Atlas c55 pro's and con's

[MichaelT]

Morning,

So I'm putting together a plan for a small shelf layout in my workroom, and since I have quite a bit of stock on hand, would like to consider using Atlas c55 flex and turnouts for this.

the shelf will be 7-1/4" wide, 89" long on one wall, and 61" long on the other wall.

Would like to read some of the pro's and con's to c55 from those of you who have some experience with it? What can I expect? What should I look out for? I've read a few threads where there are some problems with some of the turnouts? I will be picking up one curved turnout, so what should I look out for with that?

What are some popular options for switch control? I'd rather not have the expense of tortoises.

For a small layout like this, should I still use roadbed or just glue the track straight to the foam?

I only have one DC N scale engine, so will probably run Digitrax DCC on this layout, unless I find a couple smaller 4 axle engines at a good price. Here is the current plan.



One change not on the diagram is putting a curved turnout before the curve on the top right, extending the runaround on the left side shelf.
Just getting some ideas written down before I jump into this.

[MichaelWinicki]

I like the looks of that.

I have very few gripes concerning Atlas code 55.  I've used a great deal of it and haven't found too many issues that couldn't be handled relatively fast/easy.

As far as turnout control, for cost and dependability, Caboose Industry throws are not as small as many would like (including me) but they are virtually indestructible.  And many folks enjoy "throwing" them.  Unless you're running some old (like when it was manufactured) steam, I wouldn't worry about powering the frogs.  That's keeps wiring very simple. 

[Chris333]

I bought a big giant box of their flextrack. This was newer stock after it was in shortage for a while.  Every piece had larger spikes at one end than the other. Like it was still hot when the molds were opened.

So on the first few inches of every piece the spikes hit along the flanges of newer locomotives. I even tried to flatted down the problem:



So in other words I will never buy Atlas C55 flex track again.

[PAL_Houston]

I have one C55 curved turnout installed on my layout and it has worked perfectly with no issues over the last 8+ months. 

I also have a number of Caboose Ind. throws that work well where I have them....as you probably already know, there are ways to bring the throws to the front of the layout and still have them throw switches at the back of the layout, so you don't have to reach over scenery and rolling stock....and it is easier to do this if your track in elevated on cork roadbed. 

However, it is not essential that you elevate your track on roadbed, especially if you are using insulating foam for the subroadbed.  Depending on the area and age of what you are modelling you may actually want some of your trackage at different elevations, and perhaps with different types of ballast to suggest different installation dates, states of maintenance, etc.  Some of my track is on top of the foam, and some of my track actually is embedded to tie level in the foam to suggest really old siding that was originally laid with ties on dirt and cinder ballast.

[Chris333]

Guess I'll add that I do use their C55 turnouts, but ME flex.

[wazzou]

Guess I'll add that I do use their C55 turnouts, but ME flex.

+1

[Ian MacMillan]

I have  had issues with the little press on "washer" on the bottom of the points at the hinge...but have gone to adding a dab of silicone like others have suggested to keep the washer from falling off. I also have had issues on some of my older turnouts where the throwbar has "up and down" play and will cause the point rails to rise above the stock rails. I've had to add shims the throwbar to keep it down.

I used one of the curved turnouts once and have not had any issues with it. I do use quite a bit of the #7s and #10s with no issues. I do not have any #5s.

I have purchased the "old mold" flex track, and just recently used 50 of the "new mold" flex track on the new layout. I have not seen the issue that Chris brought up, but I may have been something I overlooked and will check my stock.

[mmagliaro]

1. I have Atlas c55 flex, mostly #7 turnouts, a few #5 turnouts, and one curved turnout on my layout.

2. Virtually every turnout required significant hand filing and even use of Dremel diamond wheel to
properly open up the gauge between the point rails so they would meet NMRA spec.  Otherwise,
lots of my steam locomotives would climb up the rails because the gauge is too narrow.

The curved turnout and the #5's were even worse in this regard.

These turnouts and flex came from multiple sources, purchased at different times over the past year.

Having said that, once I got the turnouts adjusted, they work very well.

3. On several of the turnouts, the hot feeder to the frog (the little copper tab they provide that sticks out the side),
was either initially bad, or went bad shortly after installation (meaning there was no electrical continuity between
that tab and the frog).  This forced me to drill a tiny hole and solder a feeder directly to the frog.

4. I cut away a few bits of tie underneath, and hand-soldered jumpers from the stock rails to the point rails (across
the hinge) with pieces of very fine flexible wire, on every single turnout before installation, so I do not have to count
on the hinge reliably carrying current.  Over time, those hinges are notorious electrical failure points (not just with
Atlas c55, but with turnouts in general).

5. I did also have a few cases, like Chris333 did, where the spike heads on the ties were not uniform, stuck up too high,
and would cause low-profile wheels to hit the plastic, even though they have fine flanges.  I was able to correct this
by running a flat file across the spike heads a few times.

--------
I used ME code 55 on my previous layout.  The flex track was better made, but it doesn't match the Atlas turnouts
closely enough, so I don't like to mix the two.  I can't help but see flex-turnout-flex-turnout when I look at them
in a mixed setting.  ME code 55 turnouts only come in #6, and they also needed filing and grinding to
make the point rail gauge wide enough.

===========
Whew....
In spite of all this, I'd do it again, because I've gotten the filing/adjustment down to a science where I can fix up a turnout
in 20 minutes or so, and I'm not really into hand-laying my turnouts or track.  Now that everything is adjusted,
it works well.

I use slide switches mounted to the side of the turnout and connected with a hand-formed piece of .015" steel music wire
as the linkage, with the switch contacts used to power the frog and route power to the two diverging routes
(this is all straight DC, not DCC).

============
Oh, your track plan.  I like what you're doing.  My only comments/questions would be:

Can you get more than 7" deep?   That's mighty shallow.  Even 12" would really open up your possibilities for terrain,
bridges, or other visual interest.

I'd look for a way to not have all those tracks running parallel to the edges of the shelf benchwork.  I think
it would look more interesting if they could move through the scene at an angle to
the front edge and the backdrop.

[MichaelT]

Oh, your track plan.  I like what you're doing.  My only comments/questions would be:

Can you get more than 7" deep?   That's mighty shallow.  Even 12" would really open up your possibilities for terrain,
bridges, or other visual interest.

I'd look for a way to not have all those tracks running parallel to the edges of the shelf benchwork.  I think
it would look more interesting if they could move through the scene at an angle to
the front edge and the backdrop.

7" is pretty much the max because of the doorway at the end of the left shelf. While I could widen the right shelf, it would start cramping the workspace, so while it is smaller than nominal, I think I'll stick with it. It's not going to be a very dramatic layout, but workable and even though the track is close to the edge, at the slow speeds the engines will travel, and the rise in the edge I'll install, I think it will be safe.

I could meander the track a little probably, will look at that as time allows.

[MichaelT]

Also on the shelf width, I could extend the right shelf another four feet, but that would get into the "cats feeding area", and not sure I want to give them any extra incentive to perch on a layout shelf by installing one just above their eating place. 

[Bsklarski]

Before you read any further, I love animals too. But cats on the train room? Cats are the worst thing for a layout, even worst than water or humidity. Cats walking around your layout put lots of fine dust and dirt and even finer dust from cat litter on the rails and that gets into loco mechanisms. Cat hair will get in there too. The oils on cats paws will get on the rails and that will get on the wheels and loco wipers speeding up corrosion and breaking down the unit. I know people love cats and some love them like children, ugh please no cats lol.

I agree with the above poster about the curved turnout extending your run around. There will be a point when you will want to make up a train or block one up

[MichaelT]

Before you read any further, I love animals too. But cats on the train room? Cats are the worst thing for a layout, even worst than water or humidity. Cats walking around your layout put lots of fine dust and dirt and even finer dust from cat litter on the rails and that gets into loco mechanisms. Cat hair will get in there too. The oils on cats paws will get on the rails and that will get on the wheels and loco wipers speeding up corrosion and breaking down the unit. I know people love cats and some love them like children, ugh please no cats lol.

I agree with the above poster about the curved turnout extending your run around. There will be a point when you will want to make up a train or block one up

This little shelf layout idea is not in the train room. The cats are pretty much banned from the train room. This little shelf is above my work bench area which is combined in the laundry room of the house. It started out as a countertop for folding and ironing clothes, but the Mrs. prefers to fold clothes in the bedroom (tv access) so I started using the bench for small house projects, and it's evolved to take up most of my RR projects as well. The first idea for the shelf was just an HO and N bare test track, but as most things do, it grew into the idea of putting a small industrial area with minimal online customers...and with currently building the HO layout in the train room, this gives me a small spot to display and sometimes run some of my N scale equipment.

[Bsklarski]

I looked today on the online ordering system for my distributor in Ct, Atlas code 55 flex is out, so is rights and lefts for number 5 and 7 switches, also rights for number 10s. 6" section section straight track it out also. Geesh. So I would think supplies are low in hobby shops too. Ill have to go down there Friday and see what I can get before the hobby shops buy it up 

[Bsklarski]

Both wyes and both curved switches are in. rail joiners are out!!!!!!   

[Rossford Yard]

Yes, the biggest "con" to C55 is availability.  I scoured the planet for some No. 10 RH.  Very few to be found.  They said they had more coming this month, then said November, and who knows what they will say then.

A victim of its own popularity and the chinese factory situation, I suppose.

I don't think there is any doubt its the way to go on a new layout.  No track is perfect, and othes have their attributes, but why would you not use the finest scale track out there now?  This morning I put some of my code 80 Peco (still in use in hidden staging yards) up against my top level C55 and the difference in looks was tremendously in favor of the Atlas.  I suspect that moving forward, the older code 80 tracks will look even more ridiculous to our eyes.

And, I like the flex and way the rail joiners slip on tight, but not so tight that I cut myself when it slips during the "push on."  I really prefer the flexing flex track to the stiff flex track of Peco or ME.