I’m using a lot of Atlas Code 100 switches and track. It seems trying to find Atlas custom line #6 switches is becoming difficult. Is there another MFG of switches that would also mesh with Atlas code 100 track? Looking at Walthers online catalog the only one in stock is a cutom line wye switch.
Code 100 refers to the height of the rail or how tall it is without the ties. Most all code 100 track items can be used together no matter who made them. The major difference that you will find is that the plastic ties are not the same thickness. Becaouse of that, you may need to shim up one track item or the other when connecting them together.
Peco has a line of code 100 track.
Peco also has code 100 turnouts if Elmer wasn’t clear.
It should be noted that Altlas and Peco turnouts are NOT exactly the same geometry. They are tricky to mix in a yard, but can be used for passing sidings and industry track turnouts with no problems.
Dave
Hello All,
I was just at my LHS (Caboose Hobbies, in Denver) and in the section where the Atlas products should be they had posted an open letter from Atlas to their dealers.
To summarize the letter, Atlas wrote that their overseas (read Chinese) manufacturers had imposed unrealistic price hikes.
They went on to say that there will be a disruption in product availability as they move the manufacturing to other suppliers. They did not estimate a time frame.
They also wanted to quell any rumors that Atlas is going out of business.
I thought this was a great move on Caboose Hobbies to post this letter. I’ve gone to the Atlas website and there is no mention of this situation to us the consumer.
You might want to check your LHS’ in your area for any stock they might have on hand.
I have been successful integrating PECO into my primarily Atlas trackage. As has been mentioned by other contributors, the code refers to rail type not a proprietary product of a specific manufacturer.
Hope this helps.
The key to avoiding any difficulties in matching up different brands of track is to make just one interface if it can be helped - like the entrance to a yard, and make the entire yard using one brand or the other.
–Randy
Perhaps Atlas should consider using a north american plant to produce track and turnouts???
Dave
It’s a good idea to try to use same brand together as much as possible. That said, I have had no difficulty whatsoever in mixing in Peco, Shinohara code 100 turnouts in with my Atlas code 100 in the staging yard. I plan on doing the same in my visible yard above which I mostly have Atlas code 83 flex and turnouts, but also Walthers code 83 turnouts as well as Walthers code 70 flex and Shinhohara code 70 turnouts.
Not likely unless you want to pay even higher prices than Atlas was trying to avoid. Yes yes, we know Kadee produces their own HO models in the US but any manufacturer can tell you (just ask Jason Schron of Rapido) that bringing any new operations in will raise the price of the product produced in north America roughly 3 times of what it is from China. I listened to a report on what an Iphone 6 would cost if it were made in the US vs. China - it went from retail $600 to $2,100. It’s a pipe dream that many can’t get out of their heads that we can bring mode RTR train production over here and have those models be affordable.
Yes, costs are going up sharply in China but they are only catching up to us, where it would be considerably higher still. Anyway, hopefully Atlas’s move will be a positive one and maybe one other manufacturers can emulate to control costs.
As others have already noted, different brands will work but may have different tie heights and/or different overall dimensions so they’re not a direct drop-in replacement.
But having said that, if you want the Atlas products, widen your search. There are vendors out there who have them.
At a recent train show, I saw one vendor who had lots of #4’s @$11.75 each and #6’s @ $12.75 each. So they are available if you look.
Also, besides the dealers, that “Open Letter” went out to everyone who signed up for Atlas email. It says fulfillment is averaging 70%, not a 70% cost increase. Here’s a link:
http://www.atlasrr.com/News/atlas-open-letter-1214.htm
EDIT: Corrected spelling
While I saved all of my Atlas, Shinohara, Walthers and Peco turnouts from an old layout, - glad I didn’t glue them down!!! - it looks like I’ll need to buy a few more to complete my yard so I’ll be on the hunt for some code 83 #6’s at the next show.
I wonder where Atlas moved it’s new manufacturing to? Still in China or another country?
Have you considered going with Code 83 for the parts of your layout where you don’t yet have the track layed? I built the first part of my layout with Code 100, but then decided to transition to Code 83 for the rest. I’m very happy that I did. I suspect that items like specialty turnouts are more readily available in Code 83. I also like the way it looks more than the Code 100.
I haven’t laid down any track as of yet, I have a small investment in Atlas code 100 flext track and switches. I still also have some Atlas code 100 sectional track that I was going to use to fill in places. Really don’t want to waste what I do currently own.
I have an area of about 9x11 in my basement where I’m going to do an around the wall layout, but also have two lift out areas for getting things in and out of the basement.
Peco track looks like about the closet thing to Atlas.
Riogrand…
Mexico perhaps???
There are several Atlas Custom Line #6 turnouts listed on ebay. Only one Lefty that I saw but 6 to 10 Righties.
Hiawathy Hobby also shows #6R’s in stock.
Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but I think it’s relevent.
I was at the Mad City Train Show yesterday, and at least one vender had a bunch of Atlas Code 100 #6’s and #4’s, both LH and RH. I’m guessing he had at least a case of each on display.
I needed a RH #4 and picked one up at his listed price of $11.00 USD including tax, vs. the $19.95 list price on the Atlas Web site.
He also had a bunch of “other” Atlas track components available.
So you may have to look around, but they ARE available.
This is interesting that someone would have so much inventory. I am looking for Atlas HO signals. The double target Item #238. I am curious if this vendor has some of those. I could use 2.
Keep checking with suppliers, including popular online shops. Atlas has been much better about re-stocking track in the past year. Out of stock issues are much shorter lived than before.
I was hoping that you would pass along the name of the vendor who seems to have a lot of “unsold stock”. I have tried many places to find these.
You will see that the UI (screens) for many vendors web sites look alike and also bring back the same results. They are probably tied to Horizon or Walthers inventories. These folks do not stock what they sell. BBBBB is a classic case. They always order in what they have sold previously and you never know if you are going to get what you ordered. On the other hand MMMMM does have inventory and great prices and you know what you are going to get. I got a 4 pack of the single targets from them at a good price.
There was too much ice this weekend to make it up to Allentown for the Spring Thaw Train Show which is the biggest and best in the area. I was hoping to see if someone brought their inventory. But as I am sure that you know, the availability of products from China is poor and Atlas is in no rush to produce more signals. They are common cathode and everyone else is common anode. This has a huge impact on the board that I am going to buy for my CMRI system (Bruce Chubb).
I didn’t get the vendor’s name. There weren’t any banners or signs that I recall with a name, business address, or Web address.
Not sure if he had any signals, either, but that wasn’t really something I was looking for so I might have missed them if he did.