OK, I know… LOTTA people have issues with Bachmann switches… but there’s some things you have to decide for yourself after experience.
I bought ONE switch, just to see if all the whining is justified. The result is “maybe… or maybe not”.
The switch is… interesting. I can’t get a track section to mate with the entrance to it; the blade on the track section (EVERY section I’ve tried) is too wide to slide into the slot molded into the switches curved rail. It’s gonna take some filing of the blade… which means that ONE specially modified section of track will fit into the switch (the other two mating points work OK).
I could try using a Dremel tool on the switch’s slot, but I’m not good enough with a Dremel and a small, slim grinding bit to do it without trashing the whole thing, I fear.
Beyond that… I can see the possibility of some fine tuning with a file to make things less prone to derailing at the points, and probably deepening the frog clearances.
Other than these rather major problems… I’m somewhat impressed with Bachmann switches; a LOT more impressed than I am with thier track! I just wish thier track was as substantially built as their switches are!
Question… has anyone out there converted Bachamann switches to remotely actuated? If so, how did you go about it?
First instinct is a couple of solenoids, but I’m afraid of battering the switch to pieces in fairly short order.
Are there any reasonable alternatives to using Bachmann switches with Bachmann track?
Thanks,
Mr. T.