After many years of a 4x8 HO layout of Kato Unitrack I suddenly have a larger layout. I friend of mine passed away and I now have his 10x20 layout in my basement. It is a great layout but it uses a lot of Atlas snap switches. I want to upgrade these to #4, 6, and 8 turnouts with either Tortiose of Walthers switch machines but I am not familiar with these so I would like to ask you all some questions.
First what brand of turnouts would you recommend? I am thinking Peco but am very open to suggestions. Also would you recommend insulated or electrified frogs? What is the benefit of one or the other?
Also what switch motors would you recommend? I am considering the Walthers system as it looks fairly straight forward with simple plug connectors.
I bought my first Atlas turnout back in the 60s and pretty well stuck with Atlas through the years. I used the Atlas under the layout switch machines but really never liked them, they have been marginal since day one.
The Tortoise is too pricy for me as well as too large. I like the Peco PL-10 switch machine over the Atlas, I have used the Peco PL-10 on my Atlas turnouts and they work much better than the Atlas ever did.
If I were starting over I would go with servos. Tam Valley has great servo controllers and a SG90 servo off eBay is $1.50.
When the Atlas code 83 Custom Line came out I stopped building my own turnouts and started using Atlas, except when I need somethi g custom.
I very hapoy with Atlas, but, some others will be along shortly to tell you how bad they are…
Peco is in the process of going to a single new frog design and doing away with inso and electro frog. Their new frog is more like Atlas, imagine that.
Older PECO code 100 turnouts are curved thru the frog like your Atlas snap switches, not as sharp but still curved and not like a real turnout.
I wish you well, but you will find out shortly there are lots of strong opinions on turnouts, just like my strong opinion, which is PECO makes a really nice product, but I don’t like, or can’t use a lot of its features, making it not worth the extra money for me.
Kinda depends what’s already there…I mean you can’t just drop a #8 turnout in place of a #4 snap switch. Also depends what type of track was used - code 83 or code 100?
For me - Fast Tracks. If you don’t want to make your own, you can purchase them online from places like eBay. The frogs are live so you’ll need a switch or ground throw for changing the polariy - e.g. Caboose Industies S220.
I was very pleased with the ones that I installed on my last layout. They were smooth, quiet, and looked great.
I second using Fast Tracks. My current layout has over 50 turnouts and there is no way my budget could have purchased 50 commercially produced turntouts. Best of all, you’ll learn how to build any turnout configuration you’ll ever need for this or any future layout.
Enjoying yourself there? Atlas turnouts are not bad. The code 83 are the best between the code 83 and 100 versions.
Some of them have a bit of a bow in them but you can pull that out when laying.
Actually the Unifrog are not exactly like Atlas. The Peco Unifrog have the same shorting issue that the Peco Insulfrog has but they have replaced the plastic tip in the Insulfrog with a tiny metal tip, where as Atlas metal frog is much bigger.
MicroEngineering offers a line of turnouts many like in code 70 and code 83.
Also, when Shinohara closed down, Walthers lost their supplier but have a new line of turnouts due out very soon and look pretty nice.
I have over 120 Atlas Code 100 Mark IV turnouts in #4, #6 and #8. They’re value priced at many online dealers. I use their switch machines as well, both under the table and top mounted. They’re selenoid so they could burn up if you hold down the momentary contact to throw them (been there, done that) (I use black and red push buttons).
Since my trackwork is pretty much bullet proof, I like to put my funds into engines and rolling stock…
Atlas Custom Line and Superswitches (these are #6 only) are good and will be easiest to retro fit. Given the layout is Atlas I’d use those.
I prefer Peco but we still used a lot of Atlas.
Walthers is making new versions of Shinohara turnouts that will likely be very good.
Micro Engineering makes lovely track but their turnouts are often a bit wonky. A few of the ladder track system Code 70 have required fettling to work correctly. The 5d is particularly poor.
Just tired of misinformation from Lastspikemike, and bored with “PECO is so much better”.
My objections to PECO are the throwbar springs and the electrical properties that don’t suit my needs. So now PECO is changing to be more like Atlas electrically, how about that…that’s why said “more like” and not “exactly like”. The likeness is more in the electrical change, the the frog design - I still like the Atlas frog design better - functionally. Appearance I can fix wit
Micro Engineering turnouts have throwbar springs, they just don’t work as well as the Peco springs. These sprung throwbars can be handy.
Peco quality is far superior to anything Atlas now produces or, as far as I can tell, has ever produced.
Complaints about model railroad turnout geometry are nonsensical given the ridiculous space compression of any model railroad.
Each brand of turnout has its advantages and disadvantages. It is a fact that Atlas makes the cheapest turnouts. That cost saving shows up in poor manufacturing quality. Frankly, ME quality doesn’t impress me either but the price reflects that lack.
Havent seen the Walthers Shinohara copies yet. Shinohara originals seem very good quality.
I’ve had very good luck with Atlas turnouts, most of mine are on 31 years of service. I’ve had three wear out after 25 or so years, not too bad as far as I’m concerned. I would guess over my 70 year HO model railroading career I bought about 60 or so and I’ve only had one with a problem. It had a bit of sprue that kept one of the points from closing properly, a quick trim and it’s been working fine ever since.
I guess If I needed to give a testimonial I would say the four Custom Line #6 turnouts that I did a Mel bash to make a double crossover would work. I cut up four Custom Line Turnouts and made a double crossover that has worked perfectly since day one. I couldn’t find a double crossover that would clear my Rivarossi Pizza Cutter flanges. Every manufactured code 83 double crossover had problem with the deep flanges. Shorting or derailing or both. I never had a single problem with the Atlas code 83 turnouts with my deep flanges.
As drawn up on my CAD next to the single crossover where the double crossover was going to be installed.
I’m a big Patrick Swazye fan, I think I still have both a VHS and a DVD of Red Dawn… and Dirty Dancing… but Road House, Patrick Swazye and Sam Elliott…
