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I am probably preaching to the choir here but here goes....

 

I recently had a problem with engines derailing through a switch.

some of it my fault, but wanted to avoid any further issues as the last one

was $110 in repair cost's.

 

So taking the advice from the forum I decided to bite the bullet and spend the

extra money on Ross switches.

 

Taking the switch out of the box you immediately notice the larger footprint.

( I had been using gargraves switches ) So after a little track modification

I was up and running. WOW... the actual throwing of the switch itself is quieter.

A good start. The trains going through the switch do not bounce on the frog.

In fact when running through the switch the noise level is about the same as regular

track. You don't even notice that you are running through a switch.

Compare this to the Gragraves switch and the noise level is about half.

 

From now on it's Ross for me... It's worth it.

( This is where you insert that  I am not an employee or related to the

  company    )

 

Bruce...

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Bruce,

Do the GG switches have a solid plastic roadbed?  If so, do you think that's the reason for the increased noise?

 

I've only used RCS switches in the past, but I was thinking of looking at others for my yard expansion.  A Wye, a 072/054 curve, and (7) 072 switches are going to be expensive even if they are worth it.

 

At this point I've 99% convinced myself that RCS is still the way to go, even if it hurts

Originally Posted by Bob Delbridge:

Bruce,

Do the GG switches have a solid plastic roadbed?  If so, do you think that's the reason for the increased noise?

 

 Yes the GG switches are plastic roadbed. I'm sure that is a big part of the noise.

 I'm in the same boat you are. I'll probably save the GG switches for the yard as I

 already have them.  Anything on the main line will be Ross...

My layout is all Ross switches and Gargraves track.  Not a problem.  I have convinced several in the club to switch to Ross switches for their next layout.  With a round robin type club you get many types of engines running on your layout.  I have gotten compliments on how well everything ran.  Ross are by far the most reliable switches!

Just my 2 cents.

Dan

My layout is all Ross switches and Gargraves track.  Not a problem.  I have convinced several in the club to switch to Ross switches for their next layout.  With a round robin type club you get many types of engines running on your layout.  I have gotten compliments on how well everything ran.  Ross are by far the most reliable switches!

Just my 2 cents.

Dan

I know a lot of your club members Dan. I belong to the Glancy group. You guy's are

the high end group in the area... I would expect nothing less than Ross and Legacy

Though I just bought some Atlas track and like it a lot better than the gargraves..

Let the track battle begin !!!

I like the looks of the Atlas track the best, but man-o-man is it expensive.  I needed a length of flex track and my LHS only had the Atlas flex, talk about sticker shock , sure is purty though.

 

From what everyone says solid track is less noisy than the tubular stuff.

 

My first switch purchase was RCS, after reading what everyone said about their quality and performance, see no reason to "switch" now

Originally Posted by PRR Bruce:

I'm considering Ross Tinplate switches to use on my layout. Does anyone happen to know the maximum depth for mounting the Z-2500 switch machine underneath the table top?

 

I have to be able to mount 2 1/2 inches below the track, 2 layers of 1/4" plywood surrounding 2" layer of foam.

 

Thanks

 

Bruce

There's an under-table mounting kit for the Z-stuff turnout motors. I don't know if it will work with a 2500, but it basically allows you to mount a Z-stuff motor in the same manner as a tortoise with a vertical spring wire.

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