I am thinking about replacing my Atlas turnouts with Peco turnouts because Peco has springs to hold the frogs tight without ground throws.
Can this be done as a pull and replace or do I need to adjust the tracks on my sidings
Also which is DCC friedly electrofrog or insulfrog?
Joe Staten Island West
I'm pretty sure there are no Peco turnouts that will exactly match the dimensional geometry of any Atlas turnouts so you will have to adjust the surrounding track. Life is rarely that simple. :)
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
I kind of figured that since all my sidings are stub ends I think that may not be a big deal but I will simulate it on Anyrail if possible.
its really only one that I absoutely want to replace as I want to remove the ground throw as its too close to structures.
I have replaced Atlas Custom Line #6 turnouts with Peco #6 Insulfrogs on my new layout.
The Peco turnouts match the radius of the Atlas turnouts on the divergent end, but the Peco turnout length is approximately 3 inches shorter than the Atlas turnout length.
I went for the Pecos because of the spring loaded feature. No manual ground throws, no under layout switch machines.
Both the Insulfrog and Electrofrog are DCC friendly, but the Electrofrog needs to be gapped at the ends of both inner frog rails. The Insulfrog has a plastic frog that cannot be powered, whereas the Electrofrog has a metal frog than is powered due to the power routing feature.
Rich
Alton Junction
I have thought about replacing the hodgepodge of brass turnouts I have in my yard area, but as far as holding the points in place, I use Caboose ground throws, and they work nice.
Plus I like to hand throw the turnouts, while doing switching moves.
If I were to replace the turnouts, I pretty much have to redisign everything, as many of the turnouts that are there now were altered in some way, to make it all fit my tight area, and friendly for the GP38 I use for switching.
Mike.
My You Tube
richhotrain I have replaced Atlas Custom Line #6 turnouts with Peco #6 Insulfrogs on my new layout. The Peco turnouts match the radius of the Atlas turnouts on the divergent end, but the Peco turnout length is approximately 3 inches shorter than the Atlas turnout length. I went for the Pecos because of the spring loaded feature. No manual ground throws, no under layout switch machines. Both the Insulfrog and Electrofrog are DCC friendly, but the Electrofrog needs to be gapped at the ends of both inner frog rails. The Insulfrog has a plastic frog that cannot be powered, whereas the Electrofrog has a metal frog than is powered due to the power routing feature. Rich
I've decided to go with Peco on my layout currently under construction
The good thing about the Peco's being shorter is you don't have to trim the turnouts to fit them in various configurations in the yards.
I still have a bunch of Atlas code 83 #6 and may use them in some areas of the yard with some Caboose Industries ground throws I have. They do work well but you gotta get a fingernail under them to lift and flip the lever over.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
There are several spring designs you can build for the Atlas turnout without even removing the turnout.
I use sub miniature slide switches as ground throws because I need electrical switching for several reasons.
I prefer the electrical characteristics of the Atlas over PECO.
Sheldon
IMO, Peco track and Atlas track don't match up perfectly. The tie height and/or width of the rail is not exactly the same. Also, the diverging track of the PECOs diverge away from the tangent track sooner, because they are more compact end to frog. This will cause problems replacing one for the other in an existing layout.
To hold the Atlas points to the stock rails, I have simply slid thin pieces of styrene under the throwbar creating tension. Worked fine for years. I've never used ground throws.
- Douglas
Doughless IMO, Peco track and Atlas track don't match up perfectly. The tie height and/or width of the rail is not exactly the same. Also, the diverging track of the PECOs diverge away from the tangent track sooner, because they are more compact end to frog. This will cause problems replacing one for the other in an existing layout. To hold the Atlas points to the stock rails, I have simply slid thin pieces of styrene under the throwbar creating tension. Worked fine for years. I've never used ground throws.
Well that's worth a try How thin?
joe323 Doughless IMO, Peco track and Atlas track don't match up perfectly. The tie height and/or width of the rail is not exactly the same. Also, the diverging track of the PECOs diverge away from the tangent track sooner, because they are more compact end to frog. This will cause problems replacing one for the other in an existing layout. To hold the Atlas points to the stock rails, I have simply slid thin pieces of styrene under the throwbar creating tension. Worked fine for years. I've never used ground throws. Well that's worth a try How thin?
I dont know exactly. I'm not into precision, at least not as described in fractions of milimeters or inches, etc.
I used cardstock too, about the thickness of one side of an old match book, maybe two strips doubled up.
You'd have to experiment to see if you like the method.
Doughless Thanks I will joe323 Doughless IMO, Peco track and Atlas track don't match up perfectly. The tie height and/or width of the rail is not exactly the same. Also, the diverging track of the PECOs diverge away from the tangent track sooner, because they are more compact end to frog. This will cause problems replacing one for the other in an existing layout. To hold the Atlas points to the stock rails, I have simply slid thin pieces of styrene under the throwbar creating tension. Worked fine for years. I've never used ground throws. Well that's worth a try How thin? I dont know exactly. I'm not into precision, at least not as described in fractions of milimeters or inches, etc. I used cardstock too, about the thickness of one side of an old match book, maybe two strips doubled up. You'd have to experiment to see if you like the method.
Thanks I will
If you don't want to motorize them, all you really need is the spring part from Mel's page, to hold the points to one side or the other. Manually move them, they will stay. A similar spring mechanism to apply to Atlas and other free moving turnouts was in an old MR article, I think they called it the RS-1, or Ridiculously Simple switch machine.
Gives you the same solid point positioning as Peco, with no need to install switch motors or ground throws or some other mechanism, just like Peco.
I'm goign all Peco on my new layout, but I wouldn't tear up an existing one just to swap brands of turnout. If one broke and needed to be repalced, I'd consider it, but not a wholesale rip and replace. One piece of piano wire is probably enough for a dozen turnouts at least, and a LOT cheaper than even one Peco.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
riogrande5761...I still have a bunch of Atlas code 83 #6 and may use them in some areas of the yard with some Caboose Industries ground throws I have. They do work well but you gotta get a fingernail under them to lift and flip the lever over.
If you push down on the base of the handle portion on the ground throw, furthest away from the handle, the handle-end will lift enough to allow it to be thrown. No need to bust a fingernail.
Press down, in this example, with pressure to the right....
...lifting the handle....
...enabling it to be grasped....
...to complete the throw.
While I do like the spring action in the Peco turnouts, I have no intention of replacing my Atlas turnouts. Instead, I install this simple spring, bent from piano wire, in the Atlas turnouts, which allows them to be flipped with your fingertip. This also allows installation of Central Valley's switch stands, with positionable targets.
Wayne