Peco Switches

[chadmichaels]

So anyone have these on there layouts? If so what are some of the pro's and con's? My LHS owner swears by them. Thinking of taking up my atlas #6 and #4's and replaceing them in my yard with Pecos.

Chad

 

[fiend540]

I can't really offer an answer to your question but why do you want to replace your atlas turnouts?

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

I love them , but my old ones were real garbage. I went from twenty five year old Atlas, brass snap switches to all Peco. I have the Code 83, North American style turnouts on my entire layout. The main reason I chose them was because of the positive 'lock' when it was switched. I don't use remote turnout control, so I like the strong contact. They certainly aren't cheap though.

 

[chadmichaels]

When i was at my LHS and talking to the owner, i was telling him im getting tired of sawing off the throw bar and drilling a hole for the ground throw on all my switches. He then showed me the Peco ones. I like the snap spring or what ever you call it that holds the switch in place when you open or close it. So I thinking really hard about taking up my Atlas ones and putting these down.

 

[chadmichaels]

Secondhand,

thats what im finding out there not cheap and was wondering if they are turely worth the money. Im looking at the SL-96 Code 100 Medium Radius ones for my yard.

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Whatever you do, just know that the code 100 short, medium, long, turnouts are European in design. I don't remember the exact definition of the differences between the U.S. Style and European. The diverging track is curved instead of coming off of the frog straight.

As far as being worth the money, I can only say that I love mine. My only other experience was with old, cheapo turnouts before.


If you do want to buy them and don't have an extreme loyalty to the Hobby shop, here is where I bought all of mine. It is the best price on the Internet.

http://www.cchobbies.com/track/track.htm

 

[stationmaster]

When I changed out my Atlas switches 5 years ago Peco was one of the switches I considered. I eventually went with Walthers/Shinohara switches instead. I visited a few layouts that used each of my choices. I came to the conclusion that the Walther/Shinohara switches operated smoother with tortoises after many trials. I use a short, narrow switch in the yards and on the industrial switching areas, they are #4's. Nothing less than a #6 for turnouts. And #8's and larger for diverging and converging tracks, depending on the types of trains that would normally be using those rails. All are Code 100.

The reason I gave above is the only reason that I did not choose Peco's. The Atlas switches I was using were a nightmare. And I'm trying my best to be polite. Dogtracking through the switch, derailments, partial operation(not opening or closing sufficiently for cars to pass though)..... I had given thought to getting out of the hobby after spending so much money on the layout and having those problems.

So, although I don't use Peco's, I'm not one of those to say that "mine is better than yours". They are a solid operating switch and I know of many friends that use them and swear by them. If'n it works, best use 'em. But you may want to check out the Shinohara's BEFORE you make your leap. If you are certainly going to change out your switches, shop. I'm glad I took the time to check other manufacturers.

Bob

 

[UP2CSX]

I was really impressed with Rex's layout and he uses almost all Walthers/Shinohara switches. The have the same positive spring action as the Pecos and come in standard North American HO sizes. They also look much more prototype then even the "North American" Peco switches. They are a few bucks cheaper than the Pecos but the only problem is supply. Shinohara seems to make these in batches so they are frequently out of stock. If you can get them in stcok, I'd say go with them after seeing how well they performed and how nice they looked on Rex's layout. Believe me, he's got a lot of switches and his layout is a good torture test for switches. I don't remember one derailment on a switch not due to operator error, a testament to Rex's track laying skills and the switch's performance.

 

[diburning]

The peco switches are nice. The model railroad club that I belong to uses mostly Pecos, a few shinoharas, and a few Atlas switches for a 3 track siding.

The mainline is code 100, so when we put in Peco switches, we shim them up with buisness cards, then put on a transition joiner and when the rail is ballasted, no one can tell the difference.

The Shinohara switches are ok, but they come with plastic joiners and they are supposed to be isolated from the main and each route has to be powered individually. I am not sure if it is an old version or a new version, but thats how it was installed. (we run DCC).

The Atlas switches are only around until we replace the track in the siding. Once the track is replaced, we will msotly likely have Peco switches

 

[nephthyr]

I'm using Peco's on my micro layout and find they operate exceptionally well. I haven't had any issue with them so far, the only real reason I chose them was that my LHS had them in stock at the time and would have had to order Atlas ones, so I went with Peco track.

Only niggle is the unprototypical appearance as mentioned before but in my humble opinion they don't look too bad once weathered and ballasted.

 

[WT fan]

At my new Westport I've the new Peco code 83 turnouts, all #6
They're good and no problems.

Wolfgang