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This article is from the Model Trains FAQ, by Christopher D Coleman with numerous contributions by others.

40 Collectable Model Trains: Switches: Are different brand switches compatible?

Essentially all switches with a long pivoting rail are compatible. Older style switches are of this type.

            ----------------------          ------------*---------
                                                         *
            -----************-----          ------   *    *  -----
                                                      *    *
            -----************-----          ------\    *    *-----
                   \    \    \                     \    \    \
                    \    \    \                     \    \    \

The entire center two rails within the switch rotates around a
central pivot. This creates a solid path through the switch for
the wheel flange.

The newer type has only half the two sections move.

            ----------------------           -----***-------------
                  *****___                           **___
            -------       \ ------           ------       \ ------
                           \                      ***      \
            ------*****----- -----           -----\  **----- -----  {
                   \    \    \                     \    \    \       |
                    \ (  \    \                     \ (  \    \      |
                                                                     | 
                                                            ^--------
                                                           switch point

At the switch point where the two inner side rails meet there is
a flat spot without a rail that allows flanges from both
directions to pass through. The result is that the wheel flanges
tend to work out momentarily and catch the rail when it starts
again. To solve this problem a flange catch "(" is installed on
the other rail to hold that wheel and hence the whole axle on the
tracks and resist that drift. This works well enough for Lionel
and Flyer, but most Marx loco wheels have their gearing extend
all the way to the edge of the wheel flange. As a result the gear
teeth catch the flange catch causing a derailment. This also
occurs on Lionel control rails on RCS, UCS and other sections.

Marx switches of this type do not have the flange catches. Their
loco wheels have fatter (and less prototypical) wheel flanges
with a less steep angle which eliminates the catching of thinner
Lionel flanges. Lionel's flange catchers are the same solution
used on real railroads as is the entire later switch design
(relatively).

 

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• prev: 39 Collectable Model Trains: Switches: I'm having power conductiontrouble beyond my non derailing switches.
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