Are the code 100 Life Like remote turnouts as good as Atlas code 100 snap switches?
$5.00 for Life-Like and $16.00 for Atlas. Budget calls for some changes. These are the sale costs for each switch. I need to pick up ten for my new block. I currently have all Atlas. 14 code 100 Atlas snap switches. Thanks for the input.
Tom
Hi!
I respect your budget problems, for I recall building my first Lionel layout in the mid-'50s, when I struggled to get 25 cents to buy 5 lbs of plaster from the local hardware store. Goodness, a good portion of the layout was funded by snow shoveling (in Chicago) when I was a kid.
My point is I feel your pain, but may I suggest you stick with the Atlas turnouts if you are really serious about the hobby. Atlas makes a quality product, and they will last a very long time. Yes, you may have to do without for awhile, but in the long run you will be happier. Also, may I suggest you check out prices from NHS Hobbies, Caboose Hobbies, Toy Train Heaven, and Standard Hobby.
Oh, I have nothing against Life-like, other than I feel strongly that the Atlas will serve you much better in the long run.
ENJOY!
Mobilman44
I’ve got to agree with Mobileman44. The Atlas is just a better, more reliable turnout then the Life Like ones. If you do decide on the Life Like turnouts just be prepared to replace them down the road.
I’d stay away from the Life Like turnouts. I had them when I was young and they weren’t of high quality. Atlas are very good. Believe it or not the early Tyco turnouts from the 70’s worked very well. Unfortunately the motors aren’t removeable so if they burn out you replace the whole turnout. On the plus side the motors are smaller and therefore fit in tighter areas. I picked up 8 NOS with steel track for $6 each and they work well.
Todd
I’ll add my ditto for Atlas as well. I still have a couple of switches from the early '60’s!! - and they still work!! - machines and all!!! I use them in secondary locations, not on the main, as they are BRASS!! Just have to clean them every so often. [:)]
So I’m not the only one that did that.
I still have several of the Life-Like switches. They were reliable, but I agree with everyone else and buy the Atlas. They are of higher quality.
Will
New@building, I just checked price for Atlas remote switch machine at Wholesaletrains.com and they’re less than seven dollars each. There is shipping fees, but still a pretty good deal and I’ve had good success ordering from them. Gerry S.
There are things to be said for (about) Life-Like switches, but Bergie won’t like it if I put that sort of language here…
I experimented with some of Life-Like switches (acquired by my sister at a yard sale) and had two out of five fail in very short order. The snap-switches I’ve used for temporary tramways have been in use for a couple of decades and are still soldiering along - they may look ugly, but they work!
For permanent work, I’ve long since gone to hand-laid specialwork. Once you master the fairly simple skills involved, you can’t beat either the appearance or the price. (Switches are either manually thrown with CHEAP throw mechanisms, or powered with the least expensive two-coil switch machines connected by CHEAP mechanical linkages.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with Atlas flex and hand-laid specialwork)
I returned to MRRing 4 years ago after being away for 35 years. Still had some of the LIfe Like and they still worked OK. I had 3 that were curved turnouts but the long passenger cars would hit the switch motor. I replaced them with Peco only because I needed the curved turnouts, I have 6 total. This past year I replaced most of the brass rail with NS, and like others I used some brass in the yards including 2 life like switch’s. I removed the switch motors by cutting them off and replaced them with tortoise machines. Even if the switch’s go bad I can still reuse the tortoise machines. And like most others said Atlas is superior to Life Like in all proportions, but sometimes you have to work with what you have.
I’m on a fixed income, retired, so I have to budget the money and save for anything over $100.00 for my layout. That’s the amount I can spend per month on train stuff, $100.00. LOL… I just bought 2 more sound loco’s so I blew my budget for the next 2 months.
T:
One good idea, if you want to try the LL switches, is to buy one, install it, and see how it works, before buying all ten. If it’s a dud, you can put it in some undemanding use, like a switch that is always traversed point-trailing. I have two reeeeeally old brass LL switches, but I don’t know what the newest ones are like.
Does LL even make any regular non-roadbed switches besides steel ones, nowadays?