Tortoise Switch Machines, good, bad or ugly?

I use them on my portable modules. They are very rugged and reliable. The one downside is they move too slowly for non derailing. Best for new installations or places where you have good access to the underside of an existing layout.

Pete

agree, but with a spring loaded switch machine, you really don't need the auto-non-derailing function as the points will simply move out of the way.  i've used these machines with very light (Marx 6" tin) cars and very rarely have a car derail.  just don't change directions before you completely clear the switch!

you will not be disappointed in the results, both functionally & cosmetically, with the Tortoise machine.

Hi Don,

My experience with the tortoise switch machines has been fantastic. On my modular two rail layout I have been using them for ten plus years and no issues at all.

The edge card connectors in my opinion are a must. They also prevent you from damaging the switch machine itself. One thing I usually wind up doing is replacing the throw wire with a slightly stronger, and in my case, longer piece of wire. 

All the best,

Miketg

Thanks for starting this topic Don. This decision has been gnawing me for nearly a year, ever since I saw Doug's (laid off sick) video of his layout construction.

This all goes back 22 years, to the planning stages of enterTRAINment at Mall of America. It was decided that that layout called for something really heavy duty to throw switches. A machine that could be placed well away from the switch in an easy to access location. One that could be swapped out easily. What we came up with was a homemade screw drive machine.

I have over 100 of these, just waiting to be installed. And they're free, though back then they were very expensive. My big problem is I don't know how to wire them up. It's not rocket science, even though that aspect was designed by an electrical engineer. If I could locate the power supply, which I also have, and get one working, the rest would quickly follow.

On the other hand, from what I've seen of the Tortoise machines, I really like them. They are quiet and easy to wire. With the use of RC push rods and cranks, which I already have, I could mount them anywhere.

It boils down to this: if I could just throw the mainline switches I have already installed, my layout would suddenly become a lot more fun and interesting, instead of just being a 500' loop of track.

In all honesty, I'm bored with running my trains, because they don't do anything. Maybe it's just time to let go of the past and invest in Tortoises.

I have 40 of them in operation for about 7 years.  I wouldn't even think of using anything else.  I used actuating wire the same size as the wire that comes with the machines (.025 I think) but longer to accommodate the thickness of my table.  I routinely allow the spring action to provide non-derailing and have NEVER had a derailment due to the points not moving easily enough.

My layout includes a double slip switch and the non-derailing is not possible with these - the double slip requires that some of the rails be changed from hot to common so trying to run through with the points misaligned causes a short, not a derailment.  Because of the location of a three-way switch on my layout, I have had no reason to run through misaligned points, but with 2 springs and 2 sets of point to move, I'm pretty sure lighter cars would derail.

Bottom line for me - I love the tortoise machines.  I originally chose them for aesthetic reasons but have come to like them for many other reasons, too.

Mr. Eastwood might use them because they would make his day!

Don...

I see a pattern developing in the responses!

Tortoise.

KD

The photo below shows a perfectly aligned Tortoise spring wire throw as well as one on the lower switch that is misaligned and requires adjustment.. Note the centered switch points.

They can be tedious to install. But you will only do it once. No failures in 25 years. I installed them mostly for looks as well. Along with their slow operation. I'm sure their are others on the market as well that work similar but these seem to be the most popular. The only alternative that I would have considered at the time was the Del Aire pneumatic ones. Looked good and easily installed. They had a few drawbacks and not sure if they even are available now.

For me, there is no better or more reliable method of operating a switch than using the Tortoise machine.  I have been using them on layouts since 1989 and have never had a failure.  And with the two sets of SPDT relays built in, all sorts of signaling can be accomplished.

Installing them under the table looks intimidating but once you do two or three, it becomes pretty straight forward.

Good luck with your decision and Happy railroading,

Don

"They can be tedious to install. But you will only do it once."

Agreed.

I needed to install a dozen or so in our club's layout and was not looking forward to it.

However you can speed up the process by first making a 1/4 inch thick hardboard template of the paper installation pattern included with the switch machine.

Predrill the 4 mounting holes and the centered throw arm hole in the template. When you align the template throw arm hole with the one drilled through the layout surface you can then see which way the machine should best be oriented and mounted to allow for any nearby obstacles.

The four corner mounting holes can be predrilled in the tabletop to aid installation. I used a small handheld router to cut the needed throwarm slot in the table from the underside. Set the bit height to barely cut through the top. A rigid heavier throw arm wire than the one supplied is recommended.

Mark

The jig is the key if you are installing several of them. Once you get the first few in, they go rather quick. Easy to adjust, and very durable.

Don't use all 4 mounting holes, just use 2, 1 in each corner. That way if you need to adjust or move a machine, you can use the other 2 corners and drill new holes.

For those locations where there are obstacles, there is the remote mounting bracket. Now that is tedious to install, but works well, and serves it's purpose.  

I first heard about these jewels from my HO days, and they work equally well for O-Gauge hi-rail layouts.  They're not for the "ready-to-run" crowd, since they require under-table mounting.  But if you're up for the task, there's nothing better for very prototypical, slow-motion switch movements.  

David

By using a power supply with +12volts & -12volts terminals you can control your turnouts with a simple DPSP switch, and as previously mentioned you can install bi-color diodes in searies for indications.

MRC makes such a power supply, but you can use a pair of wall-packs to do the job.

One of the local HO clubs used 3M Duo-lock ( a heavy duty industrial material that works like Velcro) to mount the Tortoises.

I had them on my last layout and will pull a stump out of the yard...wish i would of used them again this time.

Throw the metal wire switch levers out that come with them , go buy your own (2ft pieces at hobby store)so you can make them the length you want and more flexible for non derailing purposes.  This will overcome the slow non derailing problem.(drive through)Since your going undertable this time you will probably get the little switch lanterns that turn with the switch- the tortoise will accommodate these nicely  for they need some torque to throw the switch and turn the lantern.

I was having increasing problems with the Atlas switch machines on all my Atlas switches and tried a few Tortoises.  They are great!  Solved all my problems and they also look much better.  Only way to go in my opinion.

Art

How do you wire these up?  Picture above shows only using the 2 outside terminals on the Tortoise machine (above uses blue & yellow).  Do these go over to a Buss Bar with activation switch/toggle in the middle of that wiring ine?

Mark

There are a few ways to wire them. The motor uses 12VDC and are the two outside terminals. The six inside terminals form a DPDT set of contacts.

Instruction sheet

Don, you can listen to this while wiring them up.