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Hey guys I'm ready to move to the next level in my model railroading career : starting to get rid of the atlas switch machines that sit on top of the table, next to the switch. I built a small, industrial switching layout generally based on a track plan out of an Atlas book, using Atlas track, with my sons. I have all Atlas Customline switches, mostly #6's with a few #4's. No natural scenery, just a flat industrial setting with some buildings and details. We built benchwork like you see in the Sievers' (sp) ads in ModelRailroader magazine. I don't know what you guys call that type of benchwork, its like a ladder with beams 2ft apart and a rung every 2ft. Over that is 1/2" of nice plywood. Over that is homasote. I use DCC, and eventually will wire it so switch position is indicated on trackside dwarf signals. Is the Tortoise machine everyone's favorite? Is it the easiest to install, and I guess adjust? Any problems mating it to the Atlas Customline's? Should I start thinking about replacing the Atlas switches with something else as I buy a new switch machine? Thanks for any thoughts. I know alot of people use ground throws, or in some other way manually throw the switch, and I have some of those too, as it is prototypical to do so. But in our very small layout (space is tight in my house), "hands off" operation has become one of the fun parts of the layout, as we have no long runs, with big engines, and long trains, through beautiful mountains or deserts and such. Ken
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