One of my recent interests is the history of model railroading, particularly that of techological advances in small scales. When was the first Code 55 track introduced for N? The only information I turned up said that Peco's (apparent) Code 55 came around 1990. It would make sense for there to have been something earlier. Not only were some models being made with Code 55 compatible flanges in the 1970s, at least one (Bachmann 0-4-0) was retooled in the 1980s with lower flanges. http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/kators3.html The 1984 MR review of the Atlas-Kato RS-3 mentions Code 55 and 40 track. Also, Marklin Z track, which is Code 60, obviously came out in 1972. Is it like Peco Code 55 with the rail submerged in the ties? And when did the first live-frog switches for N come? Considering the electrical pickup issues of many older N (or any scale) locomotives, plastic frogs were asking for trouble.
I think Micro Engineering had C55 and C40 flex track by the late 80's, I used some C40 on a couple of sidings on an Ntrak module but the lack of turnouts (still) held me back from doing more. Shinohara, from memory, made C60 track and turnouts. I also think Peco brought out electro frog C80 turnouts sometime in the 80's but I remember Shinohara having them long before that.
Wasn't Shinohara's track Code 70? Atlas' Code 55 line came out in 1998, someone correct me if I'm wrong...
If you want to get technical, the Rapido circa-1968 swing-frog was technically a live frog. It had contacts underneath to switch the entire frog and point assembly from one polarity to another and was all-metal. I had some Shinohara code 70 stuff in 1979 or so, I think.... at least before 1980.
