I didn’t mention in my earlier post what I’ve been doing to my atlas turnouts or atlas under the layout switch machines as they fail. It still requires pulling the turnout but after 20 or so years of service I don’t think that it hurts to pull the turnouts and give them a good overhaul just for good measure.
The Atlas ATL65 switch machine brand new didn’t do much for me out of the box but I went with them anyway back in 1988.
What I have found that works very good is to go with a Peco PL-10 switch machine. Electronically they are identical. It takes a bit of doing to get them to work mechanically but well worth the effort. On a scale of 1 to 10 they end up as a 15 on my layout.
The Atlas turnout needs a Peco spring added to the throw bar and with the PL-10 mounted to the bottom of th
How about Walthers or some company create a surface-mounted switch machine disguised as a bush or a tool chest, etc. with a very thin throw rod coming out, powered by 2 wires passing under the layout. No need for cables and precise drilling. Does this product already exist?
