I was hoping to put Atlas Custom Line turnouts on my new layout but apparently Atlas is having some kind of manufacturing problem because nobody has them in stock in my size. I dont really want to go up in price to a Peco or Walthers turnout so I was wondering if I could go to the Atlas Snap Switch and remove the switch mechanism similar to what MR did on the Virginian (March 2012). Are there electrical modifications needed? They show what to do to a Peco turnout but nothing is shown on the Atlas other than shortening it an removing the switching mechanism. What considerations, if any, should I give to thi and what are the differences between custom Line and the Snap Switch? I'll be running DCC. Thanks.
You can use Custom Line or Snap switches with no modifications at all. They are both DCC-friendly. The mechanisms on the Snap switches just "snap" on and off with a locking tab mechanism if you want to remove them and use Tortoises or ground throws instead.
However, the geometry of the switches is different. A Custom Line turnout is more prototypical. It looks like one section of straight track on top of another. A Snap Switch, on the other hand, looks like a piece of curved track laid on top of a piece of straight track. Atlas makes them with either 18-inch or 22-inch curves.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Dave,
Atlas moved their track production last year from one plant in China to another. There were lots of delays, and trackage has been in short supply. About 2-3 weeks ago, Atlas had a picture on their Facebook page showing an employee holding some code 83 flex, with boxes of stock behind him. I guess the tap is open again.
Now, on to your main question. Snap-Switches and Customline turnouts are both HO scale. The difference is that the Customline turnouts are built like prototype turnouts(they have a straight angle through the frog area). The Snap-Switch turnouts have a continuous radius curve through the frog area - This can be either 18" radius or 22" radius depending on the item #. They are not very good for use in yards as the track spacing of parallel track will get pretty wide. As you mentioned, they also include either a manual or remote switch machine in the package. Both are 'DCC Friendly'.
Myself, I would wait for the new stock to arrive - You can always work on those rolling stock kits you have squirreled away.....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
88gta350if I could go to the Atlas Snap Switch and remove the switch mechanism similar to what MR did on the Virginian (March 2012). Are there electrical modifications needed?
d what are the differences between custom Line and the Snap Switch?
My advise is don't do it. Wait until you can get proper custom line turnouts. Have you tried ebay and other on-line sources.
Why don't you want to use Peco? A far better turnout in my opinion.
LIONS have no problem with laying tracks now and then tearing them out again. The problem with having Snap Switches is they never go away. Four of them found their way onto my new layout because I did not have any others, and of course LIONS ARE CHEAP and use what is in the box.
RAOR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I also would recommend you wait. Even though I prefer the Walther's/ Shinohara many of the temp portions of the clubs layout (staging etc) use the Custom line. They work quite well, I can back 50 hoppers or a 10 passenger cars through series of #6 or 8s and rarely will have an issue even w/ the dancing through the frog. If you use those snap switches instead, you will regret it.
You could also opt to use the better turnout for mainline and use the customline for yards.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
88gta350I've looked everywhere
Trainworld shows some right hand ones in stock.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atlas-262-Mark-2-Turnout-4-Right-HO-MIB-/290369636913?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item439b610a31http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATLAS-CUSTOM-LINE-MARK-2-NICKEL-SILVER-4-RIGHT-TURNOUT-TRACK-262-/281081402178?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4171c1d342http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atlas-Custom-Line-Mark-2-Nickel-Silver-Turnout-4-Left-261-HO-/261188165125?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3cd0071e05http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Atlas-Custom-Line-Mark-IV-Left-Turnout-281-/350736413332?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item51a984f294
Texas Zepher 88gta350I've looked everywhere ??? Trainworld shows some right hand ones in stock.
I had completely forgotten that I saw some left hand ones at Trainworld. That's one of the first places I looked but moved on to try to find a place that had both left and right hand so I could avoid paying two shipping charges. Never did find a place that had both and forgot Trainworld had the lefts. I'll probably get some so I can at least get started laying some track.
I'm trying to avoid buying them piecemeal through ebay because by the time I pay shipping charges for one or two turnouts at a time I might as well have just bought Peco or Walthers turnouts all in one place.
I ordered too many Mark 4 right hand turnouts and could use about four Mark 4 left hand turnouts. If anyone has Mark 4 lefts in original bubble pack I would exchange four of my righthand Mark 4 turnouts in original packaging and split the shipping charge. Just send me a private message.
So I went to Trainworld to order the Left hand turnouts that were apparently in stock but got an email an hour later saying they are out of stock. No luck.
88gta350I'm trying to avoid buying them piecemeal through ebay because by the time I pay shipping charges for one or two turnouts at a time I might as well have just bought Peco or Walthers turnouts all in one place.
88gta350So I went to Trainworld to order the Left hand turnouts that were apparently in stock but got an email an hour later saying they are out of stock. No luck.
azrailAn Atlas Snap-Switch has a diverging radius of 18"-it is supposed to substitute for an 18" piece of sectional track. The Custom-Line switches are #4 (around 20") and #6 (around 26" diverging radius)
The "snap" switch also comes with a 22" radius diversion route..This one appears to have a fixed curve leg instead of the sectional curve piece.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
A number 6 turnout would have a diverging route radius (radius of closure) of about 43" and a substitution radius from 56 to 69 inches (depends on brand or hand laid)
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
There is a difference between the snap switch #4 and a custom line #4 that hasn't been mentioned yet. The snap switch has two holes in a bracket for mounting screws in to attach the Atlas above the layout switch machine. The custom line doesn't have the extra tabs with the mounting holes. The Atlas switch machine snaps into the side of the custom line. So if one where to use a under layout switch machine you would either have to live with the holes of cut off and modify the mounting bracket. One last thing, older snap switches (still nickle silver track) have rivets attaching the movable switch points to the rest of the turnout. Newer snap switches look like the custom line and have gotten rid of the rivets.
Derek
88gta350I've looked everywhere and the only thing I've seen in the CustomLine is a #8, which is too big for my application. I don't want to go to Peco because of the cost. They are easily $10 more per turnout. Since I need about 10 turnouts that adds up. Perhaps I'll wait for the new stock, I'm just getting anxious to get some track laid and run some trains.
gerhard_k 88gta350I've looked everywhere and the only thing I've seen in the CustomLine is a #8, which is too big for my application. I don't want to go to Peco because of the cost. They are easily $10 more per turnout. Since I need about 10 turnouts that adds up. Perhaps I'll wait for the new stock, I'm just getting anxious to get some track laid and run some trains. Hello, Dave - Have you considered Micro Engineering turnouts? For some reason, they seem to be below the radar for many MR's, but I help on several large layouts that have dozens of them, and they look and operate great. They have very fine detail and a built-in over-center spring (like Peco) so you don't even need any switch mechanism, you can just poke them from side to side. The only downside is, they only make #6's, which use up a bit more space than Atlas #4, but if you have modern long freight cars, you really will like how the cars roll through. And M B Klein (modeltrainstuff.com) has Code 83's for $16.79 each, 30 each in stock RH and LH. For that matter, you should also consider ME flextrack, it's $26.39 for 6 3' lengths, that's $4.40 a piece - and it's all made in the USA (see other threads here). What are you paying for Atlas? For my upcoming layout, I plan on using ME wherever I can. Good luck - Gerhard
I hadn't really considered them. Probably because they were #6 only and because I didn't really know anything about them. I'll definitely consider them, though. If Atlas doesn't get some Custom Line in the stores this month maybe I'll go with ME, at least for some of my main line turnouts.