ROSS CURVED TURNOUTS

They work great on my layout as all Ross Switches do.  None better.

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Dennis

Never had any derailment problems - ever.  Great switches.  I used them in actually an ess type situation changing direction from a loop into a double ended siding and they were always flawless.  Keep your track level at your switches.  Most problems with superior products like Ross switches are the builder's fault.

Hello John C.

 

I have four of them. I love em, they give me longer straight track, really helps out on a spur or siding, and they are smooth. I use Ross's largest.

 

Clem k 

I have a number of them on my layout. Most are in low traffic areas, but I have one that is in a critical spot. Lots of trains have run over it, and never a derailment. All of the traffic goes through the smaller radius facing point, around a reverse loop, and exits the larger radius trailing point.

 

The switch doesn't even have a motor on it. Because all the flow is one way, it is controlled by a piece of piano wire acting as a spring. It is located well under the layout, so if it was a problem, I would change it out fairly quickly.

We have one on the layout (#8 Curved O-96/O-120) which we modified to support scale-wheeled equipment (added a "frog point"). It works great even with my scale-wheeled trains. The key to avoiding derailments with a curved turnout is to make sure the entire turnout is in a single plane -- no grade changes within the area occupied by the turnout. Any changes will lead to derailments because of the rigid-framed locomotives and rolling stock we run.

Ben and I did a ceiling layout a few years ago. it is about 9 feet up, we used all Ross 072 turnouts and 072 wyes. it still works flawlessly til today. we really wanted reliability  at that height and got it.

I've got an 072/054 turnout that gets lots of use.  I've yet to have my first derailment.

Never a problem running any train over them. Don

I have five Ross #8 curved switches, one of which is on the mainline.  Never had a problem with any of them in two years.

Clem K - that is gorgeous track work and ballasting.  An effective reminder that curved turnouts are very prototypical.  Thanks for sharing the photos.

I love the curved turnouts, I just wish they would make larger radius!

Why do some make issues when none exist?

I have four Ross Curved switches on my layout and they work and look great. Ross pioneered the design and manufacture of the curved O gauge switch and its an effective reliable quality design. They are the best and USA made.

We have several on our club layout. They work flawlessly. No derailments.

 

When I was in 3 rail, I had a layout with 4 Ross curved switches. Never had a problem or derailment due to the switch.

They not only work great, they also save valuable space on any layout and your equipment will run like silk over these switches.

 

Jack

I'll be buying some in '15 primarily because they "save space on the layout."

 

John C., thanks for the thread and to all who replied with their personal experiences.

I have a Ross 072/084 and a Curtis custom-made 084/096 that Frank made way back in the day. Both are used as entry/exit to my Engine Service Yard from the inner main. They handle everything well if I take it slow.

To add to my earlier comment I have extremely broad curves and few straight sections.  This means I am forced to use my limited straights to use the Ross numbered switches so I can maintain the wide radius look and action.  I would love to see a curved 120/110 switch.

Real railroads use curved turnouts when the application calls for them.  No problems for them.  I have three Ross curved switches on my layout and they also work just fine.  Don't remember a single derailment on any of them.  The beauty is that you can save a lot of space, using a curved turnout, and, if you have a siding in the middle of a sweeping curve, you avoid the odd, jerky looking, short piece of straight track in the middle of what would be a smooth, even curve.

 

Paul Fischer

I really sincerely appreciate all of the responses and the photos!  Honestly, I'm surprised.  There wasn't even one negative comment.  My experience with curved turnouts was in HO scale long ago.  The cars routinely derailed when trying to pass through the tighter of the two curves.

 

I know Ross turnouts are awesome!  I have one 4-way turnout that works perfectly and is awesome just to look at.  You guys sold me.  I will get curved turnouts which will really help me with me space issues in my hidden staging yard.

 

Again, thanks to all! 

john

 

Steve has perfected these turnouts so well that i doubt you'll have any issues.

the advantages getting unusual runs in tight spaces is well worth it. 

  Honestly, I'm surprised.  There wasn't even one negative comment.

 

John

 

I can only add to the chorus of praise.  Ross curved switches are good space savers and work very, very reliably.

 

As Alan said..

 

Steve has perfected these turnouts so well that i doubt you'll have any issues.

 

I hand laid ten curved switches on the Northwest Trunk lines.  They were all built with ScaleTrax rail to a Ross No. 6 or No.8 pattern with Ross frogs.  I have spend many, many hours with Ross and had laid switches, O scale rolling stock and a micrometer.  It is enough time to see that Steve has spend thousands of hours understanding the interaction of tinplate wheels and switches.  Ross switches may not be perfect but you will need a micrometer to show it! 

 

Steve's experience, ability as a designer and attention to detain in manufacturing  add up to give us products that are simply the most reliable switches in O gauge and probably all of model railroading.   

 

I hate to be a dissenter, but out of the 12 RCS curved switch tracks I have (together with 46 Atlas switch tracks), I have derailing issues with about half of them (RCS) when backing up several of my steam engines (problems with the tenders), and even in forward motion with other steam engines (Legacy 4-8-4 locomotive itself, for example). No derailing issues with any of the Atlas.

 

Upon closer examination, I believe that the RCS assembly crew who put together my switch tracks were not the regular workers. I compared the ones I have with one that Alan Arnold gave me just for this purpose, and there was a noticeable difference. Mine had many of the spikes bent the wrong way and protruding, the rails had kinks, of which I was able to fix a few and posted that procedure here, towards the end of the thread, but the problems still persist on others. BTW, I bought all of mine from Bob Thatcher in 2010.

 

Alex

Ted:

 

How did you cut down the Ross frogs for the MTH Code 193 rail -- belt sander or mill?