I jumped ship to Atlas Code 55

[Norm P]

I ordered all my Atlas code 55 from some guy named Chulvis and it got from Californication to Kentucky in about 3 days.

[Walkercolt]

Hey, use whatever you like, with the understanding of things you might have to do. I love the spring in PECO turnouts, and how durable they are, even if they need a bit of shimming to keep things going right.  If I were building a layout, I'd probably go with code 55 PECO, dispite the exspense, but that's just me. Handlay code 40 if that's your thing. It's YOUR railroad. I do the N-TRAK thing. We have different needs and challenges. I do envy the Atlas #10 turnouts in any kind of track. Hand-built turnouts don't hold-up well with N-TRAK's traffic and hauling around the modules. Too many solder joints to break, even with Tix or silver solder. Tried it, didn't like it. But on a "permanent" home layout, go for it.

[Erik W]

Question for Eric - is there a particular slide switch you need for this technique? I imagine you need just enough - but not too much throw length.

Question for everyone - power the frogs or leave them alone?  I am DC right now, going to DCC soon.

Lou

Lou,

I used these DPDT Miniatronics slide switches:

http://www.miniatronics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=38-200-05&Category_Code=3_7&Product_Count=2

The distance the slide travels happens to be perfect for the Atlas code 55 turnouts.  The points are securely locked into place.

I'd power your frogs if I were you.  It's easy enough and the Atlas turnouts are designed to easily power the frog.  It took me about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes per turnout to install and power the side switch, this included drilling the hole in the plywood (drill to a diameter equal to the length of the slide switch body), mounting the slide switch, wiring it, drilling and installing the stainless steel wire connecting the switch to the turnout throw bar, and gluing in place a piece of cork around the slide switch.

I have a hidden staging yard where I have the same controls for the turnouts but the slide switch is attached to an RC model airplane control cable that terminates at a representation of the yard on the fascia.  Beads from Hobby Lobby were used as the knobs.  I then use infrared detectors as occupancy detectors with LEDs on the front control panel.  You can see the control panel with the LEDs here:


My goal with track work is to take the time to get it as close to perfect as I can when laying it so I don't have problems later on.  Also I'm a fan of manual control for things like the turnouts, turntable, etc.

Erik

[ñiao]

Do you have to mount the switches directly next to the turnout? I was thinking of some kind of a remote control by routing a groove into the plywood (don't use foam) and have the galvanized wire run though a copper pipe laid out in the groove. Then I just close the groove, and the turnout control is completely hidden. The turnouts will be max. 20" away from the switches. 
Would that work? What gauge of wire would you recommend.

[Greyryder]

Do you have to mount the switches directly next to the turnout? I was thinking of some kind of a remote control by routing a groove into the plywood (don't use foam) and have the galvanized wire run though a copper pipe laid out in the groove. Then I just close the groove, and the turnout control is completely hidden. The turnouts will be max. 20" away from the switches. 
Would that work? What gauge of wire would you recommend.

That's pretty much what I use. I run piano wire through brass tube. Most of mine use pretty thin wire. (.020") You can even put bends in the tube, as topography requires. I have one turnout that uses a fairly thick piece of piano wire. The turnout is an inch above the slide switch, and there was no room for curving the tube. The thicker wire let me run a long vertical arm up to the turnout from the end of the tubing, and still have good pressure on the points.

[Erik W]

You can also use something like this to throw your turnouts from a remote location:

http://www.proto87.com/turnout-controls.html

Erik

[ñiao]

Thanks for the heads up.
Erik, that stuff looks cool, but is a bit complicated for me  ;D

There was talk of springs in the Peco turnouts. I know of many a European Peco aficionado who took the spring out when motorizing them. 

[Walkercolt]

Yeah, but that spring gives me a secure feeling.