Will N scale RP25 countor wheels roll over Micro Engineering Code 40 track? I would like to use code 40 for more realism over the code 55, but if I will be running into alot of problems with wheel sets hitting the molded spike I won't run it. Would sanding down the flanges ever so slightly be the comprimise? I am willing to take the time to do this, but I also have don't plan on having that big of a rolling stock, maybe 40 cars or so.
And as a side note, will Atlas be making the code 65 track in their new N scale True-Track into flex track? Again I want total realism, and buying a bunch of True-Track and using just the track seems ineffiecent and uneconomical.
Atlas & Intermountain metal wheel sets will run on Atlas code 55 track - No problems. If Atlas is going to do code 65 - who knows. As far as M-E code 40 flex - you will need to try it. Also, are there any code 40 turnouts available, or are you going to scratch-build them?
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I was a bit worried about that too. BK Enterprises makes a few kits, one everything needs to be put together, the other you just have to spike the track down to the ties. I wasn't too worried about code 40 turn outs, I knew I wouldn't need any. I was more worried about that cross over in code 70 rail. I knew if I went the if I went with the 55/40 route I would have no problems, BK, Atlas, Peco, Shinohara all make them. The code 70 is a bugger too. Once again I looked at BK and Shinohara. Shin as I call it makes them ready to run, and also makes #6 turn outs, while BK is the same, all kits that need to be hand laid. Not something I'm really into doing my first time around. I have plenty of newer Atlas rolling stock, and even my loco, that has RP25 wheels, I just need to find someone in the area who has N scale code 40 track try them out on. The LTS doesn't sell Micro-Engineering anything I don't think, and I don't want to go through Walthers or another source and buy the pack (I think it comes in 6 yard long tracks) and find out it won't work. I'm also starting to think code 40 might look a little dainty in N scale, too small, even though it works out to right around 115 lb rail on the prototypes. I will most likely end up going with code 70 main lines and just use code 55 for sidings and spurs. The ready-to-run following is pretty good, and then I could also stick with all ME, which supposedly has some very realistic looking ties and tie spacing. Now I just need to figure out what type of rail, the nickel silver or the other kind they use.
I don't know if I answered your turn out question so I will here. BK Enterprises does make code 40 turn outs, I even think they have a wye kit, but it's all hand laid stuff. The most I can get from them is the "assembled" kit which basically just has all the rail packaged in the correct spot to lay them in on the layout and has all rail bends already done.
MILW-RODR ....I knew if I went the if I went with the 55/40 route I would have no problems, BK, Atlas, Peco, Shinohara all make them. The code 70 is a bugger too. Once again I looked at BK and Shinohara. Shin as I call it makes them ready to run, and also makes #6 turn outs, while BK is the same, all kits that need to be hand laid. Not something I'm really into doing my first time around. I have plenty of newer Atlas rolling stock, and even my loco, that has RP25 wheels, I just need to find someone in the area who has N scale code 40 track try them out on. The LTS doesn't sell Micro-Engineering anything I don't think, and I don't want to go through Walthers or another source and buy the pack (I think it comes in 6 yard long tracks) and find out it won't work. I'm also starting to think code 40 might look a little dainty in N scale, too small, even though it works out to right around 115 lb rail on the prototypes. I will most likely end up going with code 70 main lines and just use code 55 for sidings and spurs. The ready-to-run following is pretty good, and then I could also stick with all ME, which supposedly has some very realistic looking ties and tie spacing. Now I just need to figure out what type of rail, the nickel silver or the other kind they use.
....I knew if I went the if I went with the 55/40 route I would have no problems, BK, Atlas, Peco, Shinohara all make them. The code 70 is a bugger too. Once again I looked at BK and Shinohara. Shin as I call it makes them ready to run, and also makes #6 turn outs, while BK is the same, all kits that need to be hand laid. Not something I'm really into doing my first time around. I have plenty of newer Atlas rolling stock, and even my loco, that has RP25 wheels, I just need to find someone in the area who has N scale code 40 track try them out on. The LTS doesn't sell Micro-Engineering anything I don't think, and I don't want to go through Walthers or another source and buy the pack (I think it comes in 6 yard long tracks) and find out it won't work. I'm also starting to think code 40 might look a little dainty in N scale, too small, even though it works out to right around 115 lb rail on the prototypes. I will most likely end up going with code 70 main lines and just use code 55 for sidings and spurs. The ready-to-run following is pretty good, and then I could also stick with all ME, which supposedly has some very realistic looking ties and tie spacing. Now I just need to figure out what type of rail, the nickel silver or the other kind they use.
Anything with RP25 wheels will run on ME code 40 flex track without problems - in HO as well as N. And HO flanges are slightly bigger in the RP25 specs. ME (or its forerunner) used to actually make code 40 track in HO. ME still makes it in HOn3. The very small spike heads of ME flex track give enough clearance for the RP25 flanges.
ME flex track, especially in code 40, takes a little more care to work into a curve without kinking than its Atlas counterparts with larger rail. But to me, the results are well worth it.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
My thoughts are my layout is going to look pretty dang prototypical! My other post has my original track plan and revised track plan. Now I just need to figure what track goes where. I imagine going from code 70 to code 40 on some of the spurs would be kind of difficult.
code 70: main lines and interchange track
code 55: passing sidings, elevator siding, plastics siding, half of siding track to home supply center
code 40: transisiton on half of lower left siding track, home supply spur, freight house spur
Or I might just skip code 70 all together and use code 55 on all mainline and use code 40 on passing sidings, industry sidings, and industry spurs, which would be a lot of code 40. But you did kind of make my day by telling me that.