I recently bought a few pieces of Atlas Code 83 flex track from two different shops. I was surprised to find that the two lots of track are different.
The first type has two sliding rails and is marked on the bottom with
ATLAS / MADE / IN / CHINA / SUPER / FLEX / 83
The ties are more flexible and all 36" of ties are molded as one unit
The second type has only one sliding rail (the other rail is fixed like the Code 100 flex track) and is marked
ATLAS / MADE IN / CHINA / SUPER / FLEX-83 / PAT NO. / 4260104 / C
This second type has narrower (in cross section) ties, 9" blocks of ties, and smaller spikes on the fixed rail side… the fixed rail also appears to have a thicker web and is stiffer than the sliding rail
The first type (two sliding rails) more closely matches the descriptions I’ve seen of this product and seems easier to use.
Do any of the forum readers know whether one type is new and the other an old design, or if Atlas is actually producing two different versions of the same product?
The Atlas Code 83 flex I’ve bought has had one sliding rail and one spot in the middle where there is a break in the ties on both rails (i.e 2 sections of ties). I’ve never seen one with 2 sliding rails.
The only differences listed on the Atlas web site are whether the track has wood or concrete crossties. Perhaps Atlas changed to a different manufacturer in China and you have track from two different suppliers.
When I was putting down the track on my layout, I did find that I had one section of Atlas code 83 flextrack that had both rails that slid. I just used it on a straight section to avoid any issues with it, and I now can’t even remember where it was that the track was put in with.