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Mixing Kato Unitrack with standard Atlas track?

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  • Member since
    October 2018
  • 172 posts
Mixing Kato Unitrack with standard Atlas track?
Posted by CTConrail on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 3:20 PM

I was wondering who here if anyone uses Unitrack pieces with standard N scale track? Looking into buying dual crossovers and the Kato Unitracks are more than half the price of a standard crossover (around $100 each give or take). Can the track be removed from the plastic Kato roadbed or adapted to but up against cork roadbed without any issues? I'm not worried about looking different, thats an easy enough fix. Thanks guys!

PED
  • Member since
    April 2016
  • 571 posts
Posted by PED on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 11:27 PM

Kato makes an adapter piece that connect the unitrack to atlas track but you don't really need it. Just remove the Kato rail joiner and then use a standard Atlas rail joiner to link the tracks. May need to shim the tracks to make them line up good. Cannot remove the track from the Kato roadbed. The Kato roadbed is a single casting with the ties and ballast together. If you try to remove the rails, all you would have is a strip of steel with no ties.

Paul D

N scale Washita and Santa Fe Railroad
Southern Oklahoma circa late 70's

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 6:28 AM

As stated, you cannot remove the track from the roadbed of Kato Unitrack.

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I do this in HO scale, I made an experiment piece to see how hard it would be to solder a piece of Atlas code 83 track to Kato Unitrack, and it turned out to be very straightforward.

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Just do not put roadbed where the crossover will be.

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-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
  • 4,422 posts
Posted by DSchmitt on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 7:04 AM

Remove theclip/rail joiner from rthe Unitrack.  It is a snap fit.   Connect the tracks with a standard rail joiner.  Of course the standard track will have to be placed on roadbed so the rail heights match. 

See clips in this photo 

  mrr030910saltlakeroutepart4 by Donald Schmitt, on Flickr" alt="" />

 

 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    October 2018
  • 172 posts
Posted by CTConrail on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 9:12 AM

Awesome thanks guys! Seems pretty easy. I had heard there was a slight height difference in the rails and I may have to shim but that's no biggie. Seems like a no brainer to me if I am going to save $50+ per crossover and I have a few on my track plan.

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