Switching From FasTrack To ?

Ross does make sectional track, but apparently not O36...

 

 

 

I think most use Gargraves track with their Ross switches, but many do use them with Atlas track too.  As for Atlas reliability, I guess it depends on who you are.  Some folks have never had a problem, and have been using it since they came out.  Other have a problem and give up right away.  While others address issues as they come up and then never have any problems later.  I think if you read up on what people complain about on Atlas switches and then the solutions from those that use them, you'll be able to keep them working for the life of your layout.  Atlas track is what I picked when I decided to move from FasTrack for my layout design.

I use gar graves/Ross switches. Looking at the gar graves site they have 0-32 as their smallest pre formed curve and the next one up is 0-42. It looks like if you want the same track plan you would have to go flex to get your 0-36 curves.......Paul

Atlas O track is a very good choice if you can find it!!!

Just my 2 cents ...  I really like Atlas .... their products (in both scales) and their people.

 

When we went from Fastrack, we went to Atlas track .... partially because we found a large lot of LN used track.

 

But, the switches .... I feel that a hobby should be as trouble free as you can make it, so we went with Ross switches. (The people at Ross are also nice folks)

 

Good luck.

 

I use Atlas-O track and switches and have had no problems with any of the new track or switches I have purchased. I have purchased some used switches that were in less than desirable condition. Most of these I have been able to repair with new switch machines and/or new parts from Atlas like springs, throw bars and linkage. I probably won't purchase any more used switches. I have found the Atlas track and switches to be very reliable in the 3 years or so I have been using them. I like the looks of it and the solid rails and also how quiet it is. I'm not planning on switching to anything different. 

 

My experience has also been that it requires very little cleaning. Some of the used track I purchased needed cleaning when I got it. I installed it last Sept and started running trains right away, they ran so well I haven't cleaned it yet. A good cleaning may be in order as a nice winter project. 

 

I think the problems with the Atlas switches were with the original versions when they first introduced the track line. Some jumper wires between the rails were too small for O gauge currents and there were some other problems. I believe these have all been addressed and no longer exist in their current items. I also think they were fixed pretty early on and only exist in much older product. There are some differences in some of the used switches I have compared to the newer ones.

 

Atlas is supposed to be producing track and switches again and it's availability from suppliers should be improving soon. Atlas recently sent out an email to their email list subscribers talking about the track availability.

 

Ross and Gargraves are also fine products, many here will recommend them over all others, or even suggest there are no others. I also liked these, but they are hollow rail tubular and I wanted solid rail. I also preferred the look of Atlas track and wanted the switches to match. Proper track laying and wiring play a very (perhaps the most) important role in optimal performance of your track and equipment no matter what track system you choose. When this is not done properly you can and probably will have problems with any track system no matter how good it is.

 

I use Atlas-O track and switches and have had no problems with any of the new track or switches I have purchased.

 

So, you feel that all the internet chatter about problems with Atlas Switches ... is mostly just talk?

 

It kinda pained me to make the decision not to use the Atlas switches, but I didn't want to buy a headache ... or a time-consuming problem. Maybe I made the wrong decision?

 

Jim

Hello Holiday Train, Yes it is mostly Internet chatter. I have 17 Atlas O switches on my layout. I've been using this track since 2000. I had to do some small modifications to the switches (ex: replace thin wiring under switch). but other than that it is great track!!! (my opinion and I have it on my layout....37' X 20' all Atlas O track and switches).

Certainly not just talk Jim. I have Atlas switches all over my layout and they all work perfectly. BUT . . . it took a lot of research and trying stuff to get them figured out and for a while I hated them. For the track piece the answer is -- for me -- wire drops on all rails and Z Stuff switch machines. The Atlas machines can be made to work too but it can be a hassle. If you want a trouble free turn-key switch the popular choice seems to be the Ross switch and Z Stuff switch machine. If I had to do over again I would still do Atlas.

Thank y'all for the feedback. I really appreciate it. Honestly, while I love a product that works out of the box every time just as much as the next person, I do love to tinker. So if most of these issues, with the switches, can be avoided with preemptive rigging and wire replacement, I can't say no to that. Especially if it will allow for a consistent look throughout the layout. It's kind of an OCD thing.

I can't tell you anything about the internet chatter? Even though they can't put anything on the internet that isn't true,   I didn't base my selection on internet chatter. I only went with the Atlas track system after researching it (including reading some internet chatter) and carefully looking it over at my LHS. Then I bought some to test out at home, had no problems, so that's what I chose. I started out wanting Fastrack, but it was too loud for me, so Atlas' solid rail was very appealing to me, as was it's appearance.

 

I can tell you I have not had any problems with Atlas track or new Atlas switches as I posted above.  Have not used the #6924 anti-derail boards like I thought I would need to do. Have not added any extra wires to any of my switches, and have not removed any of the blackening on the center rail. I think they may have had some problems with their switches early on, but I think they were improved fairly quickly. However, I don't know the timelines of when this all took place, all I can comment on is my own experience with them.

 

I don't doubt that some have had problems, problems with just about all track and switches have been reported here. The Atlas twin coil switch machines can be a problem also, if the switch button is held down too long or sticks they will burn up. This isn't just Atlas, but includes all twin coil switch machines. I followed Ingeniero No1's build thread when laying my track, including his method of connecting track power. I was glad to find that before starting my permanent layout.

 

The only problems I have had with the Atlas switches were with the ones I purchased used, and some were pretty well used. Some I believe were the old style before any improvements were made. I have repaired most of them, but considering parts from Atlas, new switch machines from my LHS and time spent I would have been ahead with all new ones. However, once I got them all fixed the have been working just fine, but so much for saving any money there, will only be purchasing new from here forward.

 

If you were building your layout early in the life of the Atlas track system, you could have very well had problems. Currently if you purchase any used switches you could still have problems, as I did. Today, if you purchase new Atlas switches I really don't think you will have any problems, but who knows? Like buying a new engine, we just can't predict that one?

 

 

I'm in pretty much the same boat and will probably convert to Atlas next time I rebuild my layout. The solid rails and lack of hollow roadbed should make it as quiet as possible. I may end up keeping my FasTrack switches and use transition pieces with the Atlas track simply because O switches are so obscenely expensive. 

Holiday Train,

   1st I think you are making a big mistake going away from FasTrack, however each to his own, I am also looking for some more FasTrack Command Control switches if you have any for sale, as you break down your layout let me know. 

PCRR/Dave 

atlas switches are ok,you just have got to be as smart as the switch. i have about 3k in atlas o track products,well worth it imo. theres plenty of atlas track on e-bay....you just gotta look for it.

i think you are making the right choice dumping fastrack....never liked it from day1.-jim

PCRR, I'd PM you, but I don't know that I can on this forum. You can email me at my listed email.

Holiday trains,

 Roger that!  Will comply.

PCRR/Dave

My layout runs on OCD.

Do your homework with Atlas track and switches for best results. I have Atlas on cork on 3/4 plywood and really like the sound quality. Make sure the rail joiners fit tight on all rails and screw the track down. Like rtr12 says, used switches are a bargain but you can end up with some of the earlier models where the jumper wires underneath aren't very good. Easy to fix though. Consult the forum if you run into trouble or have questions. Would have made my learning curve easier for sure.

Eric Segal uses mostly Atlas.It must be ok?Nick

I think it is too.

 

I was at my LHS this morning and they just got some Atlas-O 3 rail switch machines, a few other misc. pieces and a 2 rail switch, #5 I think it was. Maybe things are finally picking up with the Atlas-O track production?

 

Bad news was they said the 2 rail switch was about 20% more than they had been in the past. I'm thinking the 3 rail items might possibly be getting the same increase?

Honestly, after dealing with the cost of FasTrack for a few years now, even with an increase in price, I probably wont notice. I managed to snag a couple remote switches on ebay for ~$60. I know I'm running the risk of them being older versions but we'll see.

Hi HolidayTrain,

Would that be the Aurora?

 

No matter which product you want in Anchorage, someone is going to pay shipping, so use whatever track and switches that you like. Order from West Coast vendors in the lower 48.

 

Atlas track on cork is definitely a quiet track.

 

 

Yes, Fastrack is equally expensive. I think their new command control switches are also getting up there pretty high. They are wireless though, when used with Legacy so I suppose that's an advantage. I still prefer Atlas. I have gotten some used Atlas track, straights and curves very reasonably priced and also in pretty good condition. The switches are where I had the most trouble with used. While some have had problems, there are many people using Atlas track and switches that have had very few problems.

 

If you like to tinker you should have no problem at all fixing the used switches, that is if they need fixing. The switch machines at about $15-$16 are the most expensive parts I have had to buy so far, the other parts like linkages and springs are pretty inexpensive. At ~$60, replacing the switch machine will put you close to new switch prices, at least if there is no price increase. The Z-Stuff DZ-1000's are also very nice switch machines, but cost a little more. I used one because I couldn't fit the Atlas into a tight spot on my layout, the DZ's are a lot smaller. I like it a lot, but they are probably about $24-$25 or so street price.  

 

Since you have to order everything anyway, Charles Ro and some of the other forum sponsors have competitive pricing. A&M Hobbies is a big Atlas track dealer also. Shipping to Anchorage may be the worst part for you? Might be better off with a west coast dealer for shipping prices? 

Sadly, you are correct about shipping.  More than anything else, shipping tends to take the deepest bite. For example, I just bought a 90-degree crossover to finish off my latest project. Ordering online from nearly anywhere was going to run me ~$35 in shipping for standard usps. I've learned to just buy extra stuff from amazon for the free shipping and the cost will a lot of the time end up cheaper than just buying the track out right.

I'm in the midst of re-planning my Realtrax Christmas layout with as much Atlas as I can, for the same noise reason Holiday Train mentions. I can't speak to the switches, but I can speak to the chatter. If the Atlas switches were really that bad, there would be much more chatter. Few start a thread called Gee, I love my functioning switches. When folks do have an issue they start a thread and it seems to me most find solutions. The best part about switching to unballasted track is that you can always make a transition piece to switch between manufacturers. Atlas has recently communicated (there's a thread here somewhere) that they had some vendor issues and they are nearly recovered. That could happen to any of the vendors, so if you can find the pieces you want now, for this layout, your golden.

 

Now.... I went back to Holiday Trains layout. First WAY COOL! Second, I doubt you want to go to smaller radii and I think it would be difficult to duplicate with larger radii, unless you can negotiate more space . You have turnouts in key places that will require reliability, but you already know that. Despite my flip dismissal of Atlas switch issues,  I'd leave this topic up and wait for more input before I invested in that many turnouts. Also, I'm not sure which other vendors make switches that fit this layout anyway

I have had a good run with Atlas. I have ten switches on my layout. I have had no issues as of yet.

Not only could that happen to other vendors, it did happen to almost all of them. I think this also has something to do with all the production delays the last few years. Almost all of them had to find new manufacturing plants, move their equipment and get people trained to build their models. They are still recovering from all this.

 

I also agree with you about the 'more chatter' if the switches were that bad. I think there are a lot of folks using these and we would see a lot more posts here if there were still big problems with them. I see a lot more complaints here about engines, rolling stock and accessories. Atlas has a nice track system that is well thought out and works quite well. The same goes for the other track system manufacturers, they all put a lot of effort into their designs and all have good systems.