Another "Switch" thread

[cncproadwarrior]

Kudos to those who take the time to help us newbies who are sponges for information.

I've learned a lot about track laying in the few weeks that I have been onm this forum. I think I track laying "do's and don't's" down pat.

I've read just about everything on this forum (and elsewhere) related to switches (I think).

I've read about the good, the bad and the ugly of each brand of switch. I am currently building my benchwork but am giving serious thought to other aspects of the railroad to include switches.

I want switches that will perform well. I don't mind "tweaking" them to make them better. I know there are Atlas, Peco and Shinohara switches as well as the FastTrack handmade switches.

Most of my switches will be HO #6 with #4 in the yards. Some will be electrically controlled and some manually. I will be using Atlas code 100 flextrack and run mostly SD40-2s with some GPs. Oh yes, and a 2-6-6-4 Blue Line.

Price notwithstanding, what switch would perform best for my environment? I am currently leaning towards the FastTrack switches.

Also switch motors. What are the best ones?

Sorry if this was covered before but I have bits and pieces of info from various sources and would like to consolidate feedback into one thread.

There is a ton of info in the brains on this forum and I would like to pic it.

 

[UP2CSX]

Assuming both time and skill are not issues, FastTrack switches are the hands down winner. You control the production so you can correct problems like points that don't close completely, frogs that are misaligned, and track that is out of gauge. These are problems that every production switch has, to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the brand. In addition, the FastTrack switches just look a heck of a lot better.

Assuming budget is not an issue for switch machines, the hands down winner is the Tortoise. They are immensely strong, the slow motion operation is much more prototypical, and the slow motion operation is not as hard on switch components as the snapping action of momentary switch machines.

 

[lmackattack]

atlas -if your on a budget and dont mind tweaking them.
peco -if you like a solid built switch with no tweaking.

 

[RexHea]

IF IT WERE ME and just starting out, I would go with the FastTrack if there were going to be many turnouts made and make it cost effective. I use (code 83) Walthers Shinohara and some Atlas #6's. The Shino's have now jumped to a rediculous price and are sometimes near impossible to find in stock...anywhere. Only Atlas #6's are still reasonable. I have some #4 Atlas, but all have had warped stock rails or intermittant electrical problems. Peco has always been too pricey for me, but are very good turnouts.

Yup! I would have gone with FastTrack for all of my +137 T.O.'s