Switch machines

[Anonymous]

I'm just getting back to the hobby after a 25 year gap. I decided to restart with all new equipment, so I'm doing N-scale, Atlas code 55 track, DCC. Layout is mostly together, and now I need to choose an under table switch machine for the mainline switches. I remember the loud sound of the old "fast" switch machines and want quiet, slow ones instead.

So here's the question. What is the best slow under table switch machine? I want something small, quiet, easily mounted, low power requirement, adjustable throw. I'm looking for replies from people who have used more than one type and can provide comparisons. From research I've noticed the following differences, but don't know how much they matter - always powered "stall" control versus switched; screw/worm versus standard gear; kit versus pre-assembled.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Brent

[Anonymous]

Hi, Tortouse seem to be the best right now altough a little expencive, so mail order hobby shops do have some good discounts though, I used the Pece under the table machines with Peco switches, for all the hard to reach ones, althouth the hole is pretty large for the machine they are in the back of the layout so no noticable. They seem to work pretty well

[tomwatkins]

I agree. I've just converted my last twin pole machines to Tortoises and I like them. They're very smooth, easy to install and wire, and sem to be very reliable . Incidently, I'm using them only on those turnouts ( 6 total) that are just a liitle to difficult to reach convienently to be manually operated. All turnouts that can be easily reached were converted from twin pole machines to the piano wire toggle springs that have been discussed in MR several times over the past few years. They were used on the Alkali Central project railroad in 1998 and mentioned in the recent article on manual turnout control a few months ago. I really like them. They're a very simple, effective, and quite elegant solution to the problem.

Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

I have had great success using Switchmasters. Simple wiring and easily adjustable mounting.

[bruce22]

use both cuircitron and peco twin coil. each has it's advantages but if i were to do it over i wud standadize with a slo-mo type.