Best O27 switches ???

[FEClionel]

Looking for some quality switches for a small Christmas layout that I'm beginning to plan for this year. I have never been a fan of the current Lionel O27 switches in operation and  visually they are too chunky looking. Are postwar O27 switches any better in performance? Thanks!

[ben10ben]

The K-line switches are supposed to be really good if you can find any.

[GPJ68]

First choice would be the newer low profile switches from K-Line, because they're non-derailing, can be powered separately from the track, and don't have a housing to interfere with longer rolling stock. Were somewhat hard to find (for me at least) before the K-Line collapse, not sure how difficult now. These are definitely something that Lionel needs to swallow it's pride on and keep producing in very large quantities.

Tied for second would either be the older K-Line switches with the big honkin' housing, or the later Marx models with the plastic low profile housing. The Marx are also powered separately from the track, but don't have any lighted direction indicator. The Marx need to be modified slightly to keep non-Marx (no fatwheel) engines from derailing on the turnout side. You need to add a guide rail along the outside rail on the turnout. I've been super gluing a strip of plastic, but others have used a short section cut from a O27 curve.

<img src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/GPJ68/marxo27guiderailres.jpg" border="0" />

I use Atlas switch controllers to operate them. The Marx technically aren't non-derailing, but I've found that my diesel engines will power thru and easily throw the swivel rails without wrecking. Pilots on steamers are a different story...

Absolute last choice would be Lionel's, any version, for reasons you're already aware of.

GPJ

[GPJ68]

Well ain't that spiffy, the image showed up on the post preview, but choked on the post. Maybe this....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/GPJ68/marxo27guiderailres.jpg

[GPJ68]

Ok, that didn't work either.

So CTT, how do you post pics?

To be blunt, your recent "improvements" aren't exactly thrilling me. There are posts where only the first line or two is visible, and no slider button is present to continue viewing the rest of the post (yes, the posts are more than two lines long).

What's up?

GPJ

[spankybird]

Posting pic has gotten really esae. Just open up your photo host and the pic you wish to post. Then place your mouse over the pic and right click to hit copy and go back to the forum and place mouse arrow over the message box and right click and paste.

 

Here is a pic of the K-line low profile switch

 

[lionelsoni]

The Marx switches do have a signal light, which I think is more useful than Lionel's.  It is omnidirectional and changes color by an internal spectacle.  You see the same color from any direction, that is, from wherever you are around your layout.

I solder the guide rail to the stock rail at the flanges.

You can easily add the anti-derailing feature to a Marx switch with a control rail in the abutting track.

Marx switches come in O27 and O34 curvatures.  (12.5 and 15.75-inch radius, respectively)

[cnw1995]

The current Lionel 'manual' 027 switches aren't bad - pretty darn reliable. Are these the ones you think are clunky?

[lionelsoni]

Doug, he thinks they are "visually chunky", not "clunky".  I do too.  I long ago took all the flag contraptions off the tops of mine.  They look silly and get in the way of the rolling stock that could otherwise clear the switch machines.

[cnw1995]

That makes sense, Bob. I've admired what you've done with yours. Haven't dared try it yet with mine.

[GPJ68]

Trying it again (and again, and again, and *#*!*@@#!! AGAIN!!!!)

Well how about that, it actually does work using Explorer - I normally use Netscape, and this new "improved" format ain't worth a flyin' @#%@$%)# when viewed/used via Netscape.

Anyhow, the Marx O27 switch (27" turnout) doesn't have an indicator lamp:

Only the O34 switch (O27 profile) has one:

Somewhere - maybe on the Marx board - someone described how to wire in a lamp/lamps to indicate how the switch was currently thrown.  The white guide rails are what I added to avoid derailments. 

Well this stinks, now I'm gonna have to view this Board with Exploder, while most other sites I go to regularly view fine in Netscape.

[ChiefEagles]

K-line if you find them is correct.  I hope Lionel will keep on making them.

[lionelsoni]

You're right--no light on the Marx O27.  I have only used the O34s and assumed that the O27s were just a smaller version.  I got some out and, sure enough, no lights.  I had actually in the back of my mind an idea of replacing some Lionels with them, just to get that omnidirectional light.  Well, it would have been a lot of work anyway.

[lionel2986]

Well, the K-line are just about impossible to find. I cant even find them on ebay. I have though about using lionel 022 with my 0-27 track because they were my favorite switches when I was a kid. They just need a little modification because the pins are larger than 27 but I got them to connect. I need to put road bed under the 27 to make it equal level to the 022 switches. I like all of all the illumination from a 022 switch. Lionel 027 track was my favorite as a kid too so I could combine my two favorite track. I'm curious if the marx 34 switches can handle large engines like a lionel SD60 M, or engines that require 31" or 42" diameter curves.I have heard the K-line low profile could handle these size engines, but I've had no luck finding 27" k-line low profile switches. The marx switches look like you need to look down to see the light. Is this true? If the track were at eye-level, you wouldnt be able to tell the switch direction? I see green light on the marx, and what looks like white lite in your picture. Are they green when in the straight position and white when in the turn position? Or are they supose to be red when in the turn position? How do the marx switch lites work? Do they have a 2 color filter that rotates and one light? Or are there two different color bulbs?

[lionelsoni]

Anything that needs O31 should be just fine on O34, which is a gentler curve.  You can see the Marx light from the side--it sticks up a little from the switch-machine cover and is shaped to refract the light to the horizontal direction.  There is a spectacle with red and green filters covering a single lamp.  The filters are easy to remove from the spectacle, so I suppose one could fall out, although I have never had that happen.  I swap them when the straight path is the siding, which is likely to be the case at the corner of a layout.

[GPJ68]

Not sure about the Lionel SD60, but I have a Williams SD45 that won't clear a Lionel O27 switch, but will clear the Marx O27.  I would venture to say that if the SD60 will take 31" curves/switches, it oughta clear the O34 switches easily.  Also, Marx O34 curves are still floating around out there, which I really like - mainline was/will be all O34 and limited O42 curves (whenever I get around to clearing the pile off the reconstructed benchwork).

As far as the indicator, there are a pair of colored filters (green,red) under the cover that slide over the bulb as the switch changes position.  Some of my O34 switches are missing one or both of the filters, and one or two with both of the filters don't show the appropriate color very well when lit.  My benchwork is 47" high and I don't have much of a problem viewing the lamp, unless there's something blocking it.  They aren't overly bright though, so if you have a right large/long layout you might have trouble seeing them - mine was a 12x9 (roughly) U, now down to an 8x11 L.  It looks white in the pic because there was no power on at the time - not sure if the flash would've overpowered the lamp color anyway, if the power had been on.

 

[middivrail]

Just bought two 027: 042 curve K-line manual switches from Western Depot this week. Go to their web site and order online, it will even show what they have left in stock. These are the ones with the high profile, not remote one are left. But something is better than nothing and their priced at $22.00. Great ordering online with this company, excellent service.

[brianel027]

Okay, being something of an 027 expert, I'll offer my observations from experience. Pleas note I'm referring to mostly manual switches here.

On K-Line switches:

The ones given the most preference above are the newer redesigned ones with the low-profile switch housing. These were introduced a couple years ago and will probably prove the most difficult to find. The earlier production K-Line 027 switches do also have a ridiculously large switch box housing (and actually uglier than the Lionel ones), but are very well constructed and I have had few derailment problems with them. I do notice the electric ones can work slugishly in a cold basement layout environment.

On Lionel MPC-era design switches:

The most annoying things with all the 027 turnouts on a small layout, is the large obtrusive size of the switch footprint. The Lionel postwar 1024 is an improvement here, but more to follow. I drill off the metal plate from the bottom of the MPC-type 027 Switch, and then using a hack saw or Dremel, chop down the footprint size of the switch so it resembles the 1024 a little more. I then solder feeder wires to connect the rails and give the electric flow that you lose when you remove the sheet metal bottom. It's a bit of a pain to do the extra work, but I like the extra space and the additional layout possibilities that open up by not having the excessive large switch footprint. I make my own turnout lock mechanism, or control the manual switches by means of a spring and some nylon fishline or a long wooden dowel.

On postwar Lionel switches:

I like the instant ready-made smaller footprint of the 1024. With it's all sheet metal construction, they're pretty rugged. Mine are all used and with a little cleaning, function just fine. Many will have the green/red indicator broke off which is by my guess, next to impossible to fix without drilling loose the turnout lever. These can be also be operated "remote control" by using either fishline or a bicycle brake cable.

The Lionel 1022 is a good choice between the large footprint of the MPC version, but having a very small switch box with a plastic red indicator direction arrow. These are often missing and are available as repros, but kind of pricey considering what you are getting. The 1022 comes with an automatic non-derailing function, in that it shut's off power on the curved side when the switch is in the other direction.

On MARX switches:

I have not had good luck with the all plastic MARX 027 switch when it comes to running modern-era locos... they seem to jump the switch a lot. I've managed to crrect this probelm with other switches or by making modifications to the locomotive, but none seemed to work here.

On the other hand, I do not know the item #, but the older all metal MARX 027 switch - while looking somewhat naked or austere compared to the others is a reliable well made switch. I just haven't figured out how to easily make them operate "remotely" as you turn the "indicator tower" to change direction.

In summary, I find the large footprint size of the switches to be as annoying if not more so, than the oversized switchbox housings. I too have experimented making a smaller box for the Lionel MPC-era switches. But I still find myself inclined to say my favorite is the Lionel MPC-era ones, with the base removed, and the size of the footprint cut-down to literally just the track shape. Again, I'm speaking manual turnouts. Electric ones would mean modification somehow using the Lionel solenoid... maybe mounting it underneath the train board surface.... I'm sure that could be done.

 

[tjsprague]

The K-line switches are supposed to be really good if you can find any.

somebody's got some of them on another forum.

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1961048701/m/2711047704


Tim

[lionel2986]

Does a marx remote like this light up? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290132667521&rd=1&rd=1#ebayphotohosting Edit: corrected link

[lionelsoni]

No picture.  What do you mean by "a marx remote"?  Remote-control turnout?  Turnout controller?

[Anonymous]

These are what im using as of now. I have two #22 switches but they are o gauge and im using 027. But i am trying to keep my wiring simple. So im using these manula switches along with 4 brown lionel manual switches

 

 

these are marx 027  switches and so far work well.

 

 

[Anonymous]

Absolutely love my Kline switches! Plus, they work with the old O Gauge track.

[Anonymous]

there are some k line switches on e bay right now. Nice looking

[lionel2986]

Hey I updated that link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290132667521&rd=1&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

does the green and red button illuminate on this remote on the link above?

zeke - your photo doesnt work for me 

[lionelsoni]

No.  Marx turnouts do not have the internal electrical switch that Lionel 022 and some other turnouts have, which allows the controller (not "remote") to indicate the turnout position.

[Anonymous]

i fixed the picture for you. sorry about that.

 

i am ok with using manual switches ...for right now. I havent figured this wiring thing out. Ok i havent bought a book yet, been too busy buying trains and rolling stock.