I am using 72” and 31” switches on my layout. Any logical reason why the Lionel track sits lower than the switches when on cork roadbed? Why would Lionel do this?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Do they sit at the same height without the roadbed?
Have you measured the height of each, separately?
Seems strange that they would do this.
Are you mixing standard O and O27 track by any chance? (Sorry, but somebody had to ask this.)
Just O gauge. All my Lionel switches do this. I am using cork roadbed. Every loco looks like it's going over a speed bump when going over the switches. 
Originally Posted by Drawbar Cruson:
I am using 72” and 31” switches on my layout. Any logical reason why the Lionel track sits lower than the switches when on cork roadbed? Why would Lionel do this?
It's an age old problem. If you are using modern issue Lionel switches, the issue is compounded by the poor quality of these switches. Specifically, the switch points are for some reason higher. This is a particular problem with o72 new issue switches.
If you get down to eye level and manually roll an engine through the switch, you will see it ride up. You need to file these down.
As for the irregularity in track height, it is easily solved by shimming the ties out from the switch to make the height transition gradual. I used pieces of chipboard - (the backing of a legal pad) - to make the transition not noticeable.
Prewar 072 switches are a tiny bit higher than postwar O track. Many of my postwar 022 switches are taller than the track they are supposed to mate with. It may have something to do with variances in the Bakelite molds. The difference creates a barely noticable ramp approaching each switch. I have been thru dozens of switches and no two seem exactly the same height. I am talking of a 1/32 to 1/16 inch issue.
I have four two year old O-72 switches and the trains ride through them bouncing and rocking like fast cars on Michigan roads.
Originally Posted by humbug2:
I have four two year old O-72 switches and the trains ride through them bouncing and rocking like fast cars on Michigan roads.
Humbug2,
There should be at least 2 threads on this forum detailing the issues with Modern Lionel O72 switches, not those made in the 70's or 80's for some reason but afterwards. Yours truly either started or contributed my personal experiences with them to those threads. Try a search and you will read why your cars ride through like they do and more.
By the way, I have the same issue as the OP but only with one piece of track between a Post War 022 and a 1980ish O72 switch. A shim solved the problem.
Mike
Drawbar, you might want to try the new Ross turn out that are made for tube track. They are very smooth and quiet.
Al
I don't think he's saying the switches are giving the trains a rough ride. I think he's saying the rail height of the switch is higher than that of the track leading to it.
Originally Posted by bigo426:
I don't think he's saying the switches are giving the trains a rough ride. I think he's saying the rail height of the switch is higher than that of the track leading to it.
If he is using Modern (recent issue) Lionel switches, he may think the "sledding" he is seeing is from a height disparity. It is however amplified by the lousy design of those switches whereby the train is actually lifted higher as it passes through the switch.
Thank you for all the input, I will shim up the track leading to some of the switches that are real bad. I have 14 Lionel switches on our layout.
