Turnouts, sometimes called switches, are one of the more expensive parts of a layout. They can also cause electrical and mechanical issues, including derailments, so it's important to get them right. This article covers how I picked out the turnouts I want to use. I'll have a follow-up article about how I control them.
My layout is using HO scale Code 83 track throughout, so this article focuses on the current options available for my layout. I am not covering the push-together track from Bachmann, Kato, etc. because my layout is far too large to use those products.
There are four options for Code 83 turnouts that I've found:
- Atlas
- PECO
- Micro Engineering
- Fast Tracks jigs/tools
Walthers/Shinohara was another possibility; unfortunately, at the time I started writing this article, Shinohara was shutting down. However, it appears that Walthers may be getting back into the business. As of 2/23/2019, I'm seeing a whole bunch of Walthers-branded turnouts in "advance reservation" status here:
https://www.walthers.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=walthers+code+83+turnout
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and where they fall in the quality spectrum.
Atlas
Atlas turnouts are decent and reasonably priced. I have used the code 83 #6s and #8s on the layout so far. The #6s have two different geometries... one has a longer diverging section. I used them in my staging yards and was able to connect one turnout to the next to build the ladder. Unfortunately, Atlas products tend to go out of stock and stay that way for months at a time. From what I've read in various discussion boards, they have supply issues with their overseas factories, more than any of the other companies. Assuming they are in stock, current pricing is as follows:
- #6 Custom Line - 14.99 (TW)
- #8 Custom Line - 14.49 (MTS)
With Atlas turnouts, you also need to add a ground throw or a powered turnout motor of some sort. The Caboose Industries ground throw #101R costs $2.59 (MTS), so you need to add that to the cost of the switch.
PECO
PECO turnouts are made by a company in the UK. At the code 83 product level, they have a wide variety of geometries in both straight and curved designs. They also make two variations of the product: Insulfrog and Electrofrog. Insulfrog uses an insulated frog, Electrofrog allows the frog to be powered. With the way I wire my track, I'm using Insulfrog. If you're using short wheelbase engines, like 0-4-0 steam or short switchers, you may need to power the frogs, especially on the longer turnouts like #8s. PECO turnouts also have a unique locking mechanism on the movable part of the switch. This makes the turnouts ideal for switching yards and eliminates the need for a separate ground throw.
Current pricing is as follows:
- #6 24.99 (TW)
- #8 27.99 (TW)
Micro Engineering
Micro Engineering also offers turnouts, but they are limited in the geometries they offer. For instance, using code 83 rail, they only have #5s and #6s. They do have a unique system for building yards with special #5 turnouts that are designed to make a more compact yard. #6 turnouts in code 83 rail cost $19.99 each (TW). You need to add a ground throw or powered motor, as they do not have the locking mechanism that PECO turnouts have. I don't have any personal experience using these, nor have I seen them on layouts I've operated on, as far as I know. Given the limited geometries available, I don't see a compelling reason to use this product.
Fast Tracks
If you want to really control the quality of the turnout, building the turnout yourself is an option. While some people will scratchbuild the turnout without the benefit of a jig, the products offered by Fast Tracks make it much easier and faster to build the turnouts without as much of the work. They offer jigs for every scale and every geometry you could want. For HO scale alone, they offer #4, #4.5, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, and #12.
Each geometry and scale has a separate jig available that is used for both left-hand and right-hand turnouts. For purposes of comparison, the #6 jig and #8 jig cost $129.95 each. Besides the jig, you need the supplies to build the turnout:
- QuickSticks wooden ties - these are made in a single piece to fit into the jig. The rails are glued to these ties. For five turnouts, this costs $46.60.
- Raw rail - FT recommends Micro Engineering rail. To supply rail for 5 turnouts, the cost is $21.80.
- PC Board ties - certain ties providing power need to be soldered to the rail. To supply these for 5 turnouts, the cost is $7.33.
- There are additional supplies and tools that are recommended for use. The full list is shown here.
They provide the supplies in batches for 5, 10, and 15 turnouts. If you get the largest quantity discount, your price can be as low as $12.31 per turnout. This does not include the cost of the jig and recommended tools, which is about $300 per turnout design/geometry. Fast Tracks does offer some discounts depending on the size of your purchase, be sure to contact them if you're interested.
Ideally, if you're going this route, find a friend or two to split the cost of the jigs. Some of the tools are used across multiple geometries, others are not.
The other thing to remember is the value of your time. While the approximate cost of a handlaid #6 turnout is $15 less than a PECO, it's going to take at least an hour or two to make one, so you have to include your time in your calculations.
Conclusion
I ended up using the #6 Atlas turnouts I had to build my first industrial area, and those turnouts worked fine. I also used the #8 Atlas turnouts as mainline "high speed" turnouts and they seem fine for now. However, since Atlas turnouts become unavailable, I switched to PECO for my main classification yard and while the cost stung a bit, I couldn't be happier with the result. Not only are they well made, but the "snap" action makes them ideal for switching. You don't have to mess with the ground throw, especially in a crowded yard.
For now, I'll continue buying PECO #6 turnouts for all my switching needs. I will also be switching to PECO #8 for additional mainline turnouts, although I did pick up some used Atlas #8 turnouts that I used in the back of my main yard. Longer term, I will probably replace the #8s with handlaid turnouts in the future, but for now, I want to get the railroad running.
