Does Peco make code 75 straight turnouts in insulfrog ?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1


Hi –



(My apologies if you’ve already read the same post the in layout building forum - I deleted it there and moved it over here)



This may qualify as a pretty dumb question, but still - I’ve been browsing around for Peco Code 75 turnouts, and I find code 75 electrofrogs all over, but the only things I seem to find in code 75 insulfrog is special trackwork like single and double slips, and long and short crossings.



I was assuming that Peco made both electrofrog and insulfrog turnouts for both code 75, code 83 and code 100.



Does Peco actually have code 75 regular medium turnouts in insulfrog ? If so, any tips on where to order some?



Or do I need to change to Peco code 83 if I want to use Peco insulfrog turnouts ?



Smile,
Stein
2

Yes, they make all the same stuff in Insulfrog 75. Try Standard Hobby Supply.

Hal

3

Hi Hal –

Thanks for the tip about Standard - it seems like they have Kadee no 148 whiskers in larger packs, which is also something I had been looking for.

But sadly - no Peco medium turnouts insulfrog in code 75.

I also checked the web page of Peco in the UK:

http://www.peco-uk.com/Products/pecoproducts.htm#00/H0gauge

I actually cannot see any Code 75 insultfrog turnout - this seems to be their entire list of code 75 tracks:

ELECTROFROG TURNOUTS, Code 75 nickel silver rail
SL-E180 Single slip (12° angle)
SL-E190 Double slip (12° angle)
SL-E193 Short Crossing (24° angle)
SL-E194 Long Crossing (12° angle)
SL-E197 Y Small radius
SL-E198 Y Large radius
SL-E191 Small radius R/H
SL-E192 Small radius L/H
SL-E195 Medium radius R/H
SL-E196 Medium radius L/H
SL-E188 Large radius R/H
SL-E189 Large radius L/H
SL-E186 Curved double radius R/H
SL-E187 Curved double radius L/H
SL-E199 Asymmetric 3 Way Turnout. medium radius

INSULFROG TURNOUTS & CROSSINGS, Code 75 nickel silver rail
SL-184 Catch Point R/H
SL-185 Catch Point L/H
SL-180 Single slip (12° angle)
SL-190 Double slip (12° angle)
SL-193 Short crossing (24° angle)
SL-194 Long crossing (12° angle)

FINE ACCESSORIES
SL-110 Rail Joiners. nickel silver (for code 75)
SL-111 Rail Joiners, Insulated (for code 75)
SL-112 Combined Rail Joiners (for joining code 75 to code 100)

In comparison, their list of Code 83 tracks contains the following items:

INSULFROG TURNOUTS, Code 83 nickel silver rail
SL-8351 #5 R/H Turnout
SL-8352 #5 L/H Turnout
SL-8361 #6 R/H Turnout

4

Sorry, Stein; I must have confused 75 and 100.

My layout is 75. If you don’t mind switching frog power with external contacts, there is a mod you can do to the Electrofrogs that makes them more reliable and less likely to have shorts with odd engines or cars with metal wheels.

  1. cut the links underneath between the frog and closure rails.

  2. install jumpers between closure rails and stock rails in the gaps left in the plastic.

  3. wire the frog thru single pole double throw contacts such as are available on Tortoise and many other machines.

I did this with all my turnouts. Now they don’t depend on the point rails making good contact with the stock rails, which becomes a problem with a little dirt. Also, there is more clearance distance between any rails having opposing polarity, so out-of gauge metal wheels or steam engines with 3 or more sets of drivers are less likely to short.

The same mod can be done to Peco 83, but not 100, an older design.

regards

Hal

5

Hi Hal –

No problem - it just confused me that both code 100 and code 83 had both insulfrog and electrofrog, but apparently not code 75. Guess I fell victim to the old joke about there “being at least one ass (in this case me) in every assumption” :slight_smile:

Guess I will just try to install the electrofrogs the way they are (but w/o gluing down the tracks yet) and see if I get any problems - I am planning to just run short switchers and 40’ cars, so I might be able to get away without having much in the way of shorts.

Also - I am likely to just run one engine, or maximum two engines at a time, so any shorts shouldn’t be too annoying for other people.

Still, I’ve made a note of your advice and will keep it in mind if I should experience problems with the electrofrog switches.

Thanks!

Smile,
Stein