with second hand quality ones from a reputable dealer.