What Turnouts Do You Use

If anyone out there is still running classic tubular track, what turnouts do you like? I use Marx because I don’t run a lot of high speeds and I have a good number of old fat wheel locos. I have had good luck ballasting and covering them. I keep the solenoid covers semi loose so I can pull the covers off for maintenance should the need arise.


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sorry I don’t run o gauge but that look’s great. I would not change anything.

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Thanks @amflyer1 still under construction

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These are clever structures. They seem to move easily with solenoids. It’s amazing that there are no non-electric sections. All of mine are made by Japanese TER (Endo) around 1960 and are manual. I’ve taken pictures of them and am storing them in a storage shed.




I am not a 3 rail person but those Marx turnouts look really good after ballasting and applying scenic materials.

@BN7150 those look really neat

@AmFlyerTom I was kind of hesitant to paint and glue over my antique turnouts, but I am glad I did. It is a piece of grass mat from the craft store stuck down with a couple dabs of hot glue, and I use cat litter for ballast. On my track sections I use diluted white glue on the ballast. On the turnouts I adhered the ballast with a bead of gray latex caulk. I know the cat litter pieces are not exactly “scale” but my “hi-rail” layout is more in fun than anything else, so I am enjoying building it and running the old toy trains.

Now, more than ever, your cats will find your layout attractive. :wink:

Rich

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I stay away from O27 and prefer to use O track with traditional 022 switches.

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The ballast really makes that old tubular track look god.

I use Atlas track and turnouts.

Paul

@IRONROOSTER what radiuses can a person get with Atlas?

I have some Tokyo Endo equipment that I imported a few years ago, but no track- I did consider buying some. Maybe one day. It seems like reasonably nice tubular track.

-El

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@El_Fixes_Things sounds neat

They are frequently put up for auction on Yahoo! Auctions in Japan (website). However, there are few in good condition, and most cannot be shipped overseas. There must be some agents out there. Rolling Stocks are also attractive, with a cuteness that is different from Lionel and the like.


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Yahoo JP is where my equipment came from. I went through a proxy service, and bid on some cheap models that need some work. A locomotive, some incomplete freight wagons, and a gondola with brakeman’s cabin. One day I will have my whole little consist up and going, once I finish repairing the body work on everything. I think I spent about $50-60 on the equipment, and around $25-30 on shipping. Still much cheaper than what I see on equipment that’s been for sale at train shows I’ve attended.

-El

Atlas lists their 3 rail track by diameter, so divide by 2 for radius.

Atlas comes in 27,36,45,54,63,72,81,90, 99,108. Not all sizes are in stock all the time. Their track system is designed for 4 1/2 inch track centers instead of 6 inches like Lionel.

Paul

Thanks