I apologize in advance for the length of this post. However, we are new to the hobby and about as dumb as a post when it comes to track and wiring. We inherited some old and not-so-old Lionel equipment including a simple layout mounted on a nice 4’ x 8’ table. Included among this stuff are three remote control switches. These are not the classic 71-4062-259 O-31 switches with the big switch motor and topside terminals. The mystery switches have no model number, the only markings are “Lionel” and the Lionel logo. The terminals are on the side and are marked “1,” “2,” “3” and “A.” There is also a slide switch on the edge to change from track power to auxiliary power. The switches have a short straight and short curve, both mounted on black plastic to match the base of the switch itself. The short pieces are apparently to help better fit the switches into tight spaces. I could not find any information about these switches on the Lionel website.
The switches worked fine on the original layout, where they were all used for spur tracks. We have now dismantled that layout. We did not pay attention to the track pin configuration used in the previous layout, or to which terminals should be connected to the controllers (like I said, dumb as a post). To which terminals do we connect the controller wires? Do we need to use insulating pins, and, if so, do they go in the same spots as the old-style O-31 switches?
Another issue has to do with the new layout. It follows a plan from the 1958 Lionel catalog and is essentially a loop within a loop. Ingress and egress to the loops are through four switches. Two of my switches are the old-style O-31 and two are the aforementioned mystery switches. Can these different type switches be used randomly on the layout or do the like types have to be used together in some way?
Fi
