Turnouts ?

[mike33469]

I'm about to build a new layout, it will be DCC. Which turnouts do you guys suggest Shinohara or Peco?

[randybc2003]

I am a member of a module club, and our de-facto use seems to be Peco. This seems to be more of the reason that the "snap" is embeded in the turnout. The Shinohara seems to need a machine or ground-throw to "set" the route. Personaly, I have used Shinohara on my old layout, and never tried Peco. Just because "it was there". I still call them "Lambert". I've heard that sometimes the Shinohara needs to be "prepared" by removing electrical contacts under the points, but this seems to be in dispute. I am trying a module w/ the Shinohara, unmodified, and will see how it works. In any event I have seen a lot of Peco in DCC system.

[Anonymous]

Both turnouts are power routing and have non-insulated frogs. Either turn out is good. Just be sure you wire and insulate it correctly. I suggest getting this book to learn how and why, DCC Made Easy .(click on title)
Something you need to be careful with when using power routing turnouts, to prevent shorts, is to be sure your switch points are not set against trafic that is facing the points. Also be sure your wheels are in gage.
Both are very good looking, however you should know Peco rails are code 75 and 100 and they also offer a wye in code 80 (I have no idea wye). Shinohara comes in code 100 and 70. If you mix codes you will have to use or make transition jointers or track to make the top of the rail heads even.

[Anonymous]

Power routing turnouts are a pain to modify for DCC. With DCC, you want to have all the track powered all the time. Our modular club has some Shinohara, and according to the owners of those modules, they were difficult to modify. I believe that Peco also has non-power routing (i.e. insulated frogs) turnouts.

Andrew

[CBQ_Guy]

I personally prefer Peco and some others in this area do as well as they have proven themselves to be extremely reliable after years of use. One guy has a couple Shinny's in certain spots on the layout and he says they are always the ones he has problems with or he had to fiddle with in order to get them to work initially.

Some don't like the Peco's due to their Eureopean look, tie spacing, and non-standard frog geometry. They also are currently available in HO in codes 100 and, I believe, 70. However, it was recently announced that this year they will be releasing a code 83 line and I believe the appearance will be closer to US prototype, too.

[cacole]

At the Cochise & Western Model Railroad Club we used Peco Insulfrog turnouts everywhere possible and have had very good results with them. The only caution with wiring for the Peco Insulfrog turnout is, place an insulated rail joiner on both inner rails that diverge from the frog, because even though the frog is insulated, the turnout is still power routing and can cause an electrical short when the turnout is thrown at a reverse loop, wye, or crossover from one track to another.