Walthers Track
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Would you say its better then Atlas? Especially in relation to turnouts?
Could you give us an idea of the cost you're talking about? Maybe I'm just cheap (I am part Scottish after all) or the price of everything is finally hitting me. Today I went in to pick up a few switches for my layout and paid $10 per Atlas code 55 switch. I only picked up six because I haven't finalized the industry sidings. Is $10 about what others are paying for switches?
I need to hide my credit card when I visit Caboose Hobbies in Denver, CO. Today it was only $200. Two days before Christmas I went in and picked a NCE PowerCab Pro, 25 pieces of Micro Engineering flex trek, plus a few other odds and ends. Yikes!
Correct, I'm running N scale. You're also correct that with the different scale comparing prices would be pointless. Thanks none the less for indicating that $10 per switch is reasonable. The fine folks at Caboose Hobby have been very helpful whenever I've gone into their store to shop so I'm willing to even pay a little more than I might if I purchased items over the internet.
OTOH, Shinohara Code 100 curved sectional track comes in a variety of radii ranging from 18" to 32" in 2" increments. They are pricey. For 18" and 22" radius, I'd go with Atlas Snap-Track, as they are about 1/3 the price of the Shinohara! But, if you need some other sectional track radius, then Shinohara is your choice. For example, my layout is restricted in room, and I just didn't have enough to use 22" radius Atlas track, and 18" was to go inside the main in certain places. Shinohara 20" radius was just the ticket! Both Shinohara and Peco turnouts are great, especially where you need dual curvature diverging routes, or three-way turnouts. I like Peco turnouts where I can throw them by hand. I don't especially care for Peco's switch machine, however. They must either be mounted under the board (which I can't do in places), or at right angles to the track, unless you can cobble up a bell-crank to allow for actuation.
Shinohara turnouts, of course, require some type of switch machine purchased separately. I do use Atlas Custom Line and/or Snap Switches in places, especially where I can't mount the machines under the table or simply want the convenience of just laying them in place and connecting the wires. I disguise most of my above-table machines as piles of dirt, ties, relay boxes, etc. Makes for easier mainentance. My only caution about Atlas #4 turnouts is that the present production sometimes have gaging problems with the turnout points. It can be fixed, but is a nuisance, when they are supposed to be usable right from the box. Regardless of brand, buy an NMRA gage anyway.
BTW, Atlas Snap Relays can be handy for signalling, track power routing, etc. You can hook the solenoids up to AC, DC, DCC or whatever and the relay contacts can be of a different type of power. They have DPDT contacts that provide a "latching relay" effect, and the twin coil solenoids do NOT require other than the momentary power that actuate the switch machine itself. They will NOT work with low-current continuous pressure switch machines, as the coils would burn out on the relay.
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brubakes
Member
Would you say its better then Atlas? Especially in relation to turnouts?
Shinohara turnouts and Peco turnouts are probably the best appearign and best operating turnouts you can buy. The also cost a lot of money if you need a bunch of them. If I needed 10 or less, I'd go with the Walthers/Shinohara. More and I'd go with Atlas because the cost would kill me. I don't Shinohara track is worth the cost difference compared to Atlas or Model Engineering code 83 track.
Could you give us an idea of the cost you're talking about? Maybe I'm just cheap (I am part Scottish after all) or the price of everything is finally hitting me. Today I went in to pick up a few switches for my layout and paid $10 per Atlas code 55 switch. I only picked up six because I haven't finalized the industry sidings. Is $10 about what others are paying for switches?
I need to hide my credit card when I visit Caboose Hobbies in Denver, CO. Today it was only $200. Two days before Christmas I went in and picked a NCE PowerCab Pro, 25 pieces of Micro Engineering flex trek, plus a few other odds and ends. Yikes!
Are you in N scale or HO? I don't think Atlas makes a code 55 HO switch so I assume it's N scale. $10 is a good price for an Atlas N scale manual code 55 switch. OTOH, Walthers/ Shinohara track only comes in HO so I'm a little confused about apples to oranges comparisions.
Correct, I'm running N scale. You're also correct that with the different scale comparing prices would be pointless. Thanks none the less for indicating that $10 per switch is reasonable. The fine folks at Caboose Hobby have been very helpful whenever I've gone into their store to shop so I'm willing to even pay a little more than I might if I purchased items over the internet.
Well, the Walthers switches are nice at $25 a turnout, assuming they are in stock. Walthers also has Atlas Customline Mark 4 #6 switches on sale for $12. Is the Walthers switch worth twice the cost? Like I said, how many switches will you need and what's your budget? If it's like 10 or less, I'd got for the Walthers. If it's more than 10 and your budget is tight, the Atlas Customline switches are a better deal even if you have to do some additional work to get them to work as well as the Walthers switches.
montanan
Whiskey Merchant
I really like the Walthers (Shinohara) track and switches. I started, and completed most of my layout by hand laying code 70 until my Kadee Spike gun bit the bag, and have since been using the Shinohara track with some Micro Engineering code 70 mixed in. The Walthers (Shinohara) switches are a bit pricey, but no where as expensive as the Micro Engineering, but availability can be a problem. I usually keep my eye out on sources such as ebay. You'll like the Walthers track.
trailrider
Well-Known Member
I run Code 100 throughout my layout, primarily for reliability, and also because I have a LOT left over from previous layouts, including some brass rails on fiber ties! (Used on some sidings.) I use flex track where tight curves aren't involved, and I just pick up whatever Caboose Hobbies in Denver has on their shelves.
OTOH, Shinohara Code 100 curved sectional track comes in a variety of radii ranging from 18" to 32" in 2" increments. They are pricey. For 18" and 22" radius, I'd go with Atlas Snap-Track, as they are about 1/3 the price of the Shinohara! But, if you need some other sectional track radius, then Shinohara is your choice. For example, my layout is restricted in room, and I just didn't have enough to use 22" radius Atlas track, and 18" was to go inside the main in certain places. Shinohara 20" radius was just the ticket! Both Shinohara and Peco turnouts are great, especially where you need dual curvature diverging routes, or three-way turnouts. I like Peco turnouts where I can throw them by hand. I don't especially care for Peco's switch machine, however. They must either be mounted under the board (which I can't do in places), or at right angles to the track, unless you can cobble up a bell-crank to allow for actuation.
Shinohara turnouts, of course, require some type of switch machine purchased separately. I do use Atlas Custom Line and/or Snap Switches in places, especially where I can't mount the machines under the table or simply want the convenience of just laying them in place and connecting the wires. I disguise most of my above-table machines as piles of dirt, ties, relay boxes, etc. Makes for easier mainentance. My only caution about Atlas #4 turnouts is that the present production sometimes have gaging problems with the turnout points. It can be fixed, but is a nuisance, when they are supposed to be usable right from the box. Regardless of brand, buy an NMRA gage anyway.
BTW, Atlas Snap Relays can be handy for signalling, track power routing, etc. You can hook the solenoids up to AC, DC, DCC or whatever and the relay contacts can be of a different type of power. They have DPDT contacts that provide a "latching relay" effect, and the twin coil solenoids do NOT require other than the momentary power that actuate the switch machine itself. They will NOT work with low-current continuous pressure switch machines, as the coils would burn out on the relay.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)