I am frustrated with several new Atlas turnouts that I purchased. My locomotives are derailing due to the points no being close enough to the outside rails. I have four turnouts where this is occurring. I used a finger nail file to try to sharpen the points but with no success. I even replaced several but with the same results. Any suggestions other than switching to PECO? I am using an Atlas manual switch machine. Would a Caboose ground throw switch provide more closing force? DMK
No guarantee, but you can carefully bend the tip of the point toward the rail so that it JUST touches the outside rail. This provides a bit of spring loading to the point and also gives a bit of a ramp for the wheels as they pass. A caboose ground throw will put more tension on the points as well. We have to do this frequently on our NTRAK modules, and Pecos also have this issue, just not as frequently because they are spring loaded and push a little harder on the points
I do not know which Peco switches you are using, either C80 or C55 but I have never had an issue with Peco C55 switches. Now my Peco's were purchased over a decade ago and I have no experience with newer ones. So newer ones may have issues. Also, it helps to remove the cork roadbed under the throw bar to eliminate any resistance to its movement especially if you ballast that area.
An afterthought here. Are any rolling stock derailing or is it only locomotives? If only locomotives, then check the wheel gauge using an NMRA gauge. Your wheel gauge may be too narrow.
****************** DMK, Looking at your photos, you are correct that the point blade is not hard against the stock rail, filing and bending the point blade and adding a Caboose ground-throw should help. Also, be careful that the turnout is installed straight and preferably with a straight piece of track leading into the narrow end of the turnout and preferably on a flat part of the layout. I have used Peco55 for 25 years and had no issues with them over that time. I do not fix down the Peco turnout just the interconnecting tracks. This minimizes pressure on the turnout throw-bar so that the Peco spring always holds the point blade tight against the stock rail. I highly recommend Peco for its ruggedness and reliability, also the turnout spring saves you the cost of buying a turnout motor or ground throw. For your Atlas turnout checking, it is also good to have the NMRA gauge for checking wheel spacing on your cars and locos but you can also just see which cars/locos cause issues. But, really nearly all critical issues on the turnout can be spotted through running trains and examining the turnout visually as your are already doing. - Tonkphilip
All the Atlas #6 switches I have bought fairly recently have the angle-rail points (as opposed to the solid rail) and a very thin blade which snuggles right into the stock rails. I have never had to rework these point rails. Of course, you are using the regular switches with a switch machine attached and I'm using the custom line ones. Were those made in China? I bet they were. Doug
