Compatibilities between MTH, Lionel, Gargraves & Curtis?

Hello Jerry,

If your Lionel tubular O-72 switches were manufactured in the last 25 years they are junk.  No amount of repair or tuning will correct the problems with them.  Your best option would be to replace them with Ross O-72 switches.  Ross makes switches that are compatible with both Gargraves and tubular track.  Their O-72 RossPlate switches are a direct replacement for the Lionel switches and are EXTREMELY reliable.  They're also made in the USA and less expensive than the made in China Lionel tubular switches.

The fact that you're having trouble with MTH Premier passenger cars on the Curtis switches is rather unusual.   The MTH cars are typically great runners and very well behaved on most any brand of switch.  You can check for an out of gauge wheel set, but this would be VERY rare.  All the major manufactures in 3-rail are pretty good at making in-gauge wheel sets.  It's also unusual that they would have trouble on Curtis switches, which were quite well made.  The most likely culprit is the switch machines.  Look to see if the switch points are throwing all the way from rail to rail.  The Curtis switches used DZ-1000 switch machines which can have trouble throwing all the way after sitting a long time and accumulating dust.  You may well have a set of points hanging up causing the derailments.

Hope that helps.  Welcome back to the hobby!

Hi Dave,

I agree that the Lionel 072 switches leave a lot to be desired but they are left overs from my previous layouts which saved me a lot on the cost of building the new layout. 

Because of the layout being in an area that is neither heated nor cooled, all new track was Gargraves and all new switches were Curtis. I went with Curtis because he was willing to make my switches 100% stainless steel.

You nailed it with "DZ-1000 switch machines which can have trouble throwing all the way after sitting a long time and accumulating dust" because that is a problem with some of my Curtis switches.

I bought the Premier MoPac coaches (that derail) used from a dealer a few weeks ago (any MoPac stuff is very hard to find). I did check the wheel sets of the coach that causes the most trouble and there is a LOT of slop between the axles and the journals. Strangely the slop is more at the truck in the rear of the coach rather than at the front where it derails. The coaches looked new but I never did check the wheel sets.

It is a lot harder for me to get on my hands and knees these days so I'm really glad I built this layout years ago when I was more flexible.

Surprisingly rust has not been a problem with Lionel tubular track or switches or the Curtis switches but it has been a problem with the Gargraves track. It has been years since I last spent time looking at new O gauge products so I am out of touch with what is currently available.

Thanks,

Jerry

Hi Dale,

I looked at your post. Is the Ross 072 Tinplate switch a drop in replacement for the Lionel 072 switch? If so that sounds like a good solution to the particular switch giving me trouble.

I am assuming it should work well with MTH Rail King and Premier steam locos and rolling stock. Right?

Oops! it looks like Dave already answered that (Their O-72 RossPlate switches are a direct replacement for the Lionel switches and are EXTREMELY reliable.)

I guess I need to order that Ross switch.

Thanks,

Jerry