Atlas 60 Degree crossing tracks

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello everybody,

I was wondering how likely are the Atlas 60 degree crossing tracks to cause derailments. I would like to create a staging yard in the adjoining room which would require such a crossing track across two other tracks. Also the size of the freight trains will be a maximum of 24 cars being pushed. What are the experiences from other forum members regarding this scenario.

Thanks

Frank

2

Hi Frank,

I have a secondary line crossing a double track main line on 60 degree crossings. I could not get two shinoharas so one of the crossings is an atlas. Both are soldered in with rail ends filed.

The atlas required a bit of styrene shimming glued into one of the flangeways to make it work reliably. It is also noisier but not horrible.

The shinohara worked perfectly from the start.

Bottom line: I would expect to have to fine tune the atlas, but you can make it work.

good Luck.

Karl

3

I find the Atlas’ ‘dead spot’ on their diamonds are quite bigger than the Shinoharas.

David B

4

Since you didn’t indicate whether you’re talking about O, HO, or N scale, I will guess that it’s HO.

I haven’t seen any of the new Atlas code 100 crossings, but their code 83 products are very good and have been drastically changed from the older code 100 products.

If the Atlas crossing you have is more than 3 or 4 years old, I’d check out a new one or use a Peco or Shinohara crossing if they make them in the degree you need.

5

I agree with Karl, plan to do some adjusting with the Atlas. Even the new code 83 stuff is noisy and the flanges need filing and adjusting. Frequently, the entire crossing is “high” so you end up putting a big “bump” in the track.

Tilden

6

I have a code 83 in a yard area and agree with everything that’s been said. It is really noisy and my cars rock real bad going over it. I don’t have any derailing problems but I did have to do some tweaking on it. Wish I would have used a Shinohara!

7

Frank,

Personally, I would go with the Walthers-Shinohara crossings. To concur with Loathar, early on in my layout construction, I found that the Atlas crossing was both rough and noisy, whenever a locomotive passed over them. I switched it out for a Walthers-Shinohara crossing and have been very happy with it. Worth the extra $$$ in my eyes…

Tom

8

Hello everybody,

Thank you for your replies. When I started I bought a lot of code 100 Atlas HO turnouts. They proved to be a bit of an issue on the main line, so changed to Peco and no more issues. Now all the Atlas Turnouts are in the yard sidings or on the branch line. Here they work well enough and thanks to the great forum members I am learning on how to fine tune things.

Thank you

Frank