peco turnouts

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I am working on a 4 X 10 n-scale layout and would like to use Peco code 80 turnouts. Are they compatible with Atlas code 80 flex track? I was told at a local hobby shop that there would be no problem, but I recall hearing another say that even though both are code 80 the rail heights done line up. Any help would be appreciated.

2

Absolutely,no problem at all.I’ve done it a few times on the club’s layout and I even find Atlas code 80 track easier than Peco’s to work with because of the readily perforated ties for nailing them down.If you use flextrack,you’ll notice that Atlas’s track has one sliding rail wich should be the inside rail in curves.The only difference in height is barely noticeable and is easily corrected by shimming with paper strips.

3

Thanks for the reply. I wanted to use the Atlas flex track because I heard it was easier to work with and re-adjust the radius if necessary.

4

I have no experience with N-scale track, but Peco and Atlas code 83 HO scale track are not the same crosstie height and the rail foot on Peco track is narrower than Atlas.

I could not get a Peco rail joiner to fit onto Atlas rail, so I had to use Atlas rail joiners slightly squeezed narrower to fit tightly onto Peco rail, and the Peco track has to be shimmed up slightly because their crossties are thinner than Atlas.

5

Yep. I’m using Pecos, Atlas flex and even some <gasp!> Atlas snap track in N-scale. Works fine, you just need to trim the turnout ties a bit more that an Atlas switch (you’ll see what I’m talking about when you look at a Peco).

I also find the height difference negligible and it has not interfered with smooth running.

6

I mix-and-match Peco turnouts and Atlas flex-track in HO code 100. Yes, you need to use the Atlas rail joiners, not the Peco ones. I use WS foam roadbed, which seems to completely swallow up any height difference with no extra shimming needed.

In HO, Peco turnouts have a spring to hold the points against the rails. That spring makes it harder for the switch machine (I use Peco twin-coils here) to do its job, and I found that I really needed a capacitive discharge circuit to make them work reliably. With Atlas twin-coils, the CD circuit is an option, but still a good idea.