I’ve been using Atlas turnouts since the Dawn of Time and never noticed any major problems until now. My trouble occurs on a #4 in an industrial area, with a type of car that has 6-wheel Buckeye trucks [see photo below] - very unforgiving over uneven track.
I know I need to replace the turnout, it was damaged by a botched ballasting job I did on it ~ 7 years ago. Here’s my dilemma: Should I spend those few extra $$ on a more-reliable PECO #4 [DCC-friendly] t/o instead of another Atlas?
BTW I added metal wheels to all those cars, and they perform OK over the other turnouts.
I love the Peco turnouts. If Atlas turnouts have been good for you then stick with Atlas. I believe I would want a drop in replacement. You don’t mention how the switch is thrown, but if you are using a switch machine why change that out also.
I also really like my Peco’s but if you are talking code 100 then I don’t think the Peco geometry is the same and therefore there would not be a drop in replacement.
Is the Buckeye truck sprung and equalized? If not, if it solid like the Athearn truck, then it might be that a #4 is a bit of a challenge no matter who makes it.
Simon is correct by the way – the Peco is not a drop in replacement for the Atlas.
Even though they are more reliable than Atlas turnouts, a Peco is not a direct drop-in replacement for an Atlas, and you will have to change some of your trackage leading up to the turnout if you change brands.
This is probably true no matter which two brands of turnouts you are using. I’ve never compared an older Atlas with a new one, but they may not be exactly the same because most of them are now made in China.
I’d stick with the Atlas since it is a drop in replacement. That would be easyer then having to modify the switch or the lead ins. A no4 by any manufacturer should be the same angle but the demensinos of the switch can be very different. You might want to do some testing to be sure that those trucks will run through a #4. If not a #6 might be a better choice. Just my [2c].
Based on your advice about drop-in replacement, plus my good experiences with the newer Atlas turnouts, I’m putting in a new Atlas #4.
You’re probably right - however, I don’t intend to run the torpedo cars on the curved part of this particular t/o - only the straight track. All the other turnouts being traversed by the Buckeye trucks are #6’s and they are working fine.
Paul, You just had to rub that in didn’t you![(-D]
