Did you ever a build an O27 layout with multiple 1122 switches, and how well did they work for you?

I had nothing but trouble with my old 1122 switches, and went back to 'O'. I like the 'look' of 027, but some stuff you can't run on it. Good luck!

I've never used the 1122s, but on my last layout I used one 1022 on my layout. The 1022 is the manual version of the 1122. I broke every "rule" in the book with that one. It was used with the curved section as the mainline, and was located in an S curve as well. I don't recall any problems with it.

J White

I've used the MPC O-27's, which I think it is the MPC version of the switches.

On Lionel O-27 stuff, it worked well.  Marxs engines bounched over them, but did not derail

This is my layout from 30 years ago in my bedroom at home.

its 4x8 and used six 1122 switches...I had no problems.

Dad always ran a piar of 1122s under the tree without any trouble. I've always prefered the look of the 1121s, ans they seem to be more avalible at the shows, ans my Prewar and Marx stuff run fine on the 1121s. The 1122s not so much.

When using a high current drain loco, or in addition with lighted passenger cars, the 1122's will snap ok.  Our issue was a low current inexpensive plastic modern Lionel engine, with can motor, would run too fast if you gave it enough voltage to snap the switch.  Running the engine slow, the switch would only snap halfway or not at all.  You can wire these as constant voltage like the O22's, I'm sure there's a thread out here about how to do that.

I gave up and bought nasty looking O22's a a show, and cleaned them up.  Never go back to O-27

I have used them on a portable layout and one home layout prior building my Fastrack layout. I did have one problem in that if you run trains in a command environment then the trains running through the switches cause the selenoid to fire constantly which will melt it down. I am not sure what the cure would be since it is usually the anti-derailing mechanism causing the seleniod to fire. My second portable layout I decided to use the old 1121 switches which do not have the anti-derailing and so the selenoid does not fire constantly.

my two new york city apartment layouts used 1122's without a problem.

From the Lionel Website:

There is one other thing to consider when using 027 switches. Some of the larger locomotives and cars can have enough overhang on the curve, so they hit the switch motor housing. It has been a long time, and I don't remember which particular pieces anymore. Aluminium passenger cars come quickly to mind.

022's can handle any traditional O gauge equipment.

Thank you all for the responses. I did mention in my original post that I have already modified the switches for fixed voltage supply, which makes them operate more positively. Also I can power them with a capacitor discharge power supply, which reduces the current draw, but that has some limitations. I'm thinking it's impractical for them to be used where one train might bridge several turnouts, and that this needs to be considered for track planning and power supply. Please read my full text at the beginning ... ?

Here is my layout built in 1971 with 25 1122 switches.  We run 2333,2343,726/736,400/404(which is what we used for clearance checks when building).  No GG1s, FMs, or 773's!

WOW, that's an impressive layout and collection! And I notice a big ZW transformer ... which must have facilitated the use of so many 1122 switches ... Thanks for the photos Rob !

That kinda looks like the boy on the 1946 Lionel catalog ??

I guess I misinterpreted your post.  Your phrase "and am also converting them to work on fixed voltage input," led me to believe that you were somewhere in the process of converting to fixed voltage.  Later on you state that it is already done.

I'm not being a grammar Nazi, just trying to explain why some of us answered the way we did. 

Thank you all for the responses.

To clarify, I have already converted most of my 7 or 8 old 1122 switches to fixed voltage input, and four of the rehab switches are in my trial layout pictured above. I made some mention of my experience with the modified switches in my original post, including a trial of capacitor discharge power.

I guess what I have already learned is that these switches need more consideration about power supply, especially if you have multiple switches in a smaller track plan. I was interested to know of other people's experiences with them. I gather that they are not real popular in modern times, but I happened to get some for free so I am trying to make the best use of them.

I may just use multiple capacitor discharge supplies for these switches. But here is one of the quirks: Suppose you have a train going through a small reverse loop with an 1122 switch powered by capacitor discharge. The switch triggers automatically and unnecessarily when the train enters the loop, and if the train goes through the loop too fast the capacitor may not be adequately charged to fire the switch again for the train to exit the loop. Same problem with different switches in close proximity, unless each has its own capacitor discharge supply.

I have an existing O-gauge layout with some O22 switches and their non-derailing feature works great, especially with fixed voltage input.

Go to You Tube and do a search for janisjade1. You can see a couple of her Easter door layouts in action with 1122 switches. Quite the talented lady!