Open letter to Ross Custom Switches

I have a number of Ross ready to go on my new layot....they are NICE! But if you look at the inventory Ross keeps with just the current product line I'd hate to almost double the stock numbers by making different ties units. I understand your desires....But a TOUGH request when you think about it....and the fact they make all their stuff here adds to the difficulty.  I came from fine scale HO.....figure if I accept 3 rails.....ties are a given!

My vote is that they not change a thing...   as we know, perfection is hard to improve!

Sam,

I'm using Ross track and switches on my new layout and to me looks great. The switches are smooth as butter. Yes the ties are a little oversize but it really does not bother me. 

I use Ross switches and Gargraves track.   If I change track systems I'm going 2 rail.

They could offer the switches without ties so folks could put their own ties on them, just like some of the 2-rail switch makers do.

I've used the combo, Ross/Gargraves on the last three layouts. Can't see how Ross can make ties to match every rail system. Don

Don't mess with a good thing

Am not asking that they 'change' anything - just add ONE set of new ties to match Atlas. Scaletrax could benefit from the better spacing of Atlas anyway!

Actually, in thinking ahead of the possibility of building again if we're able to buy another home someday, I'm rethinking my selection.  Yes, Gargraves/Ross is a good system but I was working on the club layout today and replacing some track. I just don't like working with it and have difficulty getting smooth curves. Mostly the oversize rail & ties is my major complaint. Especially after using Scaletrax where the lower profile and smaller rails gave our equipment a MUCH more realistic look. Scaletrax is easily half the size of GG and a locomotive appears more massive by comparison. Its a great illusion.

We have on hand some GG, some Atlas which I'm beginning to lean towards, and Scaletrax from our old layout. I've picked up a couple of Ross switches too but really don't want to use GG. The few photos I've seen of Ross switches with other track systems look missmatched and I don't want that. Am not talented enough to hand lay switches with Scaletrax rail either!

I think Ross would have a great seller if they could make a line of scale switches in addition to what they make now for GG. One new line could match both Atlas and Scaletrax.

I don't know how a track maker could possibly do this but while we are sort of on the track wish list topic.  I would like a kit or method to do this type of track in certain areas of a layout....Forced restricted yard speed...

I have purchased a hammer.  You may borrow it if you wish.

I think a dremel tool with a cutting wheel with random cuts and shave would work well.  Kind of reminds me of the penn central lines of the early 70's

Sam:

While I agree that scale sized ties would be an improvement and look amazing, I don't think it's even possible for Ross to go that route for a couple reasons.

1. Milling real wood small enough to represent scale size ties would produce wooden pieces that would likely be too small to accept a rail spike without splitting.  Simply gluing the rails to the ties might work, but that would eliminate one of the most attractive aspects of Ross track (the spikes in every tie).  Using something other than real wood for the ties would involve MAJOR capital investment and I doubt the potential return on that investment would justify making it.

2. The milling process would produce much more waste than product.  The process of cutting all those ties from large boards has been highly refined and automated by Steve using machines that he has modified to suit his needs and that maximize the yield from the boards to the greatest extent realistically possible.  Smaller ties would be quite difficult (expensive) to produce and it's important to remember the number of ties involved in making track is huge.

I considered Scaletrax for a switching layout I'm building, but faced with a wait of up to a year for some basic switches, and the total reliability and flawless performance of the Ross switches, I again went with Ross.  After all, we still have that middle rail.

Scaletrax is easily half the size of GG and a locomotive appears more massive by comparison. Its a great illusion.

Once it's ballasted, Scaletrax (rail only) is 0.190" tall compared to 0.215" for Ross/Gargraves.  Scaletrax is 88.4% the size of GG.

That's interesting. When put that way, the difference is not material.

You're technically correct Bob, but the illusion appears much greater!

Consider an HO locomotive. Sure, HO literally means 'half O' and yes, the item us about half the length, but the volume is actually EIGHT time larger in O. An O gauge model of the same piece is much larger.

Pat - I understand what you're saying about the production setup. Guess I'm just dreaming here...

Very nice idea, however a production & warehousing problem.

Retooling from both the consumer and Ross  sides would be a big stumbling block.

In either 2 or 3 rail there is not a production track line that has all bases covered IMO.

However, Ross is the best thing going in 3 rail switch function as is.

I would say that is possible that Ross could alter the spacing of the ties but it would take an extensive retooling effort to serve a very tiny market niche. The cost would probably not justify the return. Better to just use the switches that match your track system. Ross is a fine quality product and I use them, but switches other than the Ross brand also work.

I had misgivings about the oversized ties of the Ross turnouts when I was making the hard choice for track systems.  I chose Ross and I am very happy with that choice.  Yes it would be cool if the ties were scale, but I think the spike would split a smaller tie too.  This hobby is about making concessions...I gave on the scale proportions for bulletproof reliability, wide selection of switches and CAB2 control of switch motors.

Apologies for highjacking the thread a bit:  Ross would sell more product with a revised web site that is more attractive and features close up and low-angle pics of their track - as produced and installed.

I have visited the site numerous times, and feel that I just cannot learn enough about the appearance.   I actually am considering ordering some just to get a better look at it.

Sorry for the diversion, please carry on.

Ken you can find hundreds of pictures on this forum of Ross switches in use on many layouts belonging to clubs and forum members. There's no better place to find them in different phases, stock unpainted, painted, painted & ballasted, weathered, etc etc.

When I moved up from the carpet to another layout in 1991 I went with Gargraves Flextrack and Ross/Curtis Turnouts and today I still use Gargraves Flextrack, plus a few Curtis units and mostly Ross Turnouts[only 17 on my small attic operation]..

Laidoffsick - I checked out your video - nice.  Are you using Ross?  I could not see the individual spikes in each tie.   But thanks.

I look at it a different way!

Why would Ross change a great product! Look at all the track systems that are out there. Why would Ross make switches for one track system and not the other.

They have already put a lot of money in research and development when they came out with the tinplate switches line.

To the average person,  makes it sound so simple, but to the owner of a business, to come out with something new would take 10's of thousands of dollars in research, tooling, advertising and then to make the product, try to sell it and then if it don't....

he is out thousands and thousands of dollars and it may be enough to put a company out of business if he can't absorb the loss!

Ross switches are a great product and still MADE IN AMERICA!

Lets keep it that way!

The ties on the switches are oversized but I've seen 1:1 mainline switches that had oversized ties as well.  This was especially true in high traffic/high speed traffic areas.  I suspected that the size difference was to improve durability and make the operation more bulletproof.   If that's not a good enough excuse you can use ballast and painting tricks to make the Ross ties/track appear less large.

I don't see any easy way for Ross to do this.  As others have pointed out one of the main attractions of the track is the use of real spikes.  Smaller ties will make that more difficult to do.  I don't see any way to sell the "parts".  This opens up a nightmare for Ross in terms of support.  As soon as someone muffs an install they're going to be all over Ross about it.

If you want better/more reliable switches from Atlas or a larger switch selection from MTH I'd suggest that's where you direct your efforts.