Current sources for 2-rail track & turnouts

Almost all my track is Atlas 2 rail. I just tried my first attempt of using Micro-engineering track code 148. The weathered stuff is very stiff. I read that it's tuff to bend the weathered stuff. That seems like it would help me as some of my long straights get warped in certain seasons. I did not ballast anything yet.

 By accident, I curved a piece. I was trying to move the ties out of the way to clean off the weathering at the ends for soldering. I found that a slight tap with my mini- track hammer moved the ties pretty well. As I was working with the track, I noticed that if I tapped the ties a certain way, I created a radius. So I took one piece and moved the ties so that it created a mild curve. I returned them to their stock position and the track went back straight.

 Maybe when I get more I will try it on curves. For now, the six weathered pieces I obtained all went on straights. Using Atlas 2 rail track connectors, I noticed that when soldered, the track joints can be uneven creating bumps. I need to get different joiners next to match the rail.

Old Pullman is long gone, and Lou Cross of Right-o-Way passed away late last year (I've heard the line has been taken over but don't have any info).

Micro Engineering Code 148 and Code 125 track is available from MicroMark (http://www.micromark.com) or directly from the manufacturer (http://www.microengineering.com). Atlas 2-rail joiners with work with the M-E code 148 track.

There are two independent turnout builders -- Signature Switch Company (http://www.signatureswitchco.com), and O Scale Turnouts (http://www.oscaleturnouts.com). They make custom turnouts.

Hi Naveenrajan,

So glad to hear you got the go ahead from the division superintendent to charter your O Scale empire.  Can't wait to see some of your beautiful collection in action.  As far as turnouts go, Atlas is currently the only producer of both flex track and accompanying RTR turnouts.  Both Atlas flex track and turnouts are only available in Code 148 size rail. 

Matt is correct, Right-O-Way (http://right-o-way.com/) is still in business but in the midst of a transition as the previous owner, Lou Cross, recently passed away and the web site states that there is temporary 120-day closure until the business is up and running again under the new proprietor.  Right-O-Way only sells track components, so you would need to assemble your own turnouts and/or lay you own track with this company's products.  The products are very nice and used by one of the pre-built O scale turnout manufacturers, Signature Switch Co. 

The track and switch components from Protocraft are geared towards the Proto 48 crowd so the tolerances are designed to support scale sized flanges, wheel tread widths, etc. so if you do decide to build your own turnouts and wish to stay in O5W, then Right-O-Way products are the route to take, which are geared towards the O5W market.

Hope this helps.
Scott K.
Austin, TX

One option is to lay your own track, & make your own switches. It's not as hard as people think - just slower than using r-t-r track, but you will also save a LOT of money doing it yourself, especially against the eye-watering prices of those ready-made switches, even if you use components from Right-O-Way.

Yep.  That's right.

Mine are all scratch built.

Take your time.  It's pretty easy.

Engineer-Joe posted:

Almost all my track is Atlas 2 rail. I just tried my first attempt of using Micro-engineering track code 148. The weathered stuff is very stiff. I read that it's tuff to bend the weathered stuff. That seems like it would help me as some of my long straights get warped in certain seasons. I did not ballast anything yet.

 By accident, I curved a piece. I was trying to move the ties out of the way to clean off the weathering at the ends for soldering. I found that a slight tap with my mini- track hammer moved the ties pretty well. As I was working with the track, I noticed that if I tapped the ties a certain way, I created a radius. So I took one piece and moved the ties so that it created a mild curve. I returned them to their stock position and the track went back straight.

 Maybe when I get more I will try it on curves. For now, the six weathered pieces I obtained all went on straights. Using Atlas 2 rail track connectors, I noticed that when soldered, the track joints can be uneven creating bumps. I need to get different joiners next to match the rail.

Joe,

Thanks for the feedback on Micro-Engineering track. Could you please let me know where you bought your weathered flex-track from? I had seen Micro-Engineering track in the Micro-Mark catalog I recently received but when I visited their website, they only have the non-weathered version.

Also comparing the MSRP, I noticed, that Micro-Engineering track is almost $2 less per feet, when compared to Atlas-O flex-track. Having used both, have you noticed any differences in the level of detail or operation, between them?

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

To be fair, a lot of 2 rail hobby shops have it. I believe I got one pack just for testing from Norm's?  I get a lot of stuff from auctions lately as I'm looking for stuff that I missed out on.

The micro has ties spaced much closer together. I have it joined to the Atlas on my loops and the trains don't notice any change. I cleaned off the top of the rails to protect my wheels.

Remember to look at the length of each when comparing price. I believe the Atlas is 40" and the micro is shorter?

MaxSouthOz posted:

Yep.  That's right.

Mine are all scratch built.

Take your time.  It's pretty easy.

Max & SundayShunter,

How do you maintain the gauge when handlaying your tracks? I came across the NMRA O-Scale Gauge at someone online hobby shops but the stock image seems to be of a thin sheetmetal part, which, just by looking at the image, could lead to errors if the gauge is not perfectly perpendicular to the rails. Do you have any fixture or template to maintain the gauge on straight & curved tracks while securing the tracks with spikes? I understand that the costs of materials would be cheaper if I laid my own tracks but if I have to design & get a jig or a fixture, made, to maintain the gauge, I am concerned that the costs could be higher than buying flex-track or preassembled turnouts.

Also, actual railroad tracks have a ½” thick, 16” wide, 8” long, tie-plates between the rail & the wooden ties. Some of the sectional tracks I had seen also have these marginally visible tie-plate details, molded in the plastic ties. How do hobbyists who handlay their track capture this detail or do they just secure the rail, directly to the wooden ties with spikes?

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

naveenrajan posted:

Take your time.  It's pretty easy.

Max & SundayShunter,

How do you maintain the gauge when handlaying your tracks? I came across the NMRA O-Scale Gauge at someone online hobby shops but the stock image seems to be of a thin sheetmetal part, which, just by looking at the image, could lead to errors if the gauge is not perfectly perpendicular to the rails. Do you have any fixture or template to maintain the gauge on straight & curved tracks while securing the tracks with spikes? I understand that the costs of materials would be cheaper if I laid my own tracks but if I have to design & get a jig or a fixture, made, to maintain the gauge, I am concerned that the costs could be higher than buying flex-track or preassembled turnouts.

One, you should have one of those gauges regardless of handlaying or not just to check all of the rest of your specs on track, wheelsets, etc.

It is pretty easy,   Lay & spike down one rail to wherever you plan and then put the 2nd one down and spike it against the gauge to hold the gap steady.  No need to over complicate things. 

BTW, might want to go to the source to get ME track or rail and visit the ME website.

Who says track has to be absolutely perfect??? 

I have roller gauges, Naveen.

I bought them from the UK.  I'll have to dig out the invoice.

I'll get back to you.

Cheers

Scott Kay posted:

Hi Naveenrajan,

...

Matt is correct, Right-O-Way (http://right-o-way.com/) is still in business but in the midst of a transition as the previous owner, Lou Cross, recently passed away and the web site states that there is temporary 120-day closure until the business is up and running again under the new proprietor.  Right-O-Way only sells track components, so you would need to assemble your own turnouts and/or lay you own track with this company's products.  The products are very nice and used by one of the pre-built O scale turnout manufacturers, Signature Switch Co. 

...

 

I do believe Signature Switch uses American Bridge & Signal components.  O Scale Turnouts uses ROW components and I believe he is the person who has taken over ROW.  At least that was the plan a couple of years ago. 

While I prefer O Scale Turnouts, for the more plug and play folks Signature Switch is the way to go.  Brad will make you whatever you want and is very price competitive with Atlas for what you get.  Everyone who has gotten turnouts from him has been pretty gaga over them.  The only thing is the rail is glued to high density fiberboard (masonite) laser cut ties.

Think of Microengineering track as more bendable than flexible.  Once bent getting it back to straight is, well, annoying to say the least.  I use it because I get correctly gauged "flex" track from Protocraft.

Found it!

C & L Finescale Modelling Ltd

http://www.finescale.org.uk

I can take a photo if that would help.

Cheers

Hi Naveen,

If you want to lay your own track and include the tie plates, you can purchase tie plates from Right-O-Way for the Code # of the rail you plan to use.  I have hand laid turnouts and some straight track sections using these tie plates and it does come out really, really detailed, but let me say that adding tie plates really, really, really adds to the time it takes to lay track.  I would probably not hand lay plain straight track using tie plates on a larger layout – a small switching shelf layout, yes, but a large one, no – way too much other stuff to do.  On a larger layout, I would use flex track but if super detailed hand laid track is your thing and you enjoy hand lay track, then by all means go for it. 

As far as costs go, I have found that hand laying straight track does not really save you anything over using flex track.  Hand laying turnouts can save you some $$$ but if you go all-in with all the pieces that Right-O-Way sells to hand lay a highly detailed turnout, then the price ends up being comparable to what a commercial or custom turnout costs.  Now…  I don’t think either of the custom turnout builders offer all the super turnout bells and whistles details in their standard offering either so it is not really an apples-to-apples comparison and I suppose if the custom builders did include all the turnout gadgets, then you would probably end up saving some $$$ by hand laying your own.  All depends on how detailed you want your track to be.

Here are some pix of a jazzed up hand laid turnout using all the Right-O-Way bells and whistles:

http://www.bendtheirons.com/im.../LatestPixIndex.html

Here is a link to a video series done by a fellow OGR Forum member, CWEX, on how to use Right-O-Way components to hand lay an O Scale turnout (I just provided a link the first video but there are about a dozen or more in total – YouTube should lead you through the remaining videos “automagically&rdquo

https://youtu.be/MYJl-a0TWqA

As far as track gauges, I would first and foremost recommend that you get an O Scale NMRA gauge (It has many, many, uses beyond checking the track gauge as MWB stated above).  Here is a link to one from Micro Mark:

http://www.micromark.com/nmra-gage-o-scale,9543.html

You can also get a three point track gauge too but make sure to get them for the rail size you are using as they differ slightly from rail size to rail size.   Here is a link to an “HO scale Code 83” version but O scale versions show up pretty regularly on Ebay - I have a couple made by Precision Scale (PSC):

http://www.micromark.com/code-...rack-gauge,8746.html

Also, if you do decide to hand lay any track, I would recommend that you get a set of the spiking pliers sold by Micro Mark:

http://www.micromark.com/3-pie...nvas-pouch,9200.html

Scott K.

Austin, TX

Scott Kay posted:

As far as costs go, I have found that hand laying straight track does not really save you anything over using flex track.  Hand laying turnouts can save you some $$$ but if you go all-in with all the pieces that Right-O-Way sells to hand lay a highly detailed turnout, then the price ends up being comparable to what a commercial or custom turnout costs.  Now…  I don’t think either of the custom turnout builders offer all the super turnout bells and whistles details in their standard offering either so it is not really an apples-to-apples comparison and I suppose if the custom builders did include all the turnout gadgets, then you would probably end up saving some $$$ by hand laying your own.  All depends on how detailed you want your track to be.

The part that we have overlooked regarding handlaying turnouts is that you can make them whatever #, curves, directions, etc. to fit whatever you want your track plan to be; you're totally free from the constraints of commercial products deciding where your track and trains will go - you're in control.

http://www.railwayeng.com/flyer/reflyer.htm

Railway Engineering / Steve Hatch in AZ

Makes custom turnouts in O and On3, but does not like to update his web site.

RDUNNIII, et al,

The rail in Signature Switch switches is soldered to pc tie strip which is glued to shaved Masonite ties.  The other ties are full depth 1/8" Masonite and all are laser cut.  Brad makes a fine product.

Ed

I have used code 125 unweathered from ME.  It bends and you will need a Dremel to cut.   Peco 711 rail joiners are also a needed item

Junction with Lenz double slip switch two Atlas #5s and Brad's custom Signature switches.  You will  notice the soldered ties on Brad's custom "made to fit" track work.  I just traced a large sheet of heavy wrapping paper over the plain flex track right of way, sent it to Brad then he sent me a cad drawing to check fit (which was perfect) and Brad made the light colored tie track work.  Total time about a month.  All of Brad's track work had color coded wire feeds soldered and gaps cut.  801.884.6354

He also did a #8 double cross over.

""The part that we have overlooked regarding handlaying turnouts is that you can make them whatever #, curves, directions, etc. to fit whatever you want your track plan to be; you're totally free from the constraints of commercial products deciding where your track and trains will go - you're in control.""

Huge consideration if you want really smooth flowing track visually and operationally. Not saying you can't have nice track with RTR turnouts (which seldom are RTR as they have to be tweaked), but it seems with built up turn-outs you are trying to make them fit the location, rather than looking like they were planned from the start. Even smaller numbered turnouts can be built to transition from straight or curved track more smoothly than a RTR turnout. As Martin pointed out you're not constrained to a #4, #5, #6 or any stock number turnout.  And they're not hard to make and make you feel good when your done.  

Butch 

Awesome track work Tom!  And they're built to fit the existing trackplan rather that jostling the trackplan to fit the turnout. Excellent execution on some complicated turnouts. 

Butch

For those who have difficulty bending ME flex track, Norm Buckhart gave me a great tip.  Spray the track with Blaster Drylube then bend - makes the job much easier.  Afterwards, there will be a slick powder that needs to be brushed off before weathering.

...gregg

Tom Tee posted:

Junction with Lenz double slip switch two Atlas #5s and Brad's custom Signature switches.  You will  notice the soldered ties on Brad's custom "made to fit" track work.  I just traced a large sheet of heavy wrapping paper over the plain flex track right of way, sent it to Brad then he sent me a cad drawing to check fit (which was perfect) and Brad made the light colored tie track work.  Total time about a month.  All of Brad's track work had color coded wire feeds soldered and gaps cut.  801.884.6354

 

 

That made to fit curved turnout in the foreground really shows how Brad makes things to fit.

And with either Signature Switches or O Scale Turnouts you do not remove the PC board ties.  They are there for dimensional stability.  Both have said they will not be responsible for gauge issues if you remove the PC ties.

That foreground curved turnout in the post above is only 2/3 curved. It is straight from the frog forward.  In the rearmost position of the above photo is a Lionel style LH turnout with a tangent coming off a 72" fixed radius divergent track.

The right hand 72" curved Signature turnout flowing from the outside main into the diamond in the post above is a one piece assembly with the crossing.  Staggered rail ends permit a solid soldered up unit.

Brad also makes custom soldered up curved track sections for  ultra stable track ends for lift outs. In this example he made the sections in four different radii.  I simply glued/ installed the R.O.W. with Brad's custom curved pieces  over the lift out seam and then sliced a lift out provision.

I'm impressed with the switch within the lift out.  Brad's work is beautiful and he makes the smoothest running switches I've tested.

 I wanted to thank everybody for their contribution. I am still following all the leads I got on this thread. Do Micro-Engineering, O-Scale Turnouts, Signature Switch Company participate in the Chicago O-Scale March / April meet? The last 2 years I attended, my focus was on trains & I didn’t spend time at tables other than the model importers & dealers. I remember seeing Right_O’_Way & Protocraft represented.

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

Hi Tom,

What is the width of the layout back by the engine shed in the first photo? Looks like 30" but might be more. 

Butch

It is more Butch, I believe it is 4' wide at that point.    Those tracks are on 4.5" centers. 

If you look close you will see there are 11 tracks across at that point counting the RDC siding at the passenger station foot print near the aisle.

naveenrajan posted:

 I wanted to thank everybody for their contribution. I am still following all the leads I got on this thread. Do Micro-Engineering, O-Scale Turnouts, Signature Switch Company participate in the Chicago O-Scale March / April meet? The last 2 years I attended, my focus was on trains & I didn’t spend time at tables other than the model importers & dealers. I remember seeing Right_O’_Way & Protocraft represented.

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

2 years ago ROW and O Scale Turnouts shared table space. So I expect that is where information on ROWs future info to be.

American Bridge and Signal, who also does track components will probably be there.  I don't think ME participates in any shows.  I do expect Brad from Signature Switch to be there.  There may also be another company in Florida who makes lots of different types of O Scale turnouts there but I can't remember their name. 

But, Protocraft works with ME to produce their P48 flex and with Signature Switch to do P48 turnouts so, if someone is not represented there directly there will probably be someone at the show who can point you in right direction.