Hey all. Im kinda new to the hobby and i was goin thru a box of track my brother gave to me and found Atlas, Shinara, and Peco track mixed together in it. I was mainly wondering if they can all be used together on a layout or if it all has to be the same brand. Thanks.
Commercial sectional track, flex track and specialwork (switches, crossings, etc) can all be mixed as long as they are made to the same track gauge. If they are all Code 83, the Atlas flex track ties will be a bit thick (.017", to be exact.) Shims can be made with card stock, sheet styrene or whatever to get the tops of the railheads to line up.
If the rails are of different heights, you might have to get creative with rail joiners. Again, the key is to get the railheads to line up, top and inside edge. It’s always a good idea to take the sharp edge off that top inside corner of the railhead, too. One or two swipes with a file will do it - you don’t want to remove a lot of metal.
If you can run your finger along the inside of a newly-installed rail joint and it doesn’t catch on anything, there’s very little chance that anything that can take your curves will derail there.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I’ve used Atlas and Shinoraha together - sometimes use Atlas sectional curved pieces with Shinoraha flex track. The only noticable difference is the color of the ties - one is brown and the other is black but you can paint them.
Can somebody tell me what this “shinorha” brand is?
Shinohara makes Walthers code 83 track and its sold under the Walthers name. Correct spelling is “Shinohara” and not the way I spelled in the previous post.
Shinohara also makes track under their own name. I’ve never used it, but it seems to me the Peco track has a little bit narrower profile than the other brands?? Seems to me Pelle Sjoborg (sp?) used that on his beautiful layout because it looked more like real rail to him.
Although there may be miniscule differences in Code 83 rail the main difference you are going to encounter between different brands of Code 83 track is going to lie in the ties. If you are going to use different brands of track you are going to need to be prepared to do some shimming at track joints.
On a spelling test I once misspelled weather o-u-e-t-h-u-r-e; my teacher commented that that was the worst spell of weather we had had in those parts in many, many years!
Another difference to be aware of: the different brands often have different base flange width or thickness. Typically MicroEngineering rail joiners are very difficult to install on other brands of track for this reason. jc5729 John Colley, Port Townsend, WA
Gee, bet you were a big fan of uncle Miltie way back.
Bob
MOST track can be mixed together of the same gauge - including different codes - but it adds problems to be overcome, especially where rails connect.
I plainer words, if you use the same brands (it makes good racklaying EASIER) therefor makes GOOD SENSE. Each brand has different tolerances to meet inspection as well as mechanical & electrical design. WHY take on more obstacles if one doesn’t have to?
I have found ther is no such thing as the perfect switch altho some are closer than others. Sticking to one brand keeps things to a single learning ‘learning curve’.
Kevinohio: You can mix Brands , but will have to deal with any discrepancies between brands. (Example: Atlas, Shinohara, & Peco). IE:Where you put plastic Rail Joiners.
It’s much easier if you have all the same brands.
MOST track can be mixed together of the same gauge - including different codes - but it adds problems to be overcome, especially where rails connect.
I plainer words, if you use the same brands (it makes good racklaying EASIER) therefor makes GOOD SENSE. Each brand has different tolerances to meet inspection as well as mechanical & electrical design. WHY take on more obstacles if one doesn’t have to?
I have found ther is no such thing as the perfect switch altho some are closer than others. Sticking to one brand keeps things to a single learning ‘learning curve’.
Kevinohio: You can mix Brands , but will have to deal with any discrepancies between brands. (Example: Atlas, Shinohara, & Peco). IE:Where you put plastic Rail Joiners.
It’s much easier if you have all the same brands.
MOST track can be mixed together of the same gauge - including different codes - but it adds problems to be overcome, especially where rails connect.
I plainer words, if you use the same brands (it makes good racklaying EASIER) therefor makes GOOD SENSE. Each brand has different tolerances to meet inspection as well as mechanical & electrical design. WHY take on more obstacles if one doesn’t have to?
I have found ther is no such thing as the perfect switch altho some are closer than others. Sticking to one brand keeps things to a single learning ‘learning curve’.
Kevinohio: You can mix Brands , but will have to deal with any discrepancies between brands. (Example: Atlas, Shinohara, & Peco). IE:Where you put plastic Rail Joiners.
It’s much easier if you have all the same brands.
Try “Charlie Weaver”!
And Don Gibson, you didn’t need to post your response three times! We got it!