Reversing loop question

You buy or fit the switch with an anti-de-railing feature.  Fastrack remote switches have it built in - nothing to buy and it works great.  It senses the train coming around from the other direction and automatically switches.  I have two like this on my layout.  You can buy an Atlas kit to retrofit Atlas switches, or others, so they work the same.  

Nick,

 The Fastrack manual O-36 switch will do it mechanically. I had two reversing loops on my old layout and the train essentially made the trip around 4 times before repeating the same path, all without any control. The remote switches do it electically, as Lee said.

John

Great!  Thank you!  So much to learn...  but it is so much fun!

Just use a manual one.  It will go in the switch one way and the engine will change the direction of the switch and then the next time enter the other way.  I did this on a layout with two reversing loops and it works perfect.  If you want control of which way it enters the loop, then of course you'll need a powered switch and set it up for anti derailing. Some electrical minor surgery on the switch.   He's using 027, not fastrack .

For O-27 electric switches, you want the 5121/5122 type that has been made continuously since 1970(they have new catalog numbers now). They are very simple and do not drain any power from the track until a train traverses them. and the non-derailing feature is built-in. For switches with lights, look at the 1122/1122E switches that were made from 1952 to 1969, also with the non-derailing feature built-in.

 

For yet another upgrade, the K-Line O-27 Switches K-265 & K-266 have lights, non-derailing, position indication on the controllers, and provisions for operation on fixed accessory voltage for consistent operation not dependent on track voltage or train speed.

 

Unfortunately, there is no O-27 manual equivalent to the superb FasTrack O-36 manual switches with their silky non-derailing function. HERE are videos of layouts I have built with the FasTrack switches with double reverse loops.

What model/catalog number? O-27 switches won't do this.

Did this the other day when I was at the train store for a customer that made the same exact request. So we hooked him up and off he went to make his railroad.

 

Great answer Lee

 

 

Pete

I see that he is using tubular 0-27. This should still work regardless because as one member just stated, as the locomotive makes the go around, it will manually trip the switch on the return. No reason to by anything complicated. Both Fast Track and 0-27 will make this possible.

 

 

Pete

FasTrack, yes, O-27, no.

The swivel rails lock on O-27 manual switches - the train wheels will not push them over.

Now that I think about it, that layout didn't have 027 track.  For O27 use the electric switch with track power and wire it anti derailing.  What ACDX said gives the best options.

I have a Ross switch in an inaccessible location at the end of a reversing loop.  I use a very light spring to return the points to the original position after each passage of a train.  Never had a pilot truck derail there in several years of operation.  I always want the train to follow the same route, not change each time as would happen if the points were just left to move and then stay in that direction after each passage.  The location is just into another room where the only trackage is the return loop but does have a passing/holding siding which is controlled by a switch motor.  During normal operation you don't see any of this track since it is in the other room, but it can be controlled to have one train run into the access tunnel and then a different train emerge.

 

Paul Fischer

There is a distinct advantage to the spring loaded points method too, as you have outlined. The design of the O-27 swivel rail rather precludes this method, though.

I have Atlas track but fitted Fastrack remote switches to it for the reversing loops.  These switches are bulletproof.  Over the past ten years I have accumulated what I estimate to be nearly 100,000 automatic anti-derailing switches (the trains run three of five hours a day, every day) and i have had one derailment, and one (out of a total of more than 20) switch give problems.  

Yes, ADCX is correct, with the O-27 manual switches I have the train derails instead of pushing the swivel rail over.  I think I'm going to pick up a fastrack switch as Lee suggested.  Thank you everyone for your comments!

You'll need adapters for FasTrack to tubular and the FasTrack switches have an O gauge rail height. Don't use them.

 

Get some of the 027 electric switches that ADCXRob suggested. Old or new doesn't matter as long as they work. new Lionel numbers 

 

The 036 FasTrack switches will mess with the track geometry, too. Only the small radius curve of 027 will mate well.