Source for Supersnap switches from any of the manufacturers?

I think I still have 3 O31 K-line super snap switches. Let me know if you're interested in them, and I'll try and round them up.

Pat's Trains SEARCH: O-LINE REPRODUCTIONS - Track & Accessories (patstrains.com)

I spoke to Pat earlier this week and unless I misunderstood him, he said he still has a few in stock. They're definitely getting harder and harder to find. I have them on my layout and everything (except the large-gear Marx locos) rolls right through them--even prewar locos that have deep flanges like the 260E and 263E.

They do show up on ebay from time to time, I got 031, 042, and 072 supersnap switches from there. For the price the 072 go for you might want to check out the Ross tinplate 072 switch.

@Darrell posted:

They do show up on ebay from time to time, I got 031, 042, and 072 supersnap switches from there. For the price the 072 go for you might want to check out the Ross tinplate 072 switch.

Unfortunately, he's going to be better off with the supersnap switches. The Ross tinplate or "Rossplate" as Steve B calls them are tinplate only in the sense that they mate directly with traditional tubular track without adapter pins or shims. When it comes to function, they are no more compatible with prewar tinplate trains than the other lines of Ross switches. I'd have bought Ross switches in a heartbeat if they actually worked with all O-gauge trains as the advertising says, but they don't. If K Line made a switch that works with all eras, it seems to me that Ross could do it as well, but so far no luck.

Thanks, everyone. What "size" supersnap switches were made? If possible I am looking for an 036?

To my knowledge, only O31 and O72 were produced. Based on the writing on one of my boxes, K Line had plans for others but I've never seen any of them.

Thanks for the information!

I do not think all of those sizes were made. I have had SuperSnap track for some time (as well as some quantity of the track with out the SuperSnap ie just the pins hold them together. In that time I have found O31 and O72 turnouts. I found a right and left O42 but they do not look like the other SuperSnap switches. They resemble Lionel O27 42" turnout but the are definitely "O", taller than my O27 track but they do match in pin size and height all of my "O" track. Not sure what that is about but nevertheless...

I also have only found 31", 42" and 72" curves. I have been told that despite the rather optimistic advertising that that is all that made it into circulation before Kline closed it's doors. Lionel bought the company and clearly they had no interest in the track since they had their own FastTrack, which I do not like because it is so flipping loud. And RMT bought it and had grand plans but that didn't work out. The O-Line is/was RMT track and switches that had (according to what I heard) not been paid for by RMT and another company bought up the stock and sold it under the O-line label.

Frank

@ftauss posted:

Lionel bought the company and clearly they had no interest in the track since they had their own FastTrack ...

Frank

Frank,

I disagree.  Lionel had at least a token interest because these switches were given Lionel product numbers and were pictured in at least one Lionel publication.  From the 2007 K-Line by Lionel, Volume 2 catalog:

The others (O31RH and LH, and O72 RH) are found there as well.

The question is however, did Lionel ever put them into production?  Or were they cancelled?

Mike

After the RMT deal went south, the switches were sold under the name: “ O Gauge Reproductions” I have 6  of them, new in the yellow and black box. They are 42” and 72” as I recall. They really look nice and I hope to use them on my next layout.

Additionally,

The 42” is available in shadow rail with led indicators, but without supersnap connections. There is also a lionel part number and orange box for these.

At least the 72” turnout came in aristocraft boxes with their part numbers.

supersnap came out in all advertised curves, I have most of them.  

Keep an eye out on eBay, I must’ve bought 30 k-line turnouts over the last 5 years.