Code 83 vs Power-loc

[lakesideboy]

I hope this is in the right spot. I am resetting up my trains after three years in a box. I am going to set them back up and I'm wondering if it is worth it to switch from my Life-Like Power Loc to the Atlas Code 83 besides aesthetics. Im not great with a soldering iron so connecting the 83 is my biggest concern

 

[UP2CSX]

Of all the "all in one" type of tracks, the Life-Like Power Loc is the most problematic. The offset arrangement of connecting the sections isn't very reliable. The track itself doesn't look very realistic, especially the black roadbed/steel rail combination. It's also hard to ballast because the roadbed shoulders are very steep.

Assuming you don't have a big investment in Power Loc track, I would switch to Atlas code 83 track. Although it's a good idea to solder rail joiners, the track will work fine without soldering as long as you make sure that each rail joiner is securely fixed to each track. You can use a needle nose pliers to put a slight crimp in the end of each joiner after the track is connected and it will be pretty reliable. I've run layouts for years without ever soldering so don't let that deter you. If you use flex track, I'd get the Micro Engineering brand, since it's much stiffer than the Atlas track and easier to align in curves without soldering. If you have some extra track, you can practice soldering on that. You'll find it's really not that difficult when you're just trying to get solder to flow for electrical connections and rather than strength. You can always solder joiners and connections anytime before the track is ballasted so I say go ahead and get started and decide if you want to solder later.