3way turnout switch.

[Balrog21]

Anyone have any tips, cautions, kudos about using a 3 way switch on their layout? I've done a few changes to my yard area on my layout to make it a little more functional if it were done in real life and the 3 way switch helps to do that. Matter of factly I'm going to have two of them. Ez track doesn't make one of these, so wish they did, so I'm looking at the peco one. So, go with it or avoid them like the plague. By what I've read the main problem is with the wiring from what I've read. But it seems pretty straight forward to me. If you have any experience with these please share.
Thanks,
Bal

[Doneldon]

Bal-

Peco's merchandise is very good quality. I wouldn't hesitate to use one of their three-way turnouts. The only hassle would be building the transition from EZ Track to Peco, but that shouldn't be too bad.

                                                                                                                                    -- D

[Balrog21]

Thanks, Don! Much appreciated!

[Bob_B]

.... Ez track doesn't make one of these, so wish they did, .....

They don't make a crossover switch either, so wish they did .....
I use one on my Marklin Z scale and it adds variety to the layout.

[jward]

some of the older peco 3 ways were not made to nmra specs. the flangeways were too wide in the guardrails, which caused cars to pick the frog, particularly when backing them. if you get one of these, a simple improvement is to narrow the flangeways by cementing strips of styrene to the guardrails.

other than that, my experience with peco has been good.

[81F]

The only thing to watch is that the 3 way point has two dead bits on any given route through the point. This is not usually an issue unless you have an 0-4-0 locomotives (or one that picks up from just two axels) where the axels are the same distance apart as the dead pieces. Otherwise they are a nice piece of kit. Just remember if you do have one of the 0-4-0s mentioned you should be OK if you take the point at enogh speed for the momentum to carry the loco across.

[Balrog21]

All diesels on the layout.  but thanks for the info!

[rogertra]

The only thing to watch is that the 3 way point has two dead bits on any given route through the point. This is not usually an issue unless you have an 0-4-0 locomotives (or one that picks up from just two axels) where the axels are the same distance apart as the dead pieces. Otherwise they are a nice piece of kit. Just remember if you do have one of the 0-4-0s mentioned you should be OK if you take the point at enogh speed for the momentum to carry the loco across.

Actually Steve, the "two dead bits" are through the frogs ("common crossing" in the UK)  not the points - unless you have a bad contact or your points are not "DCC friendly".   In both North America and the UK, the points, (technically called "switch points" in both North America and the UK) are the two moving rails that actually select the route through the switch/points/turnout.

[Len]

There's some good wiring info on Peco 3-ways here:

http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical-2.htm

Len