Ok I got my turnouts and have actually opened them. Here's my initial thoughts. Rail joiners are riding loose in the packaging. You'll want to watch what you're doing when you open them. The turnouts are much like the drawings previously released. The throw bar is a bit longer and the solder tab for the frog a bit shorter. Here's a comparison MTL, Atlas and Märklin (sorry I didn't have a Rokuhan unit on my desk this morning): What impressed me was that they got a #6 turnout into 110mm length. The work I'd done using only the drawing suggested they'd be a bit longer. Initial testing suggest they are a drop-in replacement for transfer switches and passing sidings. The two units I've been playing with snap cleanly. There is about 1.2mm throw. These are not power routing. Overall height is 0.1". A 1/16" or 1/8" roadbed will be needed to mate up with MTL and Rokuhan roadbed track, respectively. The only concern I have at the moment is the spring wire. It's very fine, hard to see and looks like a potential trap when ballasting the turnout: I hope this helps. Although it isn't a snow day (or even a rain day) here, I plan on spending the day play with these. First some detailed measurements, then building a siding and putting then through their paces. Any questions, please ask as I doubt I'll be able to thing of everything. Mark
Chris, There's a lot I want to do with these turnouts and it's going to take time, probably until the end of the month on my current schedule. There's a lot of new stuff: controlling frog power and switch machines in addition to operations. I'm in the process of building a test bench. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Yes, all the rolling stock I've tried ( 40' boxcar to heavyweight coach + MTL GP) run well through a single turnout and back-to-back transfer turnouts. I don't have any of the Big Boy sized locomotives so we'll have to rely on someone who does. There is one wart I've come across to be aware of. The sockets used for the point pivots can extend beyond the bottom plane of the turnout. I've measure up to 1 mil. Doesn't seem like much but if you are nailing to a hard surface you can bow the turnout and push the points up. I've had no problems using 2-sided foam mounting tape in a temporary layout. I don't think there will be an issue with cork road bed. Physically, I can mount the Walthers and Tortoise switch machines under the turnouts. But I may not be able to accommodate the small 1.2 mm throw with the Walthers machine. I won't be able to play with these more until late next week, so I'll post another update then. So far I like them. Mark
Chris thanks for the input. I had planned to try sanding them down. However at the moment I have only 4 units and wanted to save that operation for last. Mark
The great thing about this Atlas "number" turnout is the true straight divergent rail. This makes transition from one track to an adjacent track MUCH better, with less overhang (a.k.a. sideswipe) !!!
I got several. Opened one, looks really good and a truck goes through smoothly even when torsion loaded, inviting it to pick the switch. And I like the relatively low force of the spring on the switch rails. Enough force for the job, smooth acting, and shouldn't hammer the thing to bits from having too much force. In general, I think it looks like a winner. As far as the hangy down bits, file them off or, as I might prefer, cut a very shallow clearance pocket in the road bed. The clearance might be a good idea in general to assure smooth running. As far as ballasting goes, just be careful as always with these things.
Any news on using these turnouts as replacements on existing layouts? I found that Anyrail has already added the turnouts and crossing to their Atlas z scale library. If they have the geometry right, it should pretty much work well. I made a little design, take a look. On the left are Marklin turnouts, on the right Atlas (Anyrail lets you connect them). It looks like two connecting Atlas switches create the well-known 25mm heart to heart distance of connected rail. Also, adding 110mm straight rail (out of flex) shows that the length of the turnout is indeed likely to be 110mm, like the Marklin and Rokuhan. With a crossover in between, the distance between two lines of track becomes wider, however I am not sure what width results. Less then 50mm, more than 25mm. Matt
I didn't purchase a crossing, so I'll have to defer to someone who has. When I did the calculations from the Atlas image posted here, I got about 30mm spacing between parallel tracks in your lower example. Since you have the units in Anyrail, maybe you can try this configuration: When I did the calculations, it seemed that one needed a number of 10-25mm pieces to get it to fit with an overall length of about 380mm. Since I head back home today, I hope to have more details to post soon. Mark
Yeah, they'll need a little trimming for either form of crossover, to maintain the 25.4/1.0" spacing that Z-Bend Track uses but for personal layouts there won't be any issues.
I thought: 1) the 25.4mm/1" spacing was only a requirement at the interface and 2) one needs 5" of straight track before any curve (turnout?) SO does it really matter?
Mark, I think that will not work. The Atlas crossing is 19 degree, double that of their turnouts (9,5 degree). So a crossing connected to a turnout does not let a parellel track cross the deviating line, like Marklin does, since Marklin crossings have an angle equal to that of their turnouts (that is, 13 degrees). So, whereas Marklin lets your cross a parallel line, Atlas enables interchange between two parallel lines of track. With 4 turnouts and 1 crossing you can create what the Germans call a "Hosenträger" (a set of suspenders ....). However, not within the usual parallel track distance of 25mm (or one inch..?). I haven't been able to figure the distance out, it seems to me it is around 35-40 mm. Adapting to standard distance will need you to cover some 220 - 330mm in length, depending on the curves you allow. A picture makes it more clear. Given measurements are the length to which the flexrail needs to be cut.
Thanks for the input. There is obviously a limit to what one can do with paper cutouts from an approximately scaled jpeg, but it looked like it would work.
So what is the verdict on the switches? A home run? Also with the crossover, one of the issues was that there appeared to be a fair bit of plastic, suggesting pickup issues and stalling... is that the case? Thanks, Ajay
Would like to open this thread back up for discussion as it peaked my curiosity to use all of the new atlas track for my layout and I cannot find mention of it since these package photos. Has anyone used it and what is your opinion/critiques/praises? I have had a few problems with the turnout points popping up on the frog side. Otherwise I have found it very easy to work with and have run many of my Grandfathers Marklin locos without problems for the most part. Would love to hear some feedback as I am still new to Z and am interested how it compares to the other longer standing options for track.
Track lays well, turnouts too but: Turnouts have that less-than-perfect straights (easy to 'push' into alignment) Turnouts have some problems (with dozens of diesels) picking the frog. This was cured by using small 'duck-bill' pliers, like you use on brass kits. You can 'bend' the guard rails (next to stock rails [uh, the 'outer'rail) just a bit. About paper thickness, not much. DONT OVER DO IT. Now, dozens of locos now run through from various approaches. Would *LOVE* to get more of the rail joiners ! Short, shorter than the MTL joiners. @Paul ????
Update: Paul @ Atlas RR mentioned on "The Railwire" that there is a purchase order in place to supply these short joiners. So sometime in the future. https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41388.15
So, I went to ZSM to order, but they are sold out. Since I need 25L and 25R to start, I must get a bulk over single discount like ZSM offers. I found a couple on ebay selling from MSRP up to MSRP+30%, which offends much more than hurts. I can afford them but I refuse to support gougers. This biases me towards the Fast Track Code 40 5's and 7's (I have the jigs) with handlaid flex vs the lay and play Atlas code 55-60 Flex and Turnouts side of decision. With the Fast Track Code 40 solution, I can have points that flex instead of pivot, at a cost of about 1-2 hours per turnout, after a few days of trial and error getting my method down repeatable, then will need to spend several weeks cranking out a supply. Boring but do-able. I tried to find one of these Atlas turnouts at the NTS in Salt Lake, but they were vaporware, (and the Atlas booth was always too busy to get a question in edgewise) I could not even find photos, samples, or any info about them at the Atlas booth. SO... Sold Out. Has anyone heard if there are more coming, they have been sold out for 6 months so far. I mean, if they are in transit now from the manufacturer, I will wait, but if they are still in queue for factory time, I'll just go with Fast Track. Anybody with inside info better than hearsay know what the deal is with these turnouts? Also, has anyone built a layout using these turnouts and given a thourogh review of them after using them for a few months? What's the verdict? How to they perform under DCC usage? Long term reliability? Long term AVAILABILITY (or just an Intermountian like venture, doomed to be dropped the following year?) Thanks, Robert
Why not contact ONE of those eBay sellers directly or look on his/her direct website? Or contact him directly? I always tell people to take one more step further when shopping at eBay ... does this seller have a store? Is this item in their store? If he does have a direct store, he SHOULD be able to remove eBay's take (~10%) and sell to me directly, cheaper. Contact that seller ... he has a bunch and his have been in stock ready to ship since June 10, 2019. What I heard from Paul Graf is that this latest batch received was a last one for a LONG while type of thing. He said there are other hotter fires to extinguish. It will be a while. Due to the success, I doubt they drop the line.