Fast Tracks

Hello all. As a somewhat new model railroader, what is the preferred turnout motor that everyone uses? I will be using Digitrax and want to control most of my Fast Tracks turnouts with stationary decoders. I have some Peco PL-10 switch machines laying around, but am not sure what would be the BEST ones to use with these hand made turnouts. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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sonymiros

This will depend on a lot of factors. I prefer the Tortise for it's stall motor characteristics as well as the built in contacts for wiring the frog and for signaling. The Peco units snap and could be hard to install for handlaid turnouts since they basicly install underneath the rails in the roadbed and some advance planing in construction would be required.

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-ed mccamey-
COSLAR RR - http://www.coslar.us/
NMRA Standards and Conformance Department
PROTO & FINE Scale Coordinator
I estimate I have about 5 pounds of coupler springs somewhere in the vicinity of my workbench.

I agree with Ed. Tortoise machines are probably the best on the market today and are almost bullet-proof! They may seem a bit expensive up front but you won't regret the investment.

The other problem with the Peco snap action motors is that they won't hold the turnout after they move the points. Plus, they give the points-to-throwbar joints a real whack every time you throw them. The first reason is enough though. They really won't work unless the turnout is like a Peco with the "clicker" to hold the points to the closure rails.

Jim