Just bought a few of the new code 55 turnouts from Atlas, and a few pieces of their flextrack, so I can do some testing before my online ordered tracks arrives. Well, I installed the flextrack, and it looks just soooo nice and then I installed 2 turnouts. I know from previous discussion that I would have problems with my cars with MT trucks, and sure enough, but I ordered low profile wheels when I ordered the track, so it's no surprise. But a big surprise is that I can't run my atlas engines !. I have 2 SD60 and one GP38, and all of them has problems with the guardrails being too tight on the straight path (or the wheels on all of them being out of gauge. I can't tell because I don't have the NMRA stanndard gauge yet, but seems like I have to buy one). Has any one else had the same problem with these new turnouts ? Thanks Jesper
Just solved the problem. I bought the NMRA standard today, and it gets stuck in the guardrails when sliding it along the rails. By filing just a tiny tiny bit of the guardrail facing the frog, it slides freely with no resistance. Just amazing Atlas releases a product that can’t be used with their own engines without modifications (oh well, it’s a 1-minute modification per turnout, and it looks so much better than the old one. Now I’m just waiting for a #7 turnout). Jesper Kristiansen
I, too bought some flex track for a test after reading the discussion here. At the local hobby shop, I tried Atlas cars on flex track, which worked, and MT, which rode the ties. I didn't think to try the turnouts! The propietor of the shop said Atlas replied to the critisicm by saying "our stuff meets NMRA standards, and theirs don't!" Obviously, he implies MT must move closer to scale accuracy, after being fairly stagnant for many years. I wish MT would make the fine scale wheels in weathered brown or rust. If I paint the trucks while the wheels are out, the replacement does double duty as a wheel cleaning! I agree with the ATlas approach to move slowly to fine scale, even if there are problems in compatibility. It does scare me though, seeing as I used Atlas last batch of turnouts (2755?) under the impression that the geometry was better, and had to tear them out of my hidden yards (replacing with Peco) due to derailment problems. I hope their tolerances on turnouts get resolved, as I love the look of the track, but it always goes back to performance, performance, performance, for me, and I imagine, most N scalers, no?
Interesting observation regarding the tight clearance on the new Atlas Code 55 turnouts, Jesper. Thanks for making it known. Though I have yet to see the new track in person, I agree with Atlas's moves to raise the bar higher in track fidelity. The easy fix for the above problem is to check the clearance of the check rails and the back-to-back gauge of the loco's wheelsets, as pointed out by yourself, and modify/fix. Rather than complaining, you confronted the problem and solved it. Bravo! To make a counterpoint, I have had problems with Peco turnouts and Micro-Trains cars caused by the check rail gap being far too wide allowing the occassional (pizza cutter) flange to pick the frog through the turnout and derail the car. The fix in this case was a piece of .015"x.060" styrene strip glued to the inside of the check rails to tighten the gauge. I should note that I have read about the issues regarding tight wheel gauging of Atlas (to name one) locos, particularly the messages alluding to GP40-2 tracking problems caused by either too tight or too wide gauging. I can imagine the problem could easily be found on any other locomotive model. Now, all this being said... what do the new turnout look and operate like? Gary.
I thought I would resurrect this topic and see if anyone who has used the Atlas code 55 turnouts could post their observations as to performance and quality control. It has now been a few months since the release of the code 55 turnouts. Anybody have them installed and can comment on the performance?
Where can the new Atlas track be located on-line? It's not at the Atlas site, and I've gotten blank stares from the LHS.... I'm interested in trying it out on a small test layout.... although I'm not loooking forward to swapping out over 600 MT axles!!!!
I bought all my C55 track online at http://www.standardhobby.com/. I did install it (as previously posted) and ran it for a short while, before I decided to redo the trackplan which meant removing all the track and redo some of the benchwork, so that's where I'm at right now (and now with the summer, it probably won't be until fall before I get any track laid). So I still don't have any experience with it, but I know that I will continue using it and I have just put in an order for extra 50 flextracks and some #7 turnouts. Jesper
