source for Atlas Code 55 #7 turnouts?

[altohorn25]

Good evening everyone,

My apologies if this has been covered here previously.

I'm starting to lay track on my new layout and I'm striking out on locating Atlas code 55 #7 turnouts from my usual retail sources.  Does anyone know where one could locate in quanity both left and right #7 turnouts?

Thank you in advance for the assistance.

Nate

[djconway]

I gave up on Atlas code 55 switches.
Bought a set of Fast Tracks #7 filing tools and a soldering jig, still on the steep side of the learning curve but making progress
https://www.handlaidtrack.com/   its an option, definitely worth looking into.

[mike_lawyer]

I second using Fast Tracks hand-made turnouts.  It is a bit of an up-front expense and takes some practice, but I have been getting good results thus far, and cars run really smooth through the turnouts. 

[Dave V]

Déjà vu...

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=54210.0

Even if you could find 'em (there's one on eBay right now), seems like many of us have regretted using them. You might be one of the lucky ones. I wasn't.

[dem34]

Times like this I really wish Peco made a NA version of their Code 55 track just for the sake of recommending it. I've been using Pecos 55 #8s on my JFRT layout for the last year and they've been mostly bulletproof with my only knock being that tie spacing and the work needed for some electrical improvements.

[altohorn25]

Will Micro Engineering code 55 turnouts work ok with Atlas code 55 flex track?

[jpwisc]

Will Micro Engineering code 55 turnouts work ok with Atlas code 55 flex track?

Yes, but the ties are noticeably different don’t look quite right.

To the OP: I wish you good luck. I have had great luck with Atlas #7s and #10 switches. I have switches that have been in operational use for 10+ years with no issues. I may have replaced 1 in the last 15 years. Check with Lombard Hobbies in Chicago. They may have what you need.

[mu26aeh]

We have some at the shop I work at, but only 1 or the other.  Someone else was looking for some and they bought all the left ( or right ) we had in stock.  I will update once I get into work today

@altohorn25 we have 7 #7 right hand in stock.  No lefts.  https://mainlinehobby.com/

[mike_lawyer]

Yes, but the ties are noticeably different don’t look quite right.

To the OP: I wish you good luck. I have had great luck with Atlas #7s and #10 switches. I have switches that have been in operational use for 10+ years with no issues. I may have replaced 1 in the last 15 years. Check with Lombard Hobbies in Chicago. They may have what you need.

On my previous layout, I used exclusively Atlas Code 55 #7 switches.  I built the layout in 2008 and had zero issues, it was flawless.

I am building a new layout now, and have heard of quality control issues with current production Atlas C55 switches.  Not sure why there is now a problem, but I have moved to Fast Tracks turnouts exclusively.  So far, I have been very happy with that decision.

[robert3985]

Good evening everyone,

My apologies if this has been covered here previously.

I'm starting to lay track on my new layout and I'm striking out on locating Atlas code 55 #7 turnouts from my usual retail sources.  Does anyone know where one could locate in quanity both left and right #7 turnouts?

Thank you in advance for the assistance.

Nate

Atlas Code 55 N-scale turnouts are not prototypically proportioned, being much too short between the point of the frog and the closure point toes at the headblock to be truly considered being a #7 since the diverging radius is considerably smaller than a correctly proportioned #7 would be.

This means that the Atlas #7 is closer to a #6 even though it may have a #7 frog.

Atlas sacrificed correct proportions for their #5, #7 and #10 turnouts (I am going to assume the same for their curved turnouts) in order for these to be compatible with their sectional track products.

If I were using RTR commercially manufactured turnouts, I would go with both Micro Engineering Code 55 flex and Micro Engineering Code 55 #6 turnouts...the turnouts being much more robustly constructed than the Atlas55 turnouts, AND being correctly proportioned, as well as having an over-center spring mechanism for the closure points if you want to just flick the closure points with your finger to direct traffic.

Photo (1) - Here's a chart I've posted several times that shows the prototype difference between correctly proportioned #7 and #6 turnouts...the #7's being much longer than #6's:


Photo (2) - A comparison in length between ME 55 #6 (Top) and Atlas 55 #7 (Bottom) turnouts, showing the incorrect too-short length of the Atlas #7:


Truth is, there's not much difference (if any) between how your trains will go through these, but, the Atlas55 turnouts have plated frogs and closure point rails which wears off after repeated cleaning with common track cleaning BriteBoy abrasive pads, revealing the mystery metal that's underneath, which doesn't look anything like nickel silver.  ME 55 #6's on the other hand, have frogs and closure points made from real nickel silver and no plating to wear off...ever.

Effective diverging track radius for N-scale #6 turnouts is between 18" and 19", so all of your long-wheelbase cars and engines will go through the ME #6's without any problems.  The closure rail and point rails on the Atlas55 #7 turnout are only about 2 tie widths longer than the ME 55 #6, so its effective diverging track radius is virtually identical, maybe being only a fraction of an inch larger...maybe.

In the present world situation, I am sure there are going to be further interruptions in supply of N-scale track products made in China and other nations, just as there have been in the past.  So, I am going to suggest buying American made products such as Micro Engineering, or learning to make your own trackage.

But, if I were you, I wouldn't worry about Atlas #7 unavailability...I'd just go with Micro Engineering #6's.

However, since ME is up for sale, there might be supply problems there too, so it might be time to learn to make your own.

Was that any help?  LOL 

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

[mmagliaro]

Honestly, I think a lot of peoples' experiences with the Atlas c55 turnouts, both good and bad, depends on the tracks coming in and out of the turnout, and what kind of equipment they run.  If you have nice straight sections coming in and out, that alleviates running problems because the wheels are not pushed hard against either rail.  If you have a curve right after one of the diverging routes, that makes the demands on the turnout geometry more finicky.   
--
If you run mostly 4 axle diesels and 40-50 foot rolling stock, things get a lot easier. 
If you run 80 foot passenger cars, the turnout has to be more accurate.  And finally, if you run long wheelbase steam engines, that's another notch up the ladder in demands placed on the turnout to be accurate.  A 4-8-4 is very intolerant of any narrow spots in the point rails or any errors between the frog and guard rails.  The leading drivers are pushing against the inside of the curved rails, and any error is going to "encourage" that engine to climb up and out.

[Dave V]

Honestly, I think a lot of peoples' experiences with the Atlas c55 turnouts, both good and bad, depends on the tracks coming in and out of the turnout, and what kind of equipment they run.  If you have nice straight sections coming in and out, that alleviates running problems because the wheels are not pushed hard against either rail.  If you have a curve right after one of the diverging routes, that makes the demands on the turnout geometry more finicky.   
--
If you run mostly 4 axle diesels and 40-50 foot rolling stock, things get a lot easier. 
If you run 80 foot passenger cars, the turnout has to be more accurate.  And finally, if you run long wheelbase steam engines, that's another notch up the ladder in demands placed on the turnout to be accurate.  A 4-8-4 is very intolerant of any narrow spots in the point rails or any errors between the frog and guard rails.  The leading drivers are pushing against the inside of the curved rails, and any error is going to "encourage" that engine to climb up and out.

Max,

There's definitely a lot of truth to what you say, but I don't know that it's the whole truth. Some of the newer Atlas turnouts have way too much play in the throwbar (in other words, the point rails float side-to-side too much), have poor electrical connections, gauge issues, etc. that are independent of the track that connects to them. And what Bob said about the mystery metal...a few passes with the Bright Boy and now you've lost that molecular-thin nickel-silver plating.

Also, at least on my previous version of the Colorado Midland, I made the mistake of trusting that little frog power tab that sticks out. In nearly every case, those tabs stopped conducting, forcing me to solder directly to the frog (see mystery metal problem above) when the track was already installed and ballasted. Sigh. This is a big part of why the new Colorado Midland has zero Atlas code 55 on it...

[Chris333]

I was really hoping when the code 55 tooling got lost that Atlas would use the retool as a way to fix the things that everyone was complaining about, but no they look exactly the same.

[mike_lawyer]

What's strange is that on my last layout, built in 2008, I had zero problems with Atlas Code 55 turnouts.  My dad is building a layout now with Atlas C55 turnouts, and is having problems with new Atlas C55 turnouts.  It seems as if quality control has gone down since the mid-2000s for Atlas C55 turnouts.

[Chris333]

Even if they were bulletproof you still have the problem of the points and frog turning copper/bronze the first time you clean the track.