WHICH MAKE OF TURNOUTS?

[Santa Fe Du]

Hello all, with regards to my HO layout code 83, I am fed up with my Atlas Snap Switchs, and am going to tear them up and replace with either Peco, or Micro Engineering. I understand that Peco are great, but I haven't any feedback on Micro Engineering, does anyone have any experience with Micro? Any advise would be appreciated here. As Always, Thank You All in advance,

Duane H :?:

[Steamtrains]

Hi...I use 100% Pecos (Code 100)...Unless there's a substantial savings involved, I wouldn't think of using any other make. I'm not familiar with ME's....so can't help you out on that point...

[LynnB]

I use to use Atlas but have since switched over to Peco switches. I use tortoise motors for the turnouts and removed the springs from the Peco switches. I think you can get Peco switches that would also work with the Atlas switch motors. If you leave the springs in the Peco switches there is always absolute point contact as you can here them click.

[cnw1961]

I used Peco Electrofrog code 75 turnouts on my last layout and they worked fine and quite reliable, though the point rails were a bit thin and wobbly for my liking. That even caused a few derailments – not a major problem, just a little inconvenience. On my current layout I am using Micro Engineering code 70 turnouts for the first time. I think they look very good, better than the Pecos code 75 (can’t compare them to Peco code 83 though), and until now, they worked flawlessly. I will definitely use them for my future layouts.

[jim currie]

another alternative would be to build your own(not as hard as it sounds) the peco are good but expensive.
Jim

[RobertInOntario]

I too had a major derailing problems with my Atlas switches and have removed all of them & replaced them with either Peco or Hornby.

I strongly recommend Peco although they are a little pricey. I mostly model British trains so I've also used the British Hornby ones as well. They're very similar to Peco but a lot cheaper. Unfortunately, I haven't heard about the other brand you mentioned so I cannot comment.

All the best!

Rob

[nomad]

another alternative would be to build your own(not as hard as it sounds) the peco are good but expensive.
Jim

I will second this. They look and operate better then ready made. And you really don't need the jig to build them.

Loren

[jglfan]

I like the ME turnouts. They look great in addition to functioning well. They have clips to hold the points in place as do the Pecos. They come with nice detail parts and non operating switch stands.
   

[upnick]

Hi,

I am using Peco code 83 electrofrog turnouts on my switching layout they look good and are well made, the sleepers the correct spacing rather then code 75/100 .........if you choose them and use rail joiners get the Peco Code 83 ones ....... in conductive/insulating types they are a good fit and arent that noticable once installed ....... though i leave gaps where insulators are needed and fill later with plasticard fillets glued in sanded flush as the nylon Peco insulators dont take paint or weathering powders easily.

[Santa Fe Du]

Hello again, and Thank's to All, for the very informative answers, it is great to be able to count on the guys from the Gauge for answers to these perplexing little things that come up from time to time.

Duane H

[michael_balcos]

I'm curious: what is involved in making one's own turnout? Is it a matter of, let's say, buying a separate Atlas switch machine and turnout track, and then putting the pieces together? Or is it something else?

[BR60103]

Genaerally, making your own turnout involves buying rail and something for ties and something to hold it together and doing a lot of filing and soldering.
Thre are a couple of firms that make kits and I think you can buy made-up frogs.
50 years ago, Atlas made kits with all the bits included and all you had to do was spike the rails down and attach a switch machine.

[Steamtrains]

David...I see you and I are ol' timers.....I still have one of those Atlas kit turnouts from the layout my Ol' Man and I built waayyy back then...Those were better turnouts than the ones you can get from Atlas today....I didn't use it in my current layout as I preferred to go with Pecos....

[nkp_174]

Atlas Snap line is junk.

Peco is a respectable name...and Micro Engineering has long been a renowned name for aesthetic qualities. That being said, I've had flawless operation for years out of Atlas Custom line and accordingly don't see Peco, Shinohara, or ME as being close to worth it unless I'm going to replace all of my existing HO track.

I enjoy building my own turnouts. I'd recommend searching on the internet for tips on hand laying turnouts. Many people use templates, but they are definitely not necessary (and remove some of the custom benefits of hand laying). I think Nachoman was hand laying some fine dual gauge turnouts...and Tetters build a gorgeous double slip using Fast Track jigs. I've built a couple 3-way stub switches...but I bow to Tetters and Nachoman for both the quality and awesomeness of theirs'.

[nachoman]

I think Nachoman was hand laying some fine dual gauge turnouts...and Tetters build a gorgeous double slip using Fast Track jigs. I've built a couple 3-way stub switches...but I bow to Tetters and Nachoman for both the quality and awesomeness of theirs'.

Yep, that was me. Dual guage turnouts are a headache, because you have to accomodate both standard and narrow gauge flanges. In other words, flangeways that are big enough to accomodate standard gauge flanges may be too large to properly keep narrow gauge wheels smoothly on the track. The two that I have built seem to work quite well in the very limited testing I have given them (I will soon be testing them more rigorously). They are kinda fun to build though. With the experience building the dual-gaugers, the single-gauge turnouts are a snap. I could probably "turn out" a turout in an hour.