I need some inspiration - Using 042 radius switches - Lionel 027 track - help please!

mike w posted:

Hi everyone,

I have always used 027 track and am happy to stick with it. My new layout will however by 054 and 042 radius curves.

I recently obtained a bunch of Lionel 042 radius switches in 027. Does anyone use these? If so please post some pics of what they look like on a layout - I am looking for inspiration please!!

I am very happy with the ballasted tinplate look but just cant find more than a couple of pics of these switches in action or layouts using 027 but 042/054 curves.

I am in England so there is no-where local I can go to get my answers

Many thanks

MIKE

 

 

I found this layout on youtube, posted by zdrummer72 that might give you an idea.......

My current layout is all 027 tubular with 042 lionel switches.   They work fine except sometime my MTH passenger cars short out.  This is the cars's fault, not the switch's.  The rollers on these cars are wider than Lionel rollers, and they short the center rail with the ground throw rail.  Solution was to put masking tape on a 1" length where the short occurred. 

Videos here

mike w posted:

Hi everyone,

I have always used 027 track and am happy to stick with it. My new layout will however by 054 and 042 radius curves.

I recently obtained a bunch of Lionel 042 radius switches in 027. Does anyone use these? If so please post some pics of what they look like on a layout - I am looking for inspiration please!!

I am very happy with the ballasted tinplate look but just cant find more than a couple of pics of these switches in action or layouts using 027 but 042/054 curves.

I am in England so there is no-where local I can go to get my answers

Many thanks

MIKE

 

 

I use them on my layout.

Here is some shots.

Into switch yard.

Inner loop

Siding pull off

another inner loop

Other end of inner loop

Drummer3 posted:

My current layout is all 027 tubular with come 042 lionel switches.   They work fine except sometime my MTH passenger cars short out.  This is the cars's fault, not the switch's.  The rollers on these cars are wider than Lionel rollers, and they short the center rail with the ground throw rail.  Solution was to put masking tape on a 1" length where the short occurred. 

 

Videos here

 

Drummer is spot on. I had a good-sized layout in my basement with O27 track, max 42" curves, and several 42" switches. I got the same occasional short-outs like he suggested.  I ended up having to apply hobby paint on the frogs to prevent metal from the wheels hitting metal on the switch.  Might've used tape, too, from time to time.

If you haven't purchased them yet, look into getting K-line brand O27 switches with 42" curves on the used market.  I've been accumulating them for my new layout in a bedroom (now that 3 of my 4 daughters are in college or done with college). 

Good point,

I had that on a few cars so I used Black & Hard fingernail polish, end of issue. I have never had to re-do them yet. The K-line switch I have I decided against using. Too bulky looking for me. So I have one K-276 I don't need.

One thing also about the K-line switches, is that the center rails are spaced a bit to far apart on the legs at least on the couple that I have. My shorter trains mostly 0-4-0 switchers and BEEP's stop on them as they hit a funky deadzone.

The K-Line 275 & 276 switches are far superior to the Lionel ones, they are illuminated and have direction indicating controllers, and have fixed voltage capability with solenoid coils that turn off when thrown to keep them from overheating & melting/burning out. The newest versions have the very low profile DZ type switch motors with LED indicators. Neither version has the shorting problems of the Lionel.

WOW those do look nice but nothing like what I have.

 If this is not an ugly Duck ,,,nothing is.

KRM posted:

WOW those do look nice but nothing like what I have.

 I have about 30 of those & they work great.

Brilliant - thanks for all your posts!!

MIKE

Some more pictures would be good please.....

I have some 036's on my layout (bottom center of picture) . They work fine.  The rest are 027.

ADCX Rob posted:

The K-Line 275 & 276 switches are far superior to the Lionel ones, they are illuminated and have direction indicating controllers, and have fixed voltage capability with solenoid coils that turn off when thrown to keep them from overheating & melting/burning out. The newest versions have the very low profile DZ type switch motors with LED indicators. Neither version has the shorting problems of the Lionel.

I agree, these K Lines are a great choice of switch!  I use them with high satisfaction.   With the low profile switch machine, they also accommodate  the overhang of longer scale freight and scale passenger cars.

The older K line switches with the high switch machine will not accommodate the longer cars and IMHO look silly.

KRM posted:

WOW those do look nice but nothing like what I have.

 If this is not an ugly Duck ,,,nothing is.

 

I'm with you there - I have the same switches. I've had thoughts of converting them to some type of low-profile switch machine. Has anybody done this?

To Mike W's question - here's some messing around I did with the SCARM program. This has never been built, so there are definitely un-resolved clearance issues. It was my first attempt with many layers added, which explains the weird-looking engine-house roof. The main layout is O42 curves and switches; space for the main section is about 4.5 x 12 feet. The elevated section is O27 for a trolley line.

On the plan, the main line disappears off to a return loop off-picture, (trackplan lower right) but it might be possible to squeeze the standard oval in at the left. There are a couple of dead 'tracks-to-nowhere' to give the wide outside world illusion. Notice the cut-out by the enginehouse for the operator's belly.............

Here's a post with pictures where I added constant voltage to the Lionel 042 path switch.  

https://ogrforum.com/t...-switch-65168-photos

Thanks for the info