Hi All,
I am reading that usually different track manufacturer cannot be combined, is this the case for Atlas and Peco? I like Peco for their turnouts, but Atlas seems to have sme more variety, so I would like to use both for my new track layout. Is this possible?
I put Atlas track together with a few Peco turnouts and they worked well. This was quite a few years ago, and that section of my layout of my layout was Code 100. More recently, I was working in Code 83, and I had trouble finding rail joiners at all, part of the Great Track Shortage. I tried some Peco joiners and found them too narrow and tight for Atlas track, so be wary of that particular mismatch.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have Atlas, Peco and Model power track, with Peco and Atlas turnouts. Used all Atlas rail joiners. No problems. Mostly done 16 years ago, in code4 100.
Steffen1601I am reading that usually different track manufacturer cannot be combined, is this the case for Atlas and Peco? I like Peco for their turnouts, but Atlas seems to have sme more variety, so I would like to use both for my new track layout. Is this possible?
Hi Steffen1601,
The Atlas and Peco track and turnouts work well together as far as joining them up, but there are some differences. Tie colours and sizes will differ, and the turnouts will have different curves from one manufacturer to the other. Flex track characteristics will differ. Some are stiffer than others. Some will hold a curve once bent whereas others will spring back.
As MisterBeasley mentioned, Peco rail joiners are difficult to use on Atlas track. They have to be spread open which is a PITA.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hello All,
Steffen1601I am reading that usually different track manufacturer cannot be combined, is this the case for Atlas and Peco?
The "code" of the rail is the height of the rail. In HO code 100 is 0.100" while code 85 is 0.085" tall.
Prototypical rails are "sized" by pound per foot.
To your question...
Yes, Atlas and PECO are compatible...to a certain extent.
For my pike I use Atlas- -sectional track, flex track, Snap Switches, and Custom Line turnouts along with PECO #2 and curved turnouts.
They are all code 100 rail.
If you are using track with the plastic built-in roadbed, transitioning from one manufacturer to the other might present challenges.
You can even mate different codes using transition rail joiners.
I am satisfied with code 100 rail and have had no problems with combining different manufacturers' track.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
As others have mentioned, as long as the rail code sizes are the same, pretty-well all HO scale track (except that with attached roadbed) will work with multiple brands.
I've used Atlas flex track and turnouts with Peco turnouts, Micro Engineering turnouts, Shinohara turnouts, Micro engineering rail on Central Valley tie strips, and it's not really difficult to use various different codes of rail together, either. I don't bother with transition rail joiners, as most can be "made-to-fit" or the profile of the rail's base altered.
The ties on some track and turnouts may be thicker or thinner than others, but once the rails are joined and the track ballasted, the difference will be unnoticeable.
Wayne
Sure you can mix brands, even rail sizes. It's just not as simple as sliding a piece of Atlas track onto the joiners connecting a piece of Peco track, that's all. Some shimming and/or filing is necessary - they key being the INSIDE edge of both rails as well as the tops of both rails should be smooth and even across the gaps. If one side is wider on the outside of the rail than the other, this won't hurt - the flange is on the inside of the wheel. So as long as you have the inside and top of both brands lined up smoothly at the connection, it will work fine and be just as reliable as anything else. This is a good place to solder the rail joints for stability, as well.
--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...It's just not as simple as sliding a piece of Atlas track onto the joiners connecting a piece of Peco track, that's all. Some shimming and/or filing is necessary
I don't bother doing any shimming at all, regardless of what track is being joined to what other brand of track.All that's needed is to use a cut-off disc in a motor tool (yeah, a file will work, too) to alter the too-wide and/or too-tall base of the bigger track, and that includes bigger-code rail, too, such as code 100 with code 83 or 70.My layout is mostly code 83, but there'll also be some code 70 track in a couple of towns. I'm using code 55 rail joiners on the most recently-laid track, which includes Micro Engineering code 83 rail on Central Valley tie-strips (lower profile ties than most flex track), and the same joiners to connnect Peco, Shinohara, M.E., and Atlas turnouts, too. All rail connections are soldered, except those using insulated gaps, none of the latter being between disparate rail types or sizes.
The less fiddling I need to do with track gives me more time to fiddle with other layout stuff...although I'm still not making much progress anywhere.