Tillige track and turnouts.....German quality
I would suggest you have a serious look at Tillige product,..
https://www.tillig.com/eng/Elite_Gleissysteme.html
https://www.tillig.com/eng/Standardgleissysteme.html
Also built in live frog if desired, and the track is pre-weathered, rust color.
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
Nice track work Rob!
Our club used Atlas Code 83 track and Customline turnouts with a few Peco curved turnouts thrown in. I think it looks pretty good, although we could have used Code 70 track on some of the spurs. Recently we ran out of Code 83 track so I put a piece of Code 100 in one spot to see how it looked. It looked ridiculous next to the Code 83.
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,
wp8thsubWalthers and ME turnouts are DCC-friendly, so they work the same as Atlas from a wiring standpoint.
As always there are exceptions to the rule...
Snap Switches by Atlas do not have powered frogs. The Custom-Line turnouts do,
"Custom-Line Turnouts have metal frogs that can be powered if necessary. NOTE: A Snap-Switch and a #4 Custom-line Turnout are not interchangeable in Atlas layout plans."
This can be critical when choosing turnouts with powered versus non-powered frogs.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
JPDI am considering switching to another track manufacturer with more realistic track.
Whether a track product is sufficiently realistic is in the eye of the beholder.
747 JC 1 by wp8thsub, on Flickr
747 JC 1
The track above is Atlas 83...
DSC02139 by wp8thsub, on Flickr
DSC02139
...while this is a combination of Micro Engineering and Shinohara/Walthers.
I thought the spike and frog shapes on the Atlas track would bother me a lot more than they do after weathering and ballast.
Are Walthers, Peco, and Micro Engineering turnouts all equally easy or difficult to wire for DCC?
Walthers and ME turnouts are DCC-friendly, so they work the same as Atlas from a wiring standpoint. Micro Engineering doesn't include jumpers from the closure rails to the rails beyond the frog, so you have to add your own feeders or ensure there's a good joint with the next rail (i.e. a soldered joiner).
Note that tie thickness and rail cross section vary by brand. If you aren't experienced in tracklaying, minimizing the places where different brands have to interface is a good idea.
Rob Spangler
Several aspects come to mind:
1. From an appearance standpoint, I painted my Atlas code 83 and will (at some point) ballast, etc. So my take is whether I or those looking at it scrutinize the details or just see the overall effect. The painting has a significant effect. I imagine for photos to send to MR the accuracy of detail could matter, for visiting modellers the differences might(?) matter, but for most purposes, including your own view, painted & ballasted Atlas code 83 is pretty darn satisfying. (I used code 83 Atlas flex and like it just fine.)
2. When it comes to turnouts there are many factors. I chose (in 2012) Walthers-Shinohara code 83, partly due to the variety of items, I liked the DCC aspects (I conservatively wired the metal frogs) and it looks just fine connected to Atlas code 83 flex when both painted the same color. But there are many turnout aspects (beyond appearance) to consider. I think perhaps the W-S offerings may be gone, so today I would weigh the Atlas, Peco & ME, considering all factors.
I'd probably focus on the turnout decision first, then the remaining (flex, etc.) track aspects.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
On my 4'x8' pike I use Atlas sectional track with Atlas and PECO turnouts- -all code 100.
For flex track I DIY.
I am not concerned with the appearance of the track I just want trains to run reliably.
One item PECO has over the other manufacturers is track with concrete ties (sleepers in the U.K.).
JPD I am considering switching to another track manufacturer with more realistic track. I was looking at Walthers code 83 track, but I notice that a lot of it is not in stock at Walthers. Is there a problem with the supply flow of Walthers track? I have also looked at Peco and Micro Engineering track. Are Walthers, Peco, and Micro Engineering turnouts all equally easy or difficult to wire for DCC? I am wondering if I should stick with Atlas track since I already have experience with it. I welcome any suggestions or advice.
I am considering switching to another track manufacturer with more realistic track. I was looking at Walthers code 83 track, but I notice that a lot of it is not in stock at Walthers. Is there a problem with the supply flow of Walthers track? I have also looked at Peco and Micro Engineering track. Are Walthers, Peco, and Micro Engineering turnouts all equally easy or difficult to wire for DCC? I am wondering if I should stick with Atlas track since I already have experience with it.
I welcome any suggestions or advice.
When I returned to the hobby, this time in HO I went to the train shop where they had about six different brands all next to each other on a piece of plywood and you could compare them all. Some do look better than others and it comes down to how much of a details man you are. Beauty is also in the eye of the beholder.
I kind of like the track that stays where you have laid it down over the springy stuff, but I am fine with either. How it looks is more important to me.
I notice there is still Rapido bendy track around in some stores. I have not seen it in person but people really like how it looks, plus it comes with joiners.
If you are happy with Atlas, stick with that, at least you know there will be no filing or other work involved to get it to go together and once painted and ballasted you need to pull out the magnifying glass to notice a difference anyway.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Correction noted and appreciated.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddyPeco does not have prototypical shape of their turnouts
That statement is not correct for PECO's Code 83, which looks and works great. Not quite as compact as the PECO C75 and C100.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
You already have the Atlas, which is a quality product. You can weather the rails and ties (snipping ends off here and there) and it will look great.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Walthers used to get their track from Shinohara and the owner of Shinohara abbruptly retired and went out of business. Walthers has found a new manufacturer but does not yet have the variety they used to have with Shinohara.
ME flex track is more sticky to curve and while it can be done, a lot of people don't like it. I have no experience with their turnouts.
Peco code 100 does not have prototypical shape of their turnouts, although the turnouts are shorter in length than Atlas, which can be an advantage. Peco used to have insulfrog, and electrofrog turnouts. They are moving toward Unifrog turnouts.
While you don't need insulated rail joiners for Atlas, you will for Peco. I don't want to put wrong information in this post, so I don't know if it's for all versions of their turnouts or not.
To build my 2’x 14’ switching layout I decided to use Atlas code 83 track. It is easy to find and work with and I am pleased enough with the result. Soon I will be extending my layout to go around the room. I will be plugging my switching layout into the round the room layout as a peninsula.