What are the best O72 & O54 tubular switches?

There have been several threads on this topic recently. See this one.   

If I buy any, they will be from Ross.  

Ross are the best!

How does the Ross handle sliding shoes?  I run many operating cars and GG1s and F3s with sliding shoes.

I do not believe anyone ever made O-54 switches in regular tubular track.

 

Ross STD gauge switches handle anything out there so I assume the O-gauge can handle anything as well.

I have only used Lionel's 022 and the larger version for 072 track, both did ok with sliding shoe engines/cars. I know Gargraves will snag the shoes, not sure about Ross turnouts.   Mike

i used prewar lionel 072s when i had tube track 30yrs ago.those post mpc era switches were junk.-Jim

Running immediate postwar, 95% slideshoes, I tested multiple products before committing to one. The main issue for slide shoes is the triangle of rails used for the center rail pickup used by various manufacturers. The slide shoes "usually" went over them without incident, but almost always the shoe at some point of going through the switch would straddle the rail allowing the pickup pin in the shoe to make contact with power, activating whatever mechanism it was installed for. For operating cars, the touch might so fleeting to not be noticeable, but it essentially turned switches into uncoupling sections for coil couplers. The O22 switches (new or old) worked the best. For larger diameter, I did have good luck with new Gargraves for 42 inch and 72 inch. (bad luck with older 72 inch) I also converted a Ross switch by pulling out the triangle of rails in the center and soldering in the upside-down looking spoon contact from a broken O22. Adapter pins between tubular and Ross/Gargraves products are easily obtainable.  

Dan.

I'm not aware of any O54 tubular switches. As for O72 in Lionel the prewar 711 are the best followed by the earlier modern production. Unless there have been changes, the current production switch has switch point issues and other problems. The Ross tubular O72 switch is the best other than Lionel switch. IMHO.

Mike

steam,

   IMO if you are going to run both Post War/modern & PW Tin Plate Trains the old Lionel 711's are still the best Conventional Tubular high voltage switches ever made, the older 072 are next in line.

Now if you want to run low voltage switches, the K-line Super Snap now (RMT) are super hi quality low voltage switches that Accommodate all the Tin Plate trains.  You can also transition in and out of the new low voltage FasTrack Command control switches with your Conventional Tubular track, all Tin Plate runs like a million bucks thru them.

I do not know about the new 036 FTCC switches however they just came out, will try them on the Christmas layout this year, with all our Tin plate trains.  The new Ross Tin Plate switches are great low voltage switches, but will not accommodate all Tin Plate Trains.  If you are running post war and modern trains these babies are fantastic stuff.

IMO stay away from all the other track & switches when running Tin Plate Trains, unless you like to have repeat problems.

PCRR/Dave

What Tinplate trains have problems with them?

 

from Dashter:

 Adapter pins between tubular and Ross/Gargraves products are easily obtainable.

 

Ross actually makes Tinplate switches for tubular track no adapting pins required. 

 

 

Be advised that the Ross Tinplate switch motors have three short wires coming out of the machine, and they are soldered to the printed circuit board. This may make it a bit difficult for temporary or floor layouts. I wish they would convert to screw terminals such as what the Electric RR does.

 

Also note that you have to create the non-derailing feature by making a section of insulated outside rail some where.

 

Lastly, watch out for the actuator spring, if you knock it loose it can go flying into the hitherlands.

Thanks so much for all the replies!  I think trying to find some old Lionel ones is the best bet for me right now.  I am building a layout with kids so I'm trying to keep the project moving along!  

 

Are 721 switches the same as 711, just manual?

 

Does anyone know why they made O72 switches prewar and then didn't during the postwar years?  Did they just never sell?  (just curious)

 

What's a reasonable price for the 721 & 711 switches?  I looked at our local train show yesterday but didn't' see any.

Jim C,

   Please do not get me wrong about the Ross company and their products especially their switches.  When the Ross Tin Plate conventional tubular low voltage switches 1st hit the market, I contacted Ross directly and talked with one of their engineers.  I was planning on investing in a lot of these switches, fortunately for me the Ross company is very truthful about their products, I was informed by the engineer that the Tin Plate name is just what the company used as an identifier, the switches would not accommodate all PW Tin Plate engines and rolling stock.  I asked about my 263E with it's 12 wheel Tender, and was told it would probably not run thru the Tin Plate switches at a decent speed on a repeat basis.  To say I was disappointed was an understatement. So I got my hands on 4, 072 Tin Plate switches and set them up, back to back in a small layout, sure enough the Ross Engineer was absolutely correct.  The 12 wheel Tender had big problems going thru the switches, unless the train was run extremely slow, the big 810 Crane Car had problems also, this unfortunately for me eliminated some very fine new Ross engineering from my upcoming Christmas layouts.  Let me say this again, the Ross company is not only truthful about their engineering they probably have the finest track and switches for running all modern trains.  If you are running all modern trains purchase Ross Track & Switches, best engineering on the market today.  Michael is giving good advise also, these switches are not just plug and play, like the new Command Control FasTrack Switches.

PCRR/Dave

 

steam,

   1st the 721's and the 711's are differently engineered Lionel switches, and Lionel did make post war 072 switches I own more than a few of the original 072's.  The big draw back to these switches is they take massive power to operate correctly, and now they are very expensive to acquire especially in perfect running order.  I would not let mine go for under $99.00 -$125.00 each depending on the controllers.  As I indicated in my previous post, today invest in K-Line Super Snap (RMT) low voltage switches, they are more or less plug and play, or the Ross Tin Plate, if you like to tinker with great engineering, for your kids Conventional Tubular layouts.  

Steam if you do decide two bite the bullet and pay for the original 711/072 Lionel high voltage switches, replace all the bulbs in both the switch and the controllers with LED's, it helps a lot as to operating voltage requirements.

Have fun.

PCRR/Dave

 

Ross said they were going to make 054 tubular switches, but I'm still waiting.  Yes, Ross

switches can play havoc with the prewar and early postwar Lionel sliding pickup shoes.

I have had no trouble with the modern Lionel 072 switches, but others have reported quality control problems.

 

lewrail

lewrail,

    Hang on to your the newer Lionel 072's that work properly, seems there is a QC problem with them, some work perfect others are a mess.  Have not seen any Ross Tin Plate 054's yet either.

Maybe next year.

PCRR/Dave

sliding shoes are a problem for any track switch, they have no standards, so you can't make a switch that will like all of them. you will have to modify the shoes, but I am sure you have done that before.

mytrains,

   For the most part you are absolutely correct, however the new 072 FasTrack Command Control Switches have handled every different type of O Gauge Train so far, including all PW Tin Plate engines and rolling stock.  Almost bullet proof Command Control Switches.

PCRR/Dave

 

Hard to believe someone other then myself is happy with modern Lionel O72 switches. I'll live with rocking and bumping steams to keep the classic PW train look alive.  With heavy switches, big motors & brightly lit lanterns my layout screams classic PW.  

IMO, a tubular track toy train layout with scale turnouts is a plain ugly sight to behold......

Only thing I can think of worse is a molded plastic fastrack layout..

Joe.. 

 

Ok, another question!

 

I've learned that 721's are made entirely different than 711's.  How are the manual ones though, in regards to running trains?  The same, worse etc?

Mytrains,
Is there a thread on modifying sliding shoes? I have a cattle car that drives both a Ross and a LIONEL 072 crazy.

It will be very interesting to see what Menard's does with their new "O" Gauge tubular track line as to what switches they will make. If they do make switches, I hope they make them right. I would love to see them do a ton radiuses. I hope they do curve switches and Y's. A 4-way and a double crossover would be fantastic. Menard's, show us what you got.