Atlas Code 55 Switches

[Scottl]

That looks like a #5 wye.  Maybe they just packaged them incorrectly 

[Baronjutter]

I almost feel bad for atlas, what an absolute disaster.  How are they going to recover from this?  They really should consider ditching the whole outsourcing thing as it clearly has not been working for them.  ME manages to make their stuff in america at comparable prices.

[glakedylan]

it would seem, in my estimation, that the #5s pictured in this thread
were packaged--in error--within a bubble for wye turnouts
and that in shipping they somewhat conformed to that shape
having a curve in each side

I suppose one can readily straighten them when laying
using the aid of pins, spikes, pushpins, etc.
to straighten them until the medium used to "fasten" them to roadbed
cures and hardens, holding them in place and alignment

I ordered 10, 5 of each R and L
should be here tomorrow
I will ascertain at that time what might work best

kindest regards
Gary

[John]

I almost feel bad for atlas, what an absolute disaster.  How are they going to recover from this?  They really should consider ditching the whole outsourcing thing as it clearly has not been working for them.  ME manages to make their stuff in america at comparable prices.

 I think "absolute disaster" is way overstated .. I've looked at all mine . they aren't any worse than the previous runs .. the design needs some work.

[Scottl]

Could some kind of stiffener might work.  These have been pretty tough turnouts, aside from the points.  I would think that aligning them in a jig to straighten, and then securing to base plate might work.   

[davefoxx]

I think "absolute disaster" is also overstated.  What has happened is that a handful were packaged incorrectly.  After I had time to go through the package I received yesterday, I discovered that the majority of the turnouts that I received were okay.

Here's what the problem is.  Atlas uses the same blister pack for left and right hand turnouts.  The problem turnouts were packaged backwards, i.e., the right hand turnouts were put in the package as if they were lefts.  That caused the turnout to be bent.  Paul Graf has been gracious enough to replace four of my sixteen turnouts.  But for the fact that Atlas wants to see the problem, I have not opened these packages.  If I did, like John, I think I could straighten the worst of the bend out.  All of their turnouts seem to have a slight bend that I mostly straighten with pushpins while the glue dries during installation. 

I'm sticking with Atlas.  In fact, I installed close to a dozen Code 55 turnouts and several pieces of flextrack today, and my trains are running fine.



DFF

[peteski]

I almost feel bad for atlas, what an absolute disaster.  How are they going to recover from this?  They really should consider ditching the whole outsourcing thing as it clearly has not been working for them.  ME manages to make their stuff in america at comparable prices.

Wow!  What a knee-jerk reaction.
How long did Atlas survive without having C55 turnouts available (with modelers grumbling and waiting)?  It is not like modelers boycotted all their products (in all scales) while waiting for these.  I'm quite sure that Atlas would survive (and thrive) even if they totally dropped the C55 line.  But we know this will not happen. Modelers will grumble a lot, but all will be back to normal (with or without C55).

I am secretly hoping that Peco comes out with US-prototype C55 track. Their track seems to be the best made from the bunch (and they have all sorts of items available - like double and singe slips).  I think that if they came out with a US line of track they would make a killing.

[wcfn100]

My theory on the turnouts was that the diverting rail wasn't pre-bent (or pre-bent enough) where it springs back forcing the straight leg to curve.  I always meant to take one apart to see what the rail would do out of the ties, but alas, I sold all my c55 stuff (except for some flex).

Jason

[John]

My theory on the turnouts was that the diverting rail wasn't pre-bent (or pre-bent enough) where it springs back forcing the straight leg to curve.  I always meant to take one apart to see what the rail would do out of the ties, but alas, I sold all my c55 stuff (except for some flex).

Jason

I have some laying around that blew up for various reasons .. I will take a look ..

[robert3985]

I am secretly hoping that Peco comes out with US-prototype C55 track. Their track seems to be the best made from the bunch (and they have all sorts of items available - like double and singe slips).  I think that if they came out with a US line of track they would make a killing.

I agree.  Maybe ME will get off the dime and start making more turnouts and crossings since the lack-o-Atlas track has surely increased their sales.  Peco seems to be in the perfect place to repeat what they did in HO, and even though I make my turnouts on the bench, if an N-scale equivalent of their U.S. prototype HO track were available, I'd be first in line to start buying.

I think Atlas missed a golden opportunity to "fix" their code 55 turnouts.

Ah well...

[ednadolski]

Maybe ME will get off the dime and start making more turnouts and crossings

Don't  hold your breath.  ME has enough on their plate, like fixing the molds for some of their current flex track.

Ed

[glakedylan]

I have been using atlas turnouts exclusively without exception since 1988, then in HO, since 1999 in N scale.
Something in me connects with loyalty to a company that has served one's needs quite well.
Back in those earlier years I could find no other turnouts that functioned without constant derailing.
Sorry to say I need to build and I need reliability. Thus, I have found a person who constructs Fast Tracks for a fair price.
I can order any type in any # of frog and have then within 7-10 days.
Thanks Atlas for the years that it was working well.
Moving on...

Respectfully
Gary

[hminky]

Just got 4 rights and 2 lefts from ModelTrainstuff and they are all straight.

EDIT: They check out with the NMRA guage

 

Harold

[Denver Road Doug]

Man, semi-masked in the "mis-packaged turnouts being distorted in transit" is.....the Number 5's STILL have the outside "bow" opposite the diverging rails.   Who there thinks this is OK?   Name one other turnout in any scale that looks like that?   Am I missing something...is there a purpose for this that I'm not understanding?

I had hoped that Atlas would take the opportunity to clean up some of the stuff like this.   I bought a TON of the #5's at the outset for a now-defunct layout and was pretty disappointed but made lemonade anyway.   I'm not sure why that "bow" happened in the first place but it didn't seem to me like something that couldn't be corrected.   Not saying it would be easy, but geez it looks pretty bad and creates geometry problems in the tight spaces where you want to use these turnouts.   I typically am a full-blown sunshine pumper when it comes to Atlas products, but wow this one is a head-scratcher...I guess maybe because I have such high expectations of them.

Fortunately, if I do end up using Atlas track it will (a) be awhile and (b) likely won't involve too many number 5's.   I am in the camp of wishing Peco would do a NA-proto C55 line, then the discussion would be over for me.

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Well I don't have any of the old #5's still in the package but I do have some #7's and it is does look like the new #5's are packaged incorrectly. The straight stock rail should be up the middle. This is causing stress on the switch in the package and is bending them.



Good news is they can be easily bent back to straight with a small shock bend. For anyone that doesn't know plastic has a memory so it holds it shape. Over a period of time plastic can be reformed just with a little pressure, Or is can be shocked into place. If you give a small quick pull of the top and bottom of the straight rail as it is on a level surface it will sock the plastic and will be straight. Hold it like this and Pull down with your fingers.



 This has worked for me. Other than that you can pin them straight as the glue sets.

It is not a big deal but it would be better if they were packaged right. Let’s not jump down Atlas’s throat because the turnout isn't straight when you can fix it in 10 seconds. My time is much too valuable to be building switches.