N-Scale Track planning

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I’m in the process of laying out an N-Scale track plan. It’s a mid-1950s New England theme using a B&M and New Haven influence. I’d like to use Atlas Code 80 flex-track, but I’m leaning towards using Peco turnouts. I have a few questioins:

  1. Is the Atlas Code 80 and Peco Code 80 compatible? If so, are there any required modifications?

  2. For my yard area, especially the ladder, are the Peco #4 turnouts too small? They look like it from online pictures. The majority of my frieght cars are 40’ with a few 50’. SW8/9, GP7 and RS-3s would be handling the switching.

  3. I’ve read about the difference between the Insulfrog and Electroforg … can anyone tell me their experinces using these with a DCC layout?

I’d like to use Peco turnouts because of the reliabilty I’ve read about, plus the built-in spring that throws the switch. Everything in the trackplan is within arms reach, and I figure the extra cost of the Peco turnout vs Atlas turnout is a wash since I won’t need under-table manual/automatic devices.

Thanks

2

First question…yes,code 80 Atlas and Peco tracks are compatible,with only occasional minor filing to adjust the railheads.Pros and cons…Atlas have one of the tracks that slides,wich you install on the inside of curves,while both Peco rails do slide.On the other hand,Atlas have holes in their ties for nails while Peco’s don’t.Both brands are of good quality so the choice is yours.This is not true for code 55 however.

On the club’s layout,we’ve had no. 4 TO’s installed for a while.They are indeed pretty steep but didn’t cause any problem with medium to small sized locos and rolling stocks when negociated at moderate speeds.They were removed because some of the guys didn’t like them and didn’t care going through them,thus denying their utility.

Insulfrog are just as good as Electrofrog TO’s for most modern equipment,wether you run DC or DCC.However,if you own older short locos with single truck wheel pick-up,you may have occasional loco stalling over the dead frog at slow speeds,more likely when the loco is stopped on a turnout.

3

Thanks for the info, Jacktal.

If I were to use Peco Code 55 small turnouts (to keep the Electrofrog ability) would it be compatible with the Atlas Code 80 track?

I’m finishing up a small 60"x30" N-Scale layout right now (DCC) and the Atlas GP-7 isn’t consistent going through the installed Atlas Insulfrog turnouts … it will either stutter though it or stall. When I jump to the future layout, I’d like to go to Electofrogs.

4

The Peco code 55 track is really just code 80 thats buried further into the ties, so it is compatable. This is not so with other brands. There are ways to join those brands together, but with Peco it’s a bit easier.

As to the turnouts to use, why not use Code 80 electrofrog #6’s? According to what I’m seeing ( http://www.sodigi.com/Peco_N_80E.htm ) they’re only $2 more and it sounds like it’ll solve some problems for you, unless you just don’t have the room for them.

The other way to go would be to concider going with all code 55. It looks great and the Peco stuff is good quality. Just a thought…

I found this on the web and thought I’d throw it out here to see if it helps: http://www.awrr.com/PECO.html

5

Thanks, pcarrell. I’d have to find out if a how much more room a 5-track ladder with #6s would be than using #4s. Anyone have any ideas?

Also … it looks like the diverging route off the Peco turnouts is a pretty broad radius … would this be easy to manipulate for yard tracks so they’ll still be close together?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks again.

Mike