RoCo Switches

the RoCo turnouts were made in the late 70's. they are about the equivalent of a #4 turnout, pretty sharp turn. they also have an unpowered plastic frog.

our club recently purchased a bunch for a tight industrial area. we paid about $12 each.

There were two sets of turnouts made by Roco.    One type was made for Atlas when they were in O the first time.    This version had a 24 inch diverging route.   As mentioned made in the 70s or 80s.  

The other version is the two piece one in the orange and blue box.   This is about a #6 frog and the frog is cast metal.    This turnout was the primary scale turnout produced for the European market for years.    I have many of these on my layout and they work well.   And since the frog is insulated, they are "DCC Friendly"

Both versions match the height of the Atlas track made at that time.   Atlas had both flex track and sectional track.    All of this was made by Roco in Austria.

The time frame was the same time Atlas produced the F9 diesel and Plymouth switcher.  

If you can get the Roco #6's for $30 ea or less they are a good value and work well. Compare them to Atlas O at $85 retail and about $59 at the major mail order places. You won't be dissappointed unless you are requiring a U.S. prototype.

I have had these on my sectional layout for ten years and no problem. I run both analog and digital without any issues. I power them up with tortoise switch machines, again, no problem

All the best,

Miketg

I bought a pile about ten years back on E-bay...

Regular Atlas to the left, and the Roco turnout to the right.  Sharp radius, but it does the job. 

Thanks Jim, I wasn't aware of 2 styles.

After looking inside the carton, i found the instruction paper that was included in the box, it carries part #52223, the American wording has it listed as 9 Degrees, and it goes on to say hat the turnout radius is 2000 mm..

It also had an plastic bag that has 2 Stainless Steel Frog inserts, why would this be?

The Frogs are what appears to be cast metal, they are an two piece set per box.

the frog inserts were for use if you used "fine standard" and didn't like the wheel dropping on the frog.   With the insert installed the wheel flange would ride on the insert and not drop as it goes through the opening, much as 3 rail switches work.  Two sizes for two different heights.    As mentioned, European O Scale had at least two designations - fine and coarse.   and it may differ by courntry.

HI Guys,

As PRRMAN mentioned earlier we installed a bunch of the Roco sharp radius switches on the Cherry Valley. My question is; how do they work with short wheelbase locomotives??They have a plastic frog that is quite large, does this create a "dead-spot"?? I was thinking of grafting in metal angle pieces to cover the plastic and heat them up via the tortise motor ala Atlas frogs. Before I do this, what are your experiences running equipment thru them.

Thanks.

Buzz