I saw them this weekend with my own eyes. Yes, Atlas has a new turnout product. I've been an Atlas user for close to half a century now, and this is the biggest change in all that time.
Standard Atlas snap-switches have an 18-inch radius curve. The straight section of those is 9 inches, like most Atlas products. The new turnouts are closer to a foot in length. (I didn't have a tape measure handy.)
So, it's a new option. The ones I saw were Code 83.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I don't see them on their web site
These switches measure as a 22 inch radius. I use them and the 22 inch radius track gauge fits right in them.
http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/Track/Trackphotos/Code83/540.jpg
Springfield PA
Sure you were not looking at a #6 'Super Switch' from Atlas? I can find no reference for a 22" radius one...
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
No, these were definitely snap-switches, and not #6 turnouts. They were about a foot long to accomodate the longer radius, but the diverging path was definitely a constant curve, unlike "numbered" turnouts. They had standard Atlas code 83 switch machines mounted on them. Gerry at Maine Trains knows his stuff, and said they were #22 curves, which they did look like. He said they were a brand new product, and he felt he should have a few in the store because he thought people would be looking for them.
Do you have a number? 540 is definitely the standard snap-swtich they've had all along, 18" radius. It can;t be one of the numbered Custom-Line ones, even the #4, which is really a #4 1/2, is a wider radius than 22", even though there's no continuous curve in them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Do you have a number?
I'll check next time I'm in the shop. My LHS is on vacation for the next couple of weeks, so it will have to wait.
MisterBeasley rrinker Do you have a number? I'll check next time I'm in the shop. My LHS is on vacation for the next couple of weeks, so it will have to wait.
PLEASE do keep us informed as to the correct part number for the 22" curve turnout!!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Lee
Interesting Atlas still doesn't have these on their web site.
They have them on the Atlas site. You can search by number (i.e., 547) or you can look under Code 83 turrnouts. They do not have pictures of these, though.
Thank you all. Never thought of checking Walthers.
Trust in Mr. B. He knows his stuff !
Jimmy
ROUTE ROCK!
http://download.atlasrr.com/Images/Track/Trackphotos/HOTrueTrack/22inchSnapTrackRight.jpg
- Douglas
Yup it's True Track but it does have removable roadbed.
They also list just track without roadbed
http://www.atlasrr.com/trackmisc/hotrack1.htm
So what's the frog #? About a 5?
Who knows. The 22" radius is about the closure rail radius of a #4.5 like the Custom-Line "#4" but the subsitution radius of a true # (that's not continuously curved like the snap-track) is over 40". CLosure rail radius of a #5 is 26", for a #6 it's 43". And now you can see why Armstrong usualyl says anything larger than a #6 is a waste of space. FOr cosmetic reasons, or to avoid an S curve in a crossover, #8s are fine, but if your curves are all 24" radius or less there's no point in using anything larger than a #4.5 or #5 - the turnout will have a less sharp curve then your actual curves.Snap-Track turnouts are made different than a proper numbered frog turnout, you can pull an 18" or 22" radius full section of track and drop in a turnout and not alter the alignment of the tracks. The idea being that the track is compeltely modular and easy to change or expand by simply substituting alternate sections.
The price list on the Atlas site http://www.atlasrr.com/dealerflyers/ATM%20Pricelist.pdf lists 22" snap switches, manual and remote, for both True Track and Code 83 Nickel Silver.
Enjoy
Paul
Doughless So what's the frog #? About a 5?
Seems unlikely. The 18" SnapSwitch frog is sharper than a #3.5 (depending on who is measuring). And it's effectively perhaps even sharper than that because of the short "lead" and thus fairly abrupt entry to the diverging route.
I would be surprised if the 22" SnapSwitch is greater than #4 at the frog, but I haven't seen one yet. And again, it may be more limiting than a "true" #4 due to the construction of the rest of the turnout.
Just based on the 22" substitution radius, one wouldn't expect that it could be more than a #4 at most -- and it could even be the same frog as on the 18" Snap Switch.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
cuyama Just based on the 22" substitution radius, one wouldn't expect that it could be more than a #4 at most -- and it could even be the same frog as on the 18" Snap Switch. Byron
Thanks for the info. I was thinking the standard #4 Atlas snap switch diverging route was the equivalent of about a 20 inch radius with a frog of about 4.5. I must have read something wrong somewhere.
Doughless Thanks for the info. I was thinking the standard #4 Atlas snap switch diverging route was the equivalent of about a 20 inch radius with a frog of about 4.5. I must have read something wrong somewhere.
John Armstrong's calculations in Track Planning for Realistic Operation equate the Atlas #4.5 frog to a 22" radius, but the contruction of a SnapSwitch and a regular straight turnout are different enough that it's probably not apples-to-apples in terms of the effect on rolling stock.
cuyama John Armstrong's calculations in Track Planning for Realistic Operation equate the Atlas #4.5 frog to a 22" radius, but the contruction of a SnapSwitch and a regular straight turnout are different enough that it's probably not apples-to-apples in terms of the effect on rolling stock. Byron
Thanks again Byron. I thought the standard #4 was sharper than it is.
My original question was probably poorly worded, in that I understand the constant radius curve throughout the diverging route makes the actual frog# less relevant. I was trying to determine if the new switch was closer to a standard #4 or #6. Should've probably asked what the approximate cumulative radius of the standard #4 and #6 diverging routes are, then compare those to the new constant 22 inch turnout to get a rough equivalent. Thanks for the link to the publication with that information.
Atlas some time ago advertised that they were going to manufacture a #6 TruTrack turnout, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of it. But if it were a true #6 it would not had a curved diverging route either.
Ray
Oops. After reading some of the later replies, I think it was a 22" radius and not a #6. But I still haven't seen one in my regular hobby shop.