Turnouts: what's wrong with this picture?

[FJ and G]

MR in last few issues has done a comparison of various tracks in various scales. Noticeably missing is the lack of switchstands. Why is it that model railroaders who purchase their Atlas (or other brand) turnouts, have to then rip off the unprototypical switchstand and then install their own scratchbuilt switchstands or switchstands from a different (niche) company than the turnouts?

These days in MR & RMC, you never see a factory-installed switchstand, it's always the more prototypical ones. Granted, there are a wide variety of switchstands, so why don't the turnout companies offer us some switchstand choices (I know there are many choices).

This is just one more thing we have to rip apart. First we have to rip off the hook couplers to install kadees and now we have to rip apart our turnouts.

Why can't the mfgr get it right the first time?

[Jetrock]

A lot of manufacturers are switching from horn-hooks to Kadee-style couplers, and have been for a while--it tends mostly to be old car kits that have gotten dusty on the shelves that still have horn-hooks, now that plastic versions are available from several manufacturers.

And you can buy plenty of brands of switches that don't feature those big ugly switch machines, including some from Atlas. I prefer Peco switches, which don't require a machine at all(I throw my turnouts manually) and there are plenty of others. Atlas still sells them because, I suppose, some people still buy them when they first get into the hobby.

Heck, I bought some--they're sitting in a box right now. Once I build up enough stuff in my "don't want it" box I'll probably sell them at some swap meet to a starting modeler...

[Anonymous]

Another factor at work is those old twin coil swtich machines have been around since at least the mid 1960s and I wouldn't be suprised one bit if they came out orginally in the 1950s. One reason that they are still sold is one simple reason. They are cheap, and the tooling to make them has long since been paid for. I use a combination of Switch machine, and handthrown switches on my model railroad. I have discoverd that the old twin coil switch machine that has classicly been at the side of the turnout looks like some of the CTC controlled switch boxes in my area. As such on my model railroad I still use them at all swtichs that are CTC controled. most of the rest I use Caboose industries ground throws with the built in dpdt switch contacts to power rout turnouts, However I have one module where hand access is a problem and I use undertable switch machines to throw those switches with dummy switch stands on the side.

[bluepuma]

N scale comments:

It would be nice if the Atlas manual switches had something better in terms of switch stand. Sidings are okay, the N scale ones w/o the plastic is what I'd buy to use
for Manuals.

The electical switches are fine as is, but the Kato Unitrack has a place to hide
theirs in the roadbed.

[Anonymous]

You can buy switches without the twin coil machines, even Atlas ones. For people building their empire on the rug around the xmas tree the twin coils are the way to go. For us who should know better buy them without, they are cheaper too. FRED