Like most companies during a recession, our model RR is trying to cut spending on “capital improvements”, in this case, switch machines.
I’m awfully tempted by some of the older machines I see offered cheap on ebay, but I’ve no idea whether they’ll work in O gauge. I suppose the biggest concern is the length of travel of the machine’s “arm” (or whatever you want to call it?) Most often these machines are offered without any gauge specified. If a machine were designed for, say, HO, or O Scale, would it be able to close the points on a Gagraves or Ross turnout?
Brands I see offered include: NJ, Tur-Bo, Kemtron, Polaris, Tru-Scale Mighty Mite, Peco, and MB Austin.
Or course, there is also Tortoise and Z-Stuff, but see the “cut spending” part above!
I really know nothing about any of these products, so any help will be very much appreciated.
The real question is, does it have sufficient Oomph to move the points. Travel can be adjusted by incorporating a differential lever in the linkage.
One thing to note is that the machines I recognize are all twin-coil solenoids, designed to throw with a brief surge of power which is then removed. Constant power will destroy them in short order.
The two I recognize, Kemtron (manufactured in Japan by KTM) and Peco, are opposite extremes.
Peco machines are designed to snap to the undersides of Peco turnouts (Various, mostly small, scales) and have very short throws and no locking feature - Peco builds that into the point mechanism. Unless Peco is making 1.25 inch gauge three-rail turnouts, these are virtually useless.
The KTM machine (imported by other firms in addition to Kemtron) will, with the proper linkage, close a closet door! Plenty of power, a built-in lock spring, fairly long throw plus auxiliary contacts that can be used for signals or panel indicators. I’ve been using up my dwindling supply, bought in Japan many years ago, in places where the extra contacts are needed.
If the E-bay seller includes a photo and the machine looks the same as a ‘Kemtron’ it’s almost certain to be a KTM. (Tenshodo sold the same machine under
I may be missing the whole point of your post but if you are looking at O guage switches any Lionel switch will work except for one caveat. If your track is 027 you need to use switches designed for 027 track. Standard 0 track needs standard 0 switches. There are usually a bunch for sale on ebay but will they work when you get them? That’s another question. I just refurbished some 027 switches but the coils were still good. Sorry if I didn’t answer your question.
Switch machines that will work with either Ross or Gargraves is the DZ-1000, the more basic switch machine. To order them go to Ross Custom Switch’s website, DZ Industries only sells in bulk(like a hundred at a time).
Don’t know what will work with other brands of switches.