RCS Standard Guage Switches

Tim,

The RCS Standard Gauge switches are drop-in replacements for the MTH switches.  However, their footprints are not the same primarily because MTH switches have wide/long/large switch motors permanently attached on one side of the switch.  RCS switches do not.  Instead, they have narrow LGB switch motors, which can be attached to either side of a RCS switch depending on what the track plan requires.  This feature permits tracks to be spaced closer together than is possible using MTH switches.  Below is a photo of an RCS switch sitting over an MTH switch.  In the photo you can see both the large MTH motor sticking out on the lower MTH switch and the much smaller LGB motor attached to the upper RCS switch.

One important difference is that unlike MTH switches the LGB switch motors on RCS switches require DC power.  That said, there are switch controllers specifically designed to operate LGB switch motors such as the below Piko control box, which converts any input current, DC or AC, into the precise DC output current required to operate up to four LGB switch motors.

Bob Nelson

Thanks Bob, I thought that was the case and while designing was ignoring the switch motors on the MTH switches and in some cases laying another section of track or switch right on top of it. It is nice to get confirmation though before I get to excited about a particular track plan. 

I got a lot of switches to buy 

Thanks again, Tim

These switches are awesome--you'll love how your trains roll right through them. Please post photos of your layout progress.

Note in making cross overs use Ross #4 turnouts. This will avoid S curves.

For the first time since they've been developed, Steve had both the O-72's and #4's in their booth at York.  Looked like he had quite a handful in stock as well.  So hopefully, you can catch him without waiting for more to be produced... depending on how many you need, of course. 

David

F&G RY posted:

Note in making cross overs use Ross #4 turnouts. This will avoid S curves.

 

Good point and so noted.

Tim