Atlas Code 55 Curved Turnouts

[johnhale]

I have modeled in N scale for a while, and have always used PECO code 55. I am getting ready to start using Atlas Code 55, but I keep hearing horror stories about the curved turnouts. From my understanding the regular #7 and #10's work great, but the curved turnouts have issues.

Can anyone provide any details? specific issues, etc?

John

[seusscaboose]

I haven't had any issues with the 2 or 3 I have.  admittedly, that is a small sample size for curved turnouts. 

I know others have had problems.

Sometimes i think, if i could do it again i would use Peco for their "snapping" ability and how they keep the points in place.

I have heard of some people going micro-engineering

i have also heard of a Atlas for track and ME for switches philosophy.

I am sure people will chime in.  This topic always brings out the opinons.

Maybe someone can point to a previous thread that addressed this topic?

EP

[wazzou]

I go the opposite in that I use Atlas TO and Micro Engineering Flex. 
I would wager that this is more the norm than the other way around.  ME doesn't produce enough TO's to meet demand.  Even ME flex is scarce at times.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

And given their recent "issue", ME may be even slower.

John, I do know that it seems like there are some teething issues with the curved turnouts, so I'm going to hold off purchasing them until those get resolved, but I wouldn't let it be a mark against the whole line.

[johnhale]

Trust me Ed, I do not hold it against the whole line. As I said, I have heard good things about the straight turnouts.

And while I don't have a specific need for a curved turnout right now, I would like to know of the issue before planning a spot where I need one.

[John]

And while I don't have a specific need for a curved turnout right now, I would like to know of the issue before planning a spot where I need one.

I have done a lot of work on this issue - it looks to me like the main problem on those that are bad is that the closure rails are not machined enough to a taper, thereby causing the tight gauge .. the key is to inspect them at the store (if possible) and make sure the closure rails are thin from the point to about 3/4 the way back toward the hinge .. I suspect someone might have grabbed the wrong parts during assembly ..

[wcfn100]

After Dave posted to A-Board a grabbed the one turnout I have and took a couple pictures.



You can clearly see that the rail ends are blunt. The gauge along the point rails is also .020" under the nominal rail gauge.

Also, the point end of the turnout isn't square.



Mine had a bend point rail as well.



Jason

[johnhale]

So the general belief is this was a specific run issue? I mean based on those images, it would seem like its just a quality control problem.

[davefoxx]

John,

I started the "Troubles with Atlas' Code 55 Curved Turnouts" thread on the Atlas N Scale Forums.  If you go there, you will find a lot of details on the problems.  The thread is about four pages long now, but you may have to go back about five pages of threads to find it.

In short, the turnouts appear to be plagued with gauge problems (in my case, wide and narrow on the same turnout!) and blunt points.  Atlas is looking into the problem and will hopefully respond sometime soon.  At this time, we don't know if it was a specific run or not.  I can confirm that my worst turnout (they varied) was ordered from a different vendor than the others, but I haven't tried to check batch numbers.  I have since torn out my curved turnouts, but I have minimal or no issues with my #5 turnouts, #7 turnouts, and flextrack.

Hope this helps,
Dave Foxx

[seusscaboose]

So the general belief is this was a specific run issue? I mean based on those images, it would seem like its just a quality control problem.

you could actually dive deep on this "run" issue.

atlas stamps the back of every turnout blister pack with a black traceability code.

find that code, ask John which code was on the back of his lot, then avoid it like the plauge.

although...  the pictures show a great illustration of what to look for, i would personally just use John's suggestion of "inspecting at the store" if possible.

thanks for the pics.

very useful.

gosh i love this forum.  good information without bashing the manufacturer to heavily.

[Chris333]

About it being a run issue. These things haven't seen the light of day till recently so would all curved turnout out there be from the same first run?

[seusscaboose]

About it being a run issue. These things haven't seen the light of day till recently so would all curved turnout out there be from the same first run?

i thought they did a first release.. sold em out darn quick...

then there was a lull

then they restocked...

i think i remember Lee needing one and one not being available...

[Chris333]

You may be correct. They have been MIA so long I can't keep track.

[wazzou]

After Dave posted to A-Board a grabbed the one turnout I have and took a couple pictures.




Jason

Jason -

Your photo isn't as clear as one would like but I wonder if the point rails were installed backwards. 
This would account for the blunt rail at the points. 
In the above photo it looks like those rails maybe belong to a LH TO and are installed backwards in a RH.

[wcfn100]

Jason -

Your photo isn't as clear as one would like but I wonder if the point rails were installed backwards. 
This would account for the blunt rail at the points. 
In the above photo it looks like those rails maybe belong to a LH TO and are installed backwards in a RH.

I think Paul on A-Board said something like that, but it wouldn't seem humanly possible.  One end has a tab for the throwbar. There is no way to put these in incorrectly as far as I can tell.


Jason