Atlas Code 55 turnout and flex track questions

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi,

I am getting back into the hobby of model railroading, and went n-scale since I had a lot of older Kadee cars from 20 years ago. I am using Atlas Code 55 track for the layout and have a couple of questions.

  1. Are the turnouts a live frog or power routing? (I am trying to figure out my wiring needs and insutalion joints, as I am getting a little confused. I have over 30 turnouts and want to have 15+ blocks for a dual cab setup.

  2. I just ordered 30 ground throws from Caboose Industries, I spoke with the owner and they stated they now have a new type for the Atlas turnouts since it takes a different throw. Will these work right out of the packaging or will I need to run some piano wire as I read at the NMRA site?

  3. On the Atlas flex track, I see they don’t have holes for the spikes, though we are doing a foam core base and subroad bed and will be using Woodlan Scenics foam roadbed and plan on gluing the roadbed to the subbed and then glue the track down. What would be a best method of securing the flex track while the glue is setting?

  4. Why is it so exspensive to build a layout? :slight_smile: (no answer required, I know the answer)

Also wanted to say thanks and looking forward to returning to one of the hobbies I have always loved.

TIA

Dave

2

  1. Most Atlas turnouts…(if that is what you are using) are the “all power type”…I like the ones with metal frogs so that if the need arises, i can power the frog with a simple relay setup…you can usually tell a select control turnout by looking at the rails…if there are no plastic gaps insulating them from one another …chances are they are select control turnouts…I don’t use insulated rail joiners…they eventually make the track uneven where they join the track sections together…i usually take a dremel tool with a cut off wheel and cut a gap in the rail where i want it to be insulated and glue in styrene plastic strips in the gap with CA glue…once the glue dries, i whittle the plastic down with a hobby knife until it forms the shape of the rail…it’s a good insulator and you can’t see them after the track has been weathered…

  2. can’t answer Question #2 as all my turnouts use under the table slow motion tortoise machines.

  3. a lot of modelers use heavy food cans (like full fruit cocktail or dog food cans) set sideways on the track to hold the track in place while the glue dries.

4…somebody’s getting rich from this hobby but it surely isn’t me!..Chuck