Believe me, I am not looking to start a “which type of track/turnout is best” thread. I see in the October 2003 issue of Model Railroader that they did a Track Buyer’s Guide. I just wondered if there was a more recent article on the subject, or one specifically dealing with turnouts. I am looking at the various makes and wanted to read what MR thought about them.
Thanks.
I’m not aware or a buyers guide but you’ll be sure to get suggestions. Hand laid turnouts comes up quite often as being quality and reliable.
It doesn’t matter what MR said about the different turnout brands. Most advertise in the magazine and will be fine even if they are junk. Pecos are good but for code 83 and a small yard that requires 6 or more you will need to remortgage the house or apply for a government bailout. Atlas makes some decent turnouts or you can go the ME or other custom built turnouts. Hand laying is another option or something in between hand lay and RTR is something like the CV turnout kits or Proto 87 kits.
Pete
I’ve used Atlas, Walthers/Shinora and Peco. They’re all ok. Peco has the positive locking mechanism which makes life really easy for people not interested in adding switch machines.
I use three different turnouts from three suppliers. In my yard, I use Peco Streamline Code 83 Insulfrog (means “DCC friendly”…) #6 turnouts exclusively…except for a hand laid one I’ll discuss momentarily. I love the Pecos. They sure cost, but once in place, you forget about them except to reach over and slip the points to the other side. I enjoy operating my turnouts manually.
The second type is Walthers/Shinohara curved #7.5 and one #8. I would rate them a B. They are well made, but the design needs improving for DCC-friendly ops if you would rather not have to cut insulating gaps near the frogs. I had to do that because blind drivers on my steamers would cross over to the opposite rail at the turnouts, being the type that hang out as blind drivers will, and the rest you can guess. So, I had to get out my Dremel equivalent and cut-off disk. With all-flanged wheels, they are just fine.
My third type are the Fast Tracks style hand laid ones, #8’s. They are amazing, but what was even better was realizing I could make any turnout I needed…and ended up making two custom ones to improve the closure of my track loop system as the inevitable compounding of small errors crept in.
Far and away, if you can steel yourself to get to making your own, hand-laid turnouts is the cheapest way to go, and it results in turnouts far better in operations than any commercial one, except maybe other kit forms where you must also build them. Such as Central Valley and some others…they’re very good as well.
I have no first-hand experience with the newer Custom Line of Atlas Code 83 turnouts, but I suspect they are better than anything Atlas had made to that point.
-Crandell
The NMRA magazine,“Scale Rails”, did a comparison of the most used commercial turnouts a couple of years ago. This wasn’t a buyers guide, but simply how close the turnouts came to the NMRA standards. The worst off the standards was the Atlas Customline code 100 turnouts while the best was Micro Engineering, but even it was off some. The one that had no shortcomings at all, standard wise, of all the turnouts compared, were the ones built using Fast Tracks jigs.
Do not take this as an endorsement of the Fast Track system. I have been building my own turnouts for years and years, so I don’t need a jig to be able to make one that is within NMRA standards.
Benjamin,
I thought there was a quick track/turnout review in MR within the past 3 or 4 years. However, it may have been on one of their “extra” issues, or a Kalmbach book.
I am an avid fan and user of the Fast Tracks turnouts. The frogs are “live” and I’ve had absolutely no problems with them. [tup]
Tom
I am leaning more and more towards Fast tracks. My concerns with them (which may be completely unfounded) are:
Dependence on ME rail. What if ME stops producing rail down the road. Are their point/frog fixtures worthless then?
Cost per fixture. I want a couple of #4s, a couple of #5, and a couple of #6s. That means buying the set ups x3. I cannot afford that. It might force me to pick a standard (like #5) and use that for everything. Of course, if they last a lifetime then it isn’t so bad, but see concern #1 above.
I have read (only one, mind you) online report that said the switches were fragile and failed under use. It might have been his own building standards were off, but regardless I have seen nothing else negative about Fast Tracks except for cost. I would like to learn more before making a costly investment. I cannot just buy a turnout of theirs and compare it with others, because I would need to compare one I built to make a fair comparison.
Benjamin.
You can build your own turnouts without a jig. “thebige61” has a Youtube site with a series of short video’s showing how he makes turnouts using an NMRA gauge and a couple of 3 point track gauges and a printed copy of any turnout you require. You can download the plans for free from the Fast Tracks web site. They have numerous sizes of turnouts, crossings and y’s, even three-way turnouts etc. in different gauges. Of course you do need the usual tools. Rail cutter, small vise, file, soldering iron. PCB board ties etc. The three point track gauges are available from Fast Tracks for under $5.00 each or from your local Hobby shop at their price. If you do it this way, you don’t have to worry about your rail supplier going belly up. You just use whatever is available at the time.
Just go to www.handlaidtrack.com and find the turnout plans down the Left Hand side of the page and follow the links for your gauge. Fast Tracks also has numerous How To video’s that you can access free to help you to learn more about track laying.
Good luck.
Blue Flamer.
Note: I have no affiliation with Fast Tracks other than browsing their Web Site which I consider to be quite helpful IMO.
B.F.
Sorry, but I’ll have to disagree with the above comment about the Pecos.
I have various size Peco turnouts as well as curved ones and am adding switch machines to them. The Peco switch machine attaches directly underneath the turnout and an accessory switch can easily be added. I make an opening about 1 1/4" by 1 1/2" by 1 1/4" deep. Being able to make this opening is your main consideration.
This picture shows what I’m talking about and has the accesory switch attached.
This set up eliminates the difficulties with slow motion switch machines regarding wire size and locating and attaching the machine under the layout. I also do all of the soldering at the work bench attaching the wires to the machines and feed them down thru the opening and join them with wire (which have had spade connectors soldered at the work bench) from the toggles and power supply at terminal strips…
As you probably know there is no one right or best way. It’s what works for you.
Happy Railroading
Bob .
Benjamin, check the FT web site. They also make jigs that will accept Atlas rail, too. You just need to let them know that at the time of purchase.
If you are only wanting one or two of each, you can always purchase individual FT turnouts off eBay, if you want. They come already cut and assembled, QuickSticks added and painted, and the frogs isolated and wired for cheaper than you can purchase a Peco turnout.
Benjamin, I eventually want to purchase some FT jigs myself but haven’t because of the initial outlay of cost. I’ve resorted, therefore, to purchasing FT turnouts off eBay as I’ve needed them.
I’ve been VERY satisfied with the quality of the pre-manufactured so far. I use them in conjunction with Caboose Industries (CI) 220S ground throws, which switch the polarity of the frogs for you for the diverging tracks. You might just try purchasing one FT turnout and see if
FWIW since I’m debating hand laying and building my own turnouts. The only Fast Tracks turnouts on Ebay at this moment are ~$26-$28, plus $5.95 for shipping.
Googles “shopping results” for Peco turnouts finds them for 2/3 of that price, plus variable interest.
Fair enough, D94. The prices I was going with were the ones that I had seen in Walthers or my own LHS, which were ~$28 - $30 for a #4.
If you purchase the Peco “InsulFrog” turnouts, the “live” frogs will still need to have a wire soldered to them in order to be powered, which the pre-fab FT turnouts off eBay already already come with that. I also think the FT turnouts look and operate much better than either the offerings from Atlas or Pecos. That alone would be worth the extra few $$$ to me.
My point is that the pre-made FT turnouts off eBay are an option for Benjamin to quickly “try” one out before commiting to purchasing the jigs. I, too, would like to ultimately build my own turnouts and crossings and like what I’ve seen with handlaying track.
Tom
I tried to find the pre made FT turnouts on Ebay but couldn’t find them. Where should I look?
Bruce
Bruce,
I did a search under the “Toy & Hobbies > Model RR, Trains > HO Scale” category:
http://toys.shop.ebay.com/HO-Scale-/19128/i.html?_catref=1
Type in “Fast Tracks” and you’ll get a whole slew of choices.
Tom
I think you misread my post, I was not at all suggesting that Pecos were bad for adding switch machines. Or that you shouldn’t. I said Pecos are the best for people who don’t want to add a switch machine. In other words, they’re the only switch I’ve used with the positive lock once the switch is laid, you don’t need to do anything else, like add a ground throw to have a perfectly operating switch. Of course you CAN add switch machines to Pecos. Though, personally, if that were my plan, I’d probably drop down to a less pricey switch.
Hi YoHo,
You are right. I did misinterpret what you said. .Later I reread my post and saw what I had done and have been wondering if I’d hear from you.
The Pecos do snap into position quite well. The switchmachines I’m installing are on turnouts that are hard to reach or on the opposite side of the layout. The rest will be turned by the train crew thus giving me something to do and think about.
Thanks for your diplomatic response
Happy Railroading
Bob
. .
The layout I operate on must have 60 ME #6 turnouts on it, and they are all hand-thrown, using an uncoupling skewer to push over the points so we don’t get finger-grease on the rails. ME turnouts have an over-center spring just like the Pecos. I think they look very good, no funky frogs like the Atlas, and never give any trouble.
Current MSRP per Walthers is $20.95, and Walthers current sale price is $18.98. I’ll bet my LHS, Peach Creek Shops, will sell them for less than that - call them at 301-498-9071.