Making the conversion slowly - selling off HO empire and getting ready to enter the 160th world. I will be utilizing an LDE track plan of SP Fresno District. I want to use Code 55. I have been told big problems with trucks on N scale motive power (does this include rolling stock, if so what brands)? The flanges are to big on the wheels - Made for Code 80 and contact is horrible. What I have read and heard from the LHS here.
When I was modeling in N-scale, I was using Bachmann and lifelike. Both of them had big flanges that wouldn’t run on finescale rail.
There are problems with soem equipment on Atlas Code 55, but not exactly what you’ve been told. Older locos, especially those from Arnold (like the S-2) and a few older lifelikes have oversized flanges that will hit the plastic “spikes” holding the rail. Most more recent locos, especially those from Atlas and Kato, will have no trouble. So if you’re buying everything new, it should be less of an issue (except that darned S-2, which is still offered).
Of more concern for some is the fact that Micro-Trains rolling stock had oversized “pizza cutter” flanges until recently and those will also clatter on the Atlas Code 55. More recent MT releases offer both “low-profile” (i.e., standard) and “pizza cutter” wheelsets in the box or low-profile installed.
One good way fo avoiding the whole mess is to use PECO’s Code 55, which is actually Code 80 rail buried in the ties. This track does not look quite as good as Atlas’ new C55, but is relatively “bulletproof” and does look better than C80, IMHO.
Regards,
Byron
Thanks Byron - Code 55 N looks great !
I’m using code 55, Chuck. Kato, Atlas and Intermountain locos are fine with it. I have some Life Like FA1s and 2s that have larger flanges and rattle on the tie plates of Atlas flex track. However, NWSL makes replacement wheels for those that are easy to install and solve the problem. Life Like SW9/1200s, however, run fine out of the box. The moral of the story is if the flanges look oversized, they will rattle on the tieplates.
The only rolling stock I have had issues with is MicroTrains. As stated earlier in this thread, they started shipping with a spare set of low profile wheels a couple of years ago. Low profile wheels are also availabe in bulk fairly cheaply and the conversion takes about a minute a car.
KATO – you can’t go wrong with it. They have too big of a selection… makes me want to switch. …
Welcome to N scale modeling!
Peco code 55 is a good track to start with and you should not have problems with engines from Kato IM and Atlas. Most of the newer rolling stock from MT, IM, Atlas etc. come with compatible low profile wheels. I changed some of the older MT ‘pizza cutter’ wheels to the new IM metal wheelsets (made for MT). Wheel changing is a bit of trial and error.
Cheers,
Cliff
http://cliffordconceicao3310.fotopic.net/c328807.html
Thanks Mark - Does anyone go Atlas/Peco Code 55 Main and ME Code 40 for sidings. Who makes the tranistion joiners?
Well Chuck, that is another good question. I thought Micro Engineering did, but I don’t see them in Walthers online product listing. The difference between code 55 and code 40 might be too small to try the old trick of flattening down the end of the joiner that will go under the smaller rail and then soldering the joiner to the bottom of the rail. Either some technique like that or a thing metal shim under the code 40 rail might be in order.