LasVegasC3L,
This all depends on what track, you are constructing your layout with, and what engines & rolling stock you plan to run. Running with Lionel 022's switches limits the size of your engines & rolling stock severely, however kept in good shape and used with their own power supply, they are still good switches for tubular track. The original 711 switches are hard to find in perfect working order, however in good shape with their own power supply they are still great switches, especially for Tin Plate Trains.
I transitioned in and out of them with my fair sized DCS FasTrack layout and they worked perfectly, I even installed LED lights in them to help with the massive power draw. The problem with these old Lionel switches is they are not a low voltage operation, and must be solid wired, even with a DCS AIU. Recently I added the Command Control FasTrack switches to my Christmas layout, eliminating all the wiring and the need for a separate power supply, for my switches. The new 072 FasTrack CC switches are low voltage and wireless, and they accommodate all my different Tin Plate Engines & rolling stock including my big 810 Crane Cars, on a constant no problem running basis. Marty E also gives good advise, Ross has great Tin Plate Switches, they operate in a stand alone manner, and they are low voltage. Now here is the bad news, the Ross Tin Plate Switches are a name only situation. They are great for modern post war trains, simply fantastic stuff, however Ross Tin Plate Switches are not guaranteed to accommodate all the old Lionel Tin Plate Engines & rolling stock. Ross is upfront about this, and I commend them for it.
So if you are running modern post war trains their switches are Top shelf and can be transitioned in and out of with most any different RR track. For me I am running FasTrack with 072 CC switches because this engineering package accommodates all my Tin PLate originals & my post war trains also. As I indicated before it all depends on what you are running as to what switches are best for you. I have tested about every different kind of switches available down thru the years. My advise to you is before
purchasing, know your engineering layout package, and match the switches to it.
With the proper switches your layout will run like glass, with the wrong switches your layout will have big time problems. I would rather see a layout with no switches than
the wrong switches, that is for sure.
PCRR/Dave
The FasTrack DCS living room Christmas layout with the new Y Command Control FasTrack switches, and constant running Tin Plate Train, 810 & 2660 Crane Cars included. A low voltage layout operation for sure.
The FasTrack DCS Office/Game Room multi level layout, with original Lionel 711 & updated 072 Lionel Tin Plate switches. Simply a great constant running layout, taking big time power to operate, with massive wiring.
