Video Notes: 1) This video has chapters if you'd like to skip around. :)

You can buy O-31, No. 022 switches quite cheaply. Menards made the right call going for the O72 switches. Those metal frogs look like they will work nicely!!!!!!

As someone who is planning to build a new tubular track layout, this is amazing news! I'm really hoping Menards makes some O-54 switches once they ramp up production on these. Thanks for this first look video!

It's really incredible and breathtaking how far your layout has come since you began in 2007 Eric, a lot of time and effort & dedication, respect and best wishes💙

You would not BELEIVE how fast I clicked this video when I saw it on my recommended

Knowing that most sellers charge at least $100 for the old-school Lionel O-72 tubular switches (especially the old ones that were still made in the US), this is a much needed product for those who love to run old school Lionel at an affordable price. I don't see Menards making O-31 switches right away since the old Lionel O22 switches you can find just about anywhere still, BUT if Menards makes O-42 and/or O-54 automatic switches, those should both be a home run!

From my standpoint the real advantage of tubular track over Fastrack is you have to clean Fastrack every month while my tubular track will go over 9 months without cleaning. That is why using transition tracks I have swapped out my Fastrack in hard to reach areas, like in tunnels, with Menards tubular track. Tubular track has about 30% more steel than Fastrack and conducts electricity much better. Great video.

I’ve said it before like a broken record but, Menards has done it Again. I hope they’re one step further to some affordable Ogauge Passenger cars. Great product review Eric! They look great operating on your layout. Happy railroading🚂

Nice to see that Menards came out with switches that is compatible with their track system I think that was a good move for them 👍👍

The anti-derailment feature was found as far back as Lionel's prewar switches, both standard gauge as well as O gauge. Lionel's prewar "T" Rail track has them. I love that Menard's is simply bringing back "Lionel" style (pre-1990) merchandise and at affordable prices in a market which had gone all out for scale realism.

I think this is wonderful! I think the points and the frogs are a little rough though. I think the points sink into the rail to much and the frog is probably fine but the guardrails don't catch enough. Other than that very impressed first run of these switches, so excited to see what come next! Thanks for a wonderful video Eric! 😀😎

I wish they included the power tap so the switch does not use track power.

Just a revolutionary addition to the hobby…Menard’s has sealed the fact that they are a major player!

I asked Ray about different curves and this was his response: Mark, We hope to come out with 031 switches (022) in the near future. Thank you, Ray

Menards is one of the coolest Companies and Stores. I wish I lived in the midwest so I could visit them all the time.

These look amazing, I hope they make different radius. The only I dislike is the controller, I really like the original Lionel style but I understand they’re trying to not directly copy

The only thing these are lacking is the ability to use auxillary power. However this is important if youvare building a new layout

I always enjoy seeing the layout in action.

thanks for the news....wonder when they will come out with a power brick or transformer? you start building a railroad with all this stuff needing power, that starter set pack is not gonna cut it

Those switches look and run great! Unlike the noise my trains make when they cross my Fast Track switches, the trains did not make much racket as they passed over them. The anti derailment feature is really nice to have on such a budget friendly switch. It will be interesting to see if there are any issues reported. Thanks for reviewing these switches.

I only use their track for display shelf but thats good for the kids or the budget buyer!

the wiring setup for the controller really shows how far we've gone in electronics! Let me tell ya, if you have any old switch controller still hooked up to your postwar O-27/O-Gauge switch, Good luck! They are a nightmare to watch over because of those flimsy old controllers and wiring setups.

Would be nice if the controller had indicator lights as well.

I’m definitely gonna wait till they’ve got the full versions and perhaps different sized switches

Very nice. Menard's always offers great products and fair prices. Hopefully, they will produce some different radius switches in the future. I need some O54's for my industrial area and I don't have too much choice, other than Ross, which are $$$$. I couldn't tell if you area able to reverse the switch motors, like the Lionel switches. Either way, those are some nice switches, for sure. A big thumbs up to Menard's on this one. An excellent video, as always.

Is there a way to wire it for constant voltage for conventional layouts?

If I wasn’t so busy I would make my own by cutting and combining straights and curves. Does anyone make new lockons? I think that the price of new switches is gouging. The biggest drawback to Fastrak was how loud it was. Plus the rails didn’t have a profile that actually looked like a rail. I spent probably $750 in Fastrak in the middle 2000’s just building a yard. Sold it all 7 years ago to return to tubular.

This is really exciting news! Hopefully they will be making more soon! I wonder how well they will behave with prewar/postwar locomotives with sliding shoes.

My experience with long term use of FastTrack on a permanent layout has not been very good. I am gradually pulling fastrack up and replacing with tube track. These switches are right on time for my railroad!

And that Lionel track looks so realistic!

In model railroad parlance a track switch is called a turnout. You have right, left, with a ratio for each one curve vs, distance.

I really enjoyed the video as well presentation of the New Menards remote control o72 switches I like to in near future to purchase the Menards remote control switches for the price is a great deal thank you share the video

I was sold on their track until I noticed some very slight quirks that normal people could care less about, but me being me I set what little bit of Menards track I had aside and found some genuine lionel ones to take their place.

As others have noticed, the lamp does not match the direction. Green should be straight and red should be diverging. Also, what about the noticeable bump when certain locos go through? Thanks for the review.

How do you wire the switch to use power from the transformer and not the track? Also, how do you use it to control signals, since I don't see terminals. Finally, does the switch show the direction on the hand held when it is activated by the non derailing feature?

Good to see affordable switches! Hobby is getting too expensive!

Speaking of Menards, have you thought about getting their intermodal/well cars? Maybe compare them to something like Atlas? Obviously Atlas are the nicer ones but for us rolling on a budget and smaller layouts, I think the Menards ones are a pretty good choice. And almost scale!

These are nice but need some upgrades. The machines cannot be moved from side to side and there is no provision for external power. Most of us are running 18 volts for command or DCS so the external power may not be an issue. Hope Menard's listens to us.

I used Menards tubular track for my "Train on the Wall" in my hobby room. this makes me want to get some polycarbonate sheets and make a turnout at one end of the room. thanks for sharing Eric, much appreciated!

Well since they made these switches. Im hoping for other locomotive style. Gp 7, 9 or mayb 6 axle unit

Affordable and model railroad that would be nice. I just ordered 2 switches in N ....$ 88 Australian.

When I built my large O scale train back in 2017 I bought a lot of railcar and track from Menards because it was a lot cheaper and in my budget.

Thank you Eric for the Patreon shoutout!

I am surprised Menards only did an O72 switch at this time! I expected them to make an O31 or O36 for layouts that use tighter curves. I also like that the switches are battery-powered so you can easily combine them with the hi-rail vehicle set Menards did

Thanks for this information on the switches. I have been looking for tub track 0 72 switches for some time. JH

These switches look great! However, I would be curious to see something like a Lionel Scout or 0-8-0 like you see in a train set go through it as I know those seem to give me the most trouble with loosing power over a switch. Thanks for all your reviews and helpful information!

It is too bad we don't have a Menards in the Phoenix, Arizona area, I really like their products.

I received mine last Saturday only issue I had was the switch part of the track popped out of the brace.

Just spitballing here but wonder if Marx tinplate would negotiate these with the large outer gear?

I can not find the o gauge switches from Menards anywhere, except eBay. Then they are over priced. Hoping Menards orders more and soon!

Waaaaat!? O Scale switches go for 60$ nowadays??? Dude that’s insane, that’s the reason I left O scale it was just too expensive I love O scale to death but I had to let it go and switch over to HO scale.

Never like being a beta-tester. Thanks for the video. Not liking the absence of the fixed voltage option. Not cool about the controller having no indicator lights. Glad I had stocked up on the final Lionel O72 switches in 2015 - they were almost perfect.

Looks like they had a rough ride at moderate speed.

I want to make a postwar Enspired layout eventually, and will most likely use menards track

Nice 😊. Thanks for sharing 😊

The lights are backwards! When straight, it is showing red.

Like their business model. Better than what we get from the usual, "seven sisters", of model train manufacturers.

Any chance we can get a confirmation that the switches are actually wired not to throw when they are already in that direction? It looked like the points were flexing as it it was trying to throw when the button was pressed, and in the demonstration of the anti-derail. My brain is fuzzy on how the olld Lionel ones worked in the O72 models, I seem to recall that the O31 did have the feature(and used the same mechanism as the O72), but the O27 did not, but I might be mistaken on O31/72 having it.

heck yeah menards, I just recently rebuilt my oval of track since my old fastrack was ruined by a rat infestation

Awesome review ✨💫🌟

Now, they just need to come up with an affordable series of 2-Rail O scale.....then I'll shop there,lol.

Did you have any spots on the turnout that the locos or cars jumped up as they went over the turnout? As I was watching the steam engine it looked like it jumped right about midway on the turnout.

Can the switch motors be changed to the other side like Lionel and MTH?

It looks like your cars are bouncing pretty roughly over the frogs. Are the switch motors position reversable? Can the switch motors be powered independently from the track? When will mere mortals be able to find these switches and F-7's for sale?

When do we get wider affordable track in the postwar o27 profile, everywhere I look it’s o gauge, not o27! But at least the anti-derailing system is built into the switch itself instead of having to use fiberglass insulation pins.

OUTSTANDING!!

Eric, can you switch the switch motor to the other side when you have space issue? Something you can do with the pre-war, post war and modern Lionel switches.

Can’t find them on the MENARD’s website ??

I had no clue....now it is sold out!

Are they isolated turnouts as well? As in it will only power the right of way?

Maynards ! Nads ! Save BIG money !

Great vidio, love that switch. Does the center rail have plastic insulator or paper like lionel track, if its on my Yard Layout i need plastic as to the dampness .Thanks for the morning coffee...

Eric, I opened up the switch controller and found 4 LEDs inside. Plus, what looks 2 missing screws. I'm curious if yours is the same ?

Hey Eric, I'm curious about something. Since you know how to get in touch with Ryan Kunkle, I'm wondering if you help could make this suggestion: a Lionel Legacy Allegheny in the Orange and Silver Chessie paint scheme.

Im waiting for the first Menards steam engine.

The lantern is backwards. Can it be fixed for proper orientation?

Does the motor reverse sides like the 022 switch.

Great product, I guess the switch motors are not reversible as they are on Lionel switches, I hope they address this.

This could ONLY be a great thing for the hobby.

Hi Eric: Gary here from Michigan - Can the switch motor be moved on these switches, to opposite side. Like you can on the old Lionel Tubular Switches. Thanks 🚂Cool demo‼

Thanks Eric! Question? Was there any reduction in track power for using the switches with transformer track power? I figured that there is no way to provide dedicated power to each switch like realtrax and fastrack switches can?

I would’ve liked to see a postwar steam engine on these too. Like you said, can’t complain at $60, however I’d gladly pay another 10 to have the feature of a non-track power source. I feel like half of the people buying this are using conventional locomotives. Other negative is it does look a little bumpy, which concerns me with postwar locos. The Lionel tubular switches I have aren’t quite that.. violent. And my goodness the mechanism is super long. . And no lights on the controller 😭. I gotta make sure I can see the lantern light from the control area to be sure what direction it’s thrown- plus the red and green lights are part of the charm lol. These aren’t deal-breakers for the price, especially if the bumpiness isn’t really that bad. The external power is a bummer. I wonder how smooth these operate at lower voltages.

Are the switch stands able to swap places????

My question is why is this item of interest to you?I thought you were an atlas Ross man.I have nothing but problems with FasTrack switches.Maybe these will work for me

I bought one and it doesn’t work the motor won’t throw the points only works one way

😎

Gre video eric o.loke your reviews their hones and informative

I’ve got something to tell you, Eric, do you like the steam and diesel hybrid, the ACE 3000?

You forgot to do a pro and con part.

Um, real trains only have 2 rails. :(

Already sold out

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