Three Lionel 022 Switches, operated by a single controller?

You can control multiple switches together. I do that on my layout for automatic dynamic routing. Just wire up the outer terminals between the switches (if the direction is wrong, swap the outside leads on one switch).

Edit: Here is an excerpt from the 1954 Lionel Operating Guide showing a setup. You can optionally remove any/all of the controllers (such as the one that is shaded):

You should be good with the gauge wire that you have for the switches.... I have run four (4) off one (1) controller.   Your controllers are 'momentary' providing only a moment of electrification to the switches.  I'm sure someone here has the answer to this... but, I doubt that the three (3) switches together would pull much more than one (1) amp.

Thanks for that great info.

I have a panoply of old 022 switches in my layout, bought and installed from different sources over the course of a year.

How can I tell, by looking at a switch, whether it has the automatic non-derailment feature or not?

Occasionally, when running my trains, I won't throw a switch fast enough using the controller, and the switch will in fact automatically switch itself to prevent a derailment.   But, it is not all of them, and it would be great to figure this out without trying to derail engines on all 12 switches.

Thanks,

Mannyrock

All O22 switches should have the anti derail feature. The ones that don't operate probably have a broken solder connection which can easily be repaired by removing the back panel.

Here is a picture showing the screws you will need to remove. There are 3 different sets:

1 set (red) Retains the motor cover

1 set (green) Attaches the motor to the base

1 set (blue) Retains the backing plate to the base

This is the base with the plate and motor removed. Check all the solder joints and ensure all the rails are tight.

This is the motor. I've identified the surfaces I service with lubrication. Blue for CRC 2-26 and red for Labelle 107. Additionally, check all solder joints.

Assembly is reverse of disassemble. Just be cognoscente of the frog pin and motor alignment. (The pin is in the middle of the 4 blue circles in the last picture).

Use 'Fixed Voltage' rather than track power and you should have around 30 fiber pins (that includes some extras) for use with the non-derailing feature.

Lionel 022 Instruction Manual...

http://www.goldentrains.com/20...H%20INSTRUCTIONS.htm

Also,

Lionel Operating and Instruction Manual 1965...

https://readycloud.netgear.com...%20Manual%201965.pdf

Thanks for all of this great info!

Mannyrock

@bmoran4 posted:

All O22 switches should have the anti derail feature.

The only exception to this would be the rare 022A switches, which operate like 1121 switches.

@Mannyrock posted:

Occasionally, when running my trains, I won't throw a switch fast enough using the controller, and the switch will in fact automatically switch itself to prevent a derailment.

If you want to preserve the individual non-derail feature of the three 022 switches, while still being able to throw all three with one control, use a 3PST momentary switch like THIS ONE for each direction. If you can located 3PDT momentary center off switches(On)-Off-(On), you would only need one for your application.