Switch Question

Manual switches are truly manual - i.e. no motor in them to move the points.  In order to have the non-derailing feature you will need remote switches with the non-derailing feature built in.

 

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

JZ

I haven't used Fastrack myself but the documentation shows that manual Fastrack switches have a non-derailing feature - which is not typical for most manual switches.

 

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ents/71-2017-250.pdf

see top of page 2

 

https://ogrforum.com/t...47#15931049885338547

Read through the entire post for the full story.

Agreed Fast Track Manual Switches do have the same non-electrical non-derailing feature. If the train goes straight thru the switch (mainline) and then comes back around to the spur or turnout side, the front drivers of the engine will manually move the switch so the train can return to the mainline.

 

The only issue is that it will revers each time as it is now set for the turnout on its next pass and the process will start again.

I have FasTrack manual switches, and never switch it by hand if the train is coming up to the switch since it does it.  Makes exiting passing loops easy since my trains are traveling in the same direction.

I think we can all agree that fastrack manual switches have a mechanical non-derailing feature that works great. The only problem I have encountered that when backing a train through a switch sometimes a really light caboose will not flip the rails over and will derail.

But the is the ONLY problem.

Fastrack manual switches work really well for return loops.

Fastrack manual switches at work in reverse loops:

 

Thank you very much everyone!  I guess I'll just go manual switches then.

I would be remiss if I didn't share my current layout...  

Where the train makes a left turn at the end of the hall, it will now switch right instead, into the library and back from a reverse loop in that room.  And the main rooms will transform into one big reverse loop with a oval siding.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec8J_PZXugI

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...amp;feature=youtu.be

Oh, and the CW-80 has been replaced with an MTH Z4000... which I absolutely LOVE!