I’ve decided to switch from code 100 to code 83 for my new layout. I need to replace all of my old brass snap switches, so I thought I’d switch to code 83. I need to use a few Peco curved turnouts, so I thought I would pair it up with atlas flex track. What I need to know is, how do the two companies look together as far as tie size and spacing? I looked at the atlas track today at the hobby shop and liked the brown, smaller ties. The shop does not carry Peco products in stock. If anyone has these two companies paired together I’d really like to know your opinion. Also, I plan to use dc to start and switch to dcc in the near future. Am I better off using Insulfrog or Electrofrog turnouts. Thanks for your time.
PECO is considered to make the superior product. They are ALL considered ‘Power Routing’ (with the throw), but Insul-frog is what you want if you’re thinking of going DCC - now or future.
ATLAS code 83 products are mounted on code 100 ties, which is good for use with their code 100 products, but not as much for mixing to other code 83 products, unless you enjoy ‘shimming’.
Atlas switches also do not route the power with the thow. They are DCC compatible but all rails are ‘hot’ - better for DCC but not as good with DC for yard spurs.
Are the ties just narrower on the code 83? They looked much smaller than the code 100 when I compared the two.
I had to intermix some Atlas turnouts with Peco code 83 flex track because Peco did not make every type of turnout that I needed for my layout. As Don Gibson mentioned, you have to do some shimming between Peco and Atlas products because their crossties are not the same height, but they are very close to being the same width. Peco rail is narrower at the foot, so a Peco metal rail joiner will not fit onto Atlas rail. In these cases, I used Atlas metal rail joiners and squeezed one end slightly inward so they would fit onto the Peco rail.
On my layout, I have mainly Peco, some Atlas and some Roco track. With weathering and ballasting, would you really notice any differences? Our local rail line has been recently extensively rebuilt and there are different ties in different areas and the differences soon disappear, Just my thoughts,
Regards from Down Under
Trevor www.xdford.digitalzones.com
Once you get them both installed and ballasted, you won’t notice the differences. Just make sure that you shim up the peco (under the ties) so the tops of the rails are at the same height as the Atlas. By the way, you should cut off those ugly ends on the Atlas turnouts. Two ties back, I think, and slip some plain leftover ties under the rails where they used to be.
Should work fine just be sure to shim if there is any difference in the highth of the ties. The LK&R Ry. uses Peco switches and Atlas track with no problems.
Wow, I just looked at the price of Peco code 83 turnouts. They are ten dollars more than the atlas custom line. I hope they are worth the extra amount. Maybe I’ll just use Peco for the curved turnouts and atlas for the basic ones. Would I be short changing myself by doing that? I’m planning on switching the turnouts by hand. I suppose with Peco I wouldn’t have to buy ground throws. Any thoughts?
Peco,in my opinion are the best,used them since 1969 and ,no,you won’t need ground throws.
Their track pins are rubbish as stated earlier in another question-use an adhesive.
Steve
Actually, the C83 ties are narrower but TALLER than the C100 ties. Atlas made the height of both their code 100 and code 83 lines the same from the bottom of the tie to the top of the rail.
Don’t ask me why they did this, since most people I know of go with one or the other, not both. [:)]
Hi Second Hand,
Using the Insulfrog variety, you will save the cost of the ground throws and from my rather limited experience you wont have to worry about putting switch controls also to isolate sidings etc.
The price differential here in Australia is not quite as high as yours but I would go for the Peco every time on that basis alone.
Regards
Trevor www.xdford.digitalzones.com FYI
Trevor,
Thanks for chiming in. I think I’ll use peco for all of my turnouts. Two hundred dollars for eight turnouts is going to be tough to swallow. I know it will be best in the long run. I can buy a lot of building kits for $200! Oh well, without the tracks it’s not much of a railroad! Thank you to everybody else for helping out. My wife thinks I should use my Atlas brass snap switches from my last layout. She just doesn’t understand![:)]
Hi there,
You could use your snap switches in dead end/open ended yards as a “stop gap” while you are building up. I have about 25 on my layout at the moment and if I was to replace them all at once I might be in strife!
I relegated my shinohara points in this way over a number of years and probaby need to repair/replace about 5 switches at the moment but seeing that they have lasted up to 40 years, can’t complain too much!
Regards from Down Under
Trevor
I was able to find a place where I could get Peco code 83 insulfrog # 6 for $19.50 each! I thought it was quite a good deal.