I'm looking to buy some new N scale track in the next day or two to start working on my layout. For now I'm starting out with a simple oval and perhaps a siding (I'm gonna be lucky to be able to afford an engine and a reefer) I'm wondering if it really matters which Atlas product I use. They have the code 55 which is slightly higher priced than the track with black ties (Code 70??). The lower price allows for more purchaces and quicker track laying but I do not want to buy an inferior product. Is there a big difference? I know that one may look more prototypical but I'm not super concerned about that...mostly just thinking operationally and compatibilty with todays engines and rolling stock.
Hello Jman, There has been a lot of discussion on this same topic here in the past. I found the search function very handy to read about all the pros and cons of all sorts of track! If you're not concerned about being prototypical and want to get up and running QUICKLY... the Atlas Code 80 track is a very easy way to get running! Just my $.02... (use search!) Joe
I believe you are thinking the code 80 track. code 55 track is more proto-typical and closer to scale size than code 80 both are good products I went with code 80 at the time I started buying track code 55 was just out ,, and is more expensive than code 80. at the time no one was sure about code 55 code 55 has trouble with some older made rolling stocks and engines. The flanges of the wheels set can hit the rail spikes and can make some cars bounce off the track. Most modelers that use code 55 change wheel sets and newer production is placing the smaller flanged wheel sets on cars and engines. None of this is from my own experince but more from people who have posted about the good and bad, as I said code 55 was brand new the year I started looking hard at starting my own layout ,, seems I am still looking as it have not gone any further than the table top and a grade or 2,,,, time, money never seem to have them both at the same time the code 80 track proto typically is higher than code 55 so it dose not have the same problems as code 55, but has it own troubles. like the black rails once I get the right amount of track and start permantly laying it I will paint it right now i just have a loop set up to run my trains around when I feel the urge. I get alot of my rolling stock from train shows so they are normally older production models so code 80 is a better choice for me.
As both Joe and Allen have both stated the code 80 track is fine although it does look large compared to code 55. My whole layout is built with code 80 track andit has never really worried me but I'm not that much of a prototypical modeller. In the end it's your layout so whatever you prefer is your choice. Good luck
Thanks for the great advice. I've noticed that Code 55 is still not super available. It's carried at mostly the train specific hobby store while code 80 is at just about every hobby store I go into, which is nice since its about a forty minute drive to the nearest train specific hobby store and about ten minutes to the nearest general hobby store.
You might want to look at some of the internet hobby shops for your track, eaven with shipping the price can be much lower than the local hobby shop. You can find many online shops on sites like railserve.com and nmra.org.
If I'm allowed to do so, I highly recommend Rio Grande Hobbies. You can visit their site at www.4nscale.com. I've bought lots of stuff from them. Their prices are very good and they get your stuff to you usually within 3-4 days unless it's out of stock (which hasn't ever been the case for me).
This is one of the most debated issuses in N scale. I will not tell you what to use but I will tell you that I chose Peco C55 based on these points: A) availability{Atlas wasn't made at the time} B) selection of turnouts C) turnout opperation. Side benefits have been dependability, flange clearance, and interchangeability with C80. The tie length and spacing is Euro, not U.S. standard. I don't think it's noticeable, others do.
