What could cause my N guage Atlas track to disintegrate? The plastic tie spikes let go and the rail snaps loose on the switches and the tracks. Some parts are over 7 years old and some have been subjected to Arizona heat both in storage and on a garage layout where the garage got yo 115 degrees. But not all of the track is rotting away.
it is most likely the result of the heat. i stored some code 100 atlas flex-track in an attic loft some years ago and it did the very thing you describe.
charlie
I think that answers itself. Plastics exposed to heat stress like that could do just about anything. Getting brittle is a common theme.
Heat does degrade plastics, but so does sunlight, and that may be worse. If half of your layout was in bright sunshine and the rest of it in the shade that would more than explain it. Tracks intended for use outdoors are UV resistant.
My layout is built in an old classroom on the third floor of our library building. It is far too hot up there to work on trains in the summer time, but there are also big west facing windows. Fortunately, this building being a library building has full UV protected glass.
And now since there is some snow on the ground, it is safe to go back up to the train room. See you later.
ROAR
Also by not leaving expansion gaps will cause the track to push against the plastic tie spikes, snapping them off. I have sections of track that I have had to redo for this reason. Though only on older or earlier laid track.
What do you use to clean your track? I use a CMX car and the recommended “aggressive” cleaner, lacquer thinner. However, if you apply it too heavily, or spill it on your track, it will dissolve and weaken the plastic ties .
What type of benchwork is this track on? Plywood will absorb moisture and expand/contract with changes in heat and humidity. The thinner the plywood base, the more expansion and contraction problem you will encounter.
My current layout was started in 1984 or 5, is 1/2inch plywood with 1/2inch homosote on top. roadbed is the 1/4" homabed on top. The basement is climate controlled, and I have not had any problems with the layout as far a s roadbed or framework. I live in Kansas City, where it gets very humid in the warm weather, and all stays well in the basement. So I would guess climate control makes all the difference, at least for me.
Bob
I have a pile of fairly new N scale Atlas turnouts that when I bought them the short rail just past the fork was loose or missing, in the package! I have also discovered after laying t/o’s that there is no power on the track beyond the fork on the straight section. Yesterday, I ws going to replace it with another Atlas t/o, new and still in the box. I tested it by hooking it to anoter loose end of powered track and got the same result - no power! Is this consistant with these switches? I doubt that I will be using any more of sthese t/o’s by Atlas in the furure… There must be other mfgrs that can do a better job than this.
Bill