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Why havent they....

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  • Member since
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Why havent they....
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 9:26 PM
I thought about why Circutron selling under the table switch machines we all know and love... why havent they sold complete switches with the motors built in?
  • Member since
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  • From: Anderson Indiana
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Posted by rogerhensley on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 6:13 AM
Maybe because they're in the electronics business and not in the track business.?
They do what they do well. Why go into a field in which they have no experience or expertise.

Roger Hensley
= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html =
= Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 7:37 AM
Roger is probably very close to the truth if not 100% correct. But this raises the question, "Why hasn't a track manufacturer ventured into making a fully functional hidden switch loaded turn out?" I know Atlas makes a snap switch turn out, but the big ole snap switch on the side of the track isn't very realistic. Maybe someone has made one and I don't know about it. That would be interesting to know as well. All the same, circuitron makes nice slow motion switch machines.

Trevor
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  • From: Culpeper, Va
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:48 AM
Actually, there are turnouts with hidden motors being made. S Helper has them for S scale, Bachmann and others for HO. Check the ones with roadbed.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:50 AM
They do indeed exist - Kato have switches with motors buried in the roadbed, and I think Roco do as well. Roco also have very neat switch decoders that mount in the roadbed and just need to be connected to the tracks to function.
  • Member since
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  • From: WSOR Northern Div.
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Posted by WSOR 3801 on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 11:09 AM
Prototype power switches have the machine above ground, why shouldn't your model? The real ones are pretty big as well. Atlas may not be that far off...

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

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Posted by jrbernier on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 11:16 AM
The Atlas machine would be way over scale size - besides most switches do not have a motor(manual control)....

Jim Bernier

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 12:10 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by WSOR 3801

Prototype power switches have the machine above ground, why shouldn't your model? The real ones are pretty big as well. Atlas may not be that far off...


Maybe we're waiting to see another generation of above ground switch machines, made with micro motors.

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