I guess if I'd been paying attention for the past year instead of working in my garden all day every day, I would know that supply chains are hosed and manufacturers are having trouble getting products out. This seems to be true everywhere I look in model railroading products lately.
I need (at least) two curved code 83 right-hand #6 turnouts, and I can't really lay much track on my mainline without them because of where they are. Everybody has them available only as backordered items. These have an outside curve that is roughly equivalent to my 24" radius curves.
Anybody know where there's a stash of them online? Or... I know we can't do business transactions on the forum, so does anybody have any curved code 83 right-hand #6 turnouts that they don't need anymore and just want to give them away? I'm kidding, but only slightly. Otherwise it looks like it's going to be a long wait.
Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
Try train world. I just order 22-inch curved tracks that nobody had.
crossthedogI need (at least) two curved code 83 right-hand #6 turnouts, and I can't really lay much track on my mainline without them because of where they are.
What manufacturer are you looking for?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
This comment may or may not help. Some time ago, Atlas had their track shortage because of some China factory problem. Some might remember this because it was posted here with numerous comments. I was in need of Atlas #4 Customline code 83 turnouts. I Googled all over and all were on backorder. One Saturday night I decided to continue my search using MRR's hobby shop listings in the back of the magazine. I randomly went to their websites and searched. I finally found some mom and pop hobby shop that had them in stock. They had something like 6 lefts and 5 rights or something like that. I ordered them all in hopes this was legit. My credit card got charged and I got them about 2 weeks later. Just lucky I guess, but I do these searches sometimes and come up with some hard to find stuff, just like when I found the discontinued "Purina" sign by Bar Mills.
SeeYou190What manufacturer are you looking for?
@energizer -- I did look there. Trainworld I like. I recently bought the NCE DCC Power Cab Starter Kit from them at a good price when every other online place came up empty and even the LHS here was throwing up its hands and telling me that the little mom n' pop company was reporting being "four thousand units behind".
Willy. Your story warms my heart. I love the little hobby shops. Everything about them, even the smell of them. Cranky, knowledgable staff. And it's a good idea. I have two within reach here in Seattle, but I like your idea of searching the ads and roaming further afield. In fact I found a good price (but still backordered) on the Walthers curved #6 code 83, but it was at Blue Ridge Hobbies and their reviews were terrible. There were online pie-fights between the owner and various unsatisfied customers. Made me nervous to shop there, but those experiences are rare.
Here's something hilarious, right in my own post:
Thanks guys,
-Matt
If atlas, a bunch on e-bay.
rrebellIf atlas, a bunch on e-bay.
crossthedogrrebell Seriously? Hook me up with a link, sir?
Seriously? Hook me up with a link, sir?
You just have to search Atlas curved turnouts.
Left
Right
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyYou just have to search Atlas curved turnouts.
Henry, the outside radius on the turnouts you linked there, and all others I've found available on eBay and other online sources, is other than 24". Thanks, though. I appreciate you digging those out. There are plenty of those Atlas #595 and #596 available, which have an outside curve radius equivalent to 30". The only turnout that I'm fairly certain has the correct radius is Walthers #6. But these are all on backorder.
UPDATE: I discovered exactly what I need, it's the Walthers 6-1/2. But they're "discontinued", I guess because they were some of those made by Shinohara.
crossthedog I discovered exactly what I need, it's the Walthers 6-1/2. But they're "discontinued", I guess because they were some of those made by Shinohara.
Yes, but they do show up on eBay from time to time.
The good news for you is that these do not typically sell for the crazy high prices the larger curved turnouts sell for.
Matt, Having a custom builder make them for you is an option. Used to be a couple makers on ebay, or a web search for Custom Turnouts.
Good luck & good hunting. Regards, Peter
SeeYou190Yes, but they do show up on eBay from time to time.
Accordingly, I've made a hard decision; I'm going to redesign the layout where those 3 turnouts were needed.
The first turnout is at the top of the mainline loop. That turnout will be backed all the way through the tunnel to the straight on the west side, where the branch crosses over the main. This will become just a straight #6 turnout. Not sure what this will do to my bridges scheme. Good new there is, longer siding.
The other two were in the lower right corner, coming into the yard on a radius that has to remain wide enough to back a passenger train into. So I can't use a smaller radius. So on these two I will use the Atlas #596, which has a 30" outside radius instead of 24" and is -- a key point -- available.
I just penciled a 30" curve on the layout. I don't like it because it shortens my yard, but I can fit at least one #596 on that corner, maybe two. If I can only fit one, then I'll have to get to the middle tracks some other way and it will be ugly. But I don't see that I have any other choice if I want to keep my forward momentum on building the layout.
Thanks all,