WHAT is the deal with Atlas Code 55 turnouts?

[C855B]

Now that I am starting to build supplies inventory for layout construction, I am running into a bit of a concern - I can get all the Left Hand #10's I can eat, but Right Hand are not to be found. Anywhere. Almost the same situation with #7's, too, though one online shop indicated stock on #7 RH's. My fave LHS had four LH and one (count 'em, 1) RH #10's, and I cleaned him out today.

How is this possible? The production can't have been that unbalanced, yes? A couple of shops were out of all #10's. Are the molds broken (like flex in 2010)? Did the container ship sink?

Paul? Cory? Anybody know what's going on?

[asarge]

And you'll have to wait awhile for more too. Would hope to have them by the time peak modelling season gets around and I sure hope they make. But even then. It seems we have been selling more Right hands one than left. When I found out track was going to be in short supply again I stocked the shop up to the same amount of LH and RH switches and sure enought we sold the right hand ones much faster.

[C855B]

Huh... so you DO sell a lot more RH than LH? Weird. Any thoughts as to why? I've always designed layouts assuming nearly everything is paired. One can certainly design sidings and yards with both ends using the same, although I can't really think of a reason an entire market would prefer rights over lefts.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

There is a dearth right now, so each shop has whatever they have in stock.
My LHS has a mixmash of everything, and the other HS far away has (last time I looked), the other stuff.
So it's hit & miss.
My LHS owner said we all have to wait until Sept. or Oct. (3Q) for the next resupply.

Tis' a great time to learn handlaying 

[seusscaboose]

welcome to the Club.

$18 on ebay...  $14 at Kleins....

[C855B]

...

Tis' a great time to learn handlaying 

I was just waiting for some wag to say that.   Already been there... 40 years ago. Even then I figured out I wasn't going to live long enough to build a layout of any size that way. Anyway...

...I have been following the build/buy threads here VERY closely. Based on the chatter, both techniques have their ups and downs, and as far as operability seems to play out, it's a wash. My current game plan will accrue LOTS of turnouts, and my now-informed decision is to trade money for time to spend on other stuff. Also, since it's a phased project, I would like to avoid the pitfall of my build technique improving as I go along, with the constant nagging in the back of my mind about going back and readdressing already finished work. Frankly, I see hand-built in my scenario as an unmanageable time sink.

There will be some hand work on the Code 40 portions, and obviously the planned narrow gauge if I don't like the Z options. But not the bulk of the layout. No way.

... $14 at Kleins....

Already checked. Six lefts, out of stock on rights. Never thought about eBay for "staples" like track. I'll take a look.

[seusscaboose]

set up the auto reminder for the RH#10's...  you'll get an email about 12-24 hours prior to the public listing (something like that anyway)...

buy as many as ya can...  don't feel bad about leaving any for others.... 

buy whatcha need...  or pay $18 on the bay...

that's pretty much what happened to me...

[Chris333]

Paul has said before that right hand TOs outsell leftys.

[elnscale]

Anybody interested in new #7 should check the trading post.

[peteski]

Paul has said before that right hand TOs outsell leftys.

If they know how many they sell why not just have the factory make more of the switches that sell more?!  Duh!    

[robert3985]

Learn to make your own.  That way, you're not a slave to what the manufacturers' decide to make.

Last week, I made seven turnouts for my U.P. center siding at Emory on my home/portable modular layout.  Three #8's (one RH, two LH), one #4 wye, two #6 wyes and a curved #7.  Took me about ten hours because I like to build-em as a single unit (two three-turnout "units") and I'm experimenting with a new, more durable and prototype-looking throwbar arrangement.

Did I mention they cost me about $1.75 each?  Yours would cost more because I bought my materials years ago.

Atlas and ME don't make any of the turnouts I used, so I could not have made my siding fit my trackplan if I was enslaved to only use what's commercially available.

It isn't rocket science, and it'll free you to make your trackwork like YOU want it, WHEN you want it.

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[ednadolski]

... I'm experimenting with a new, more durable and prototype-looking throwbar arrangement.

Love to hear more about this, esp. any pics you might be able to share.

Ed

[u18b]

You have my brain turning.  Why do people use more RH?

How about this as a stab-  it is the bias of the clock.

When you look at an overhead view of a roundy track plan- which direction do you envision the trains traveling.   I predict that most people would imagine the train traveling clockwise- an assumption they are not even conscious that they make.

If a train is traveling clockwise in a roundy fashion, then RH turnouts would be toward the middle, and left hand turnout would be to the outside.

Further, maybe the general RH bias in society leads many of us to build ward ladders with a RH bias.

Just total philosophical guesswork.
If I am wrong, there still has to be a reasonable explanation.

[Rossford Yard]

Also wondering why the RH get so much more use, especially in the number 10's.  No 7's seem to be about equally available....

Had the same problem finding the right handers in No. 10, once I fell in love with the long crossover look.  Found a few here and there.  Just today I placed an order at MegaHobby.com.  Confirmed they had 32 in stock, and they have a few less now.  Everyone else seems to be out.

[Kisatchie]

You have my brain turning.  Why do people use more RH?

Hmm... there's a shortage
of RH turnouts?! I'd better
buy lots of them...