Ross vs Atlas

Use ross track and Ross switches

doug

With your "score" of Ross track, seems like you've already made your decision.

On what did you base your feeling that the Ross track was "much more durable than the Atlas track?  I have no experience with Atlas track. 

Atlas track is pretty substantial...

What are you looking for in order of importance?

All of the major track systems are 'good' and each has advantages/ disadvantages over the others.  To some of us, realism is the driving factor and again, each has its own appeal and differs from the others. ALL have the third rail but how it appears to you is what is important.

MTH ScaleTrax has its adherents too with the much better proportioned rails and the lack of a 3 'rail' - using instead an inverted 'T' which appears much less bulky than Atlas' middle rail (which is also too big). 

It all boils down to what YOU are looking for...

Personally, there is no contest between the Atlas with it's proper sized ties and spacing compared to the vastly oversized components of the Ross (and Gargraves) in your photo above. 

They are both very good track systems. Track is really a personal preference. You should go with the one you like best and that best suits your needs.

It was a tough decision for me. Ross wasn't a consideration because I just don't like the dark, dark ties and the little dimples between track connections. I started with MTH Realtrax and had some good running trains with it, but as time went by, I realized it really didn't look very realistic and the switches always had an issue with different engines. So, I decided on Atlas. To be honest with you, I haven't looked back. I don't solder...I use the Atlas power connectors...I use DCS...I use Star power. NEVER have had a problem and I'm serious about that. The engines just work, the switches just work. I power them with DZ-2500 switch machines, which work perfect.

I broke my ankle in August and didn't run any trains until November (that's 3 months). No track was covered, vacuumed or cleaned. When I powered up, everything worked perfectly. No engines stalled or had any problems.

So, in a nutshell...I'm a HUGE Atlas track fan.

George (G3)

We've built several modular layouts with Gargraves track and Ross switches. The hollow track takes a beating when the layout is set up and taken down. We have a some guys who are rougher on the track than I would like. Anyway, the track is easy to bend/dent/tweak.

This may not be a problem with a home layout and only one or two people handling it.

But based on my experience, I would go with solid track rather than hollow track. 

I started my layout with Atlas track and switches.  I love the track but over the past 8 years, I have had 24 failures in power going through the Atlas switchs.  One just happened last week after 8 years on the layout.  The failures require removing the switch from the layout and adding new jumpers.  I am replacing the Atlas switches with Ross switches.  I have never had an issue with a Ross switch in over 20 years of using them.

I find using the Atlas track and Ross switches to work very well.  The track is the same height and the rail is the same profile.  With a little work, the Atlas rail joiners even work with the Ross switches.

I know there are those who will say I do not know what I am talking about but I have built six layouts using Atlas track and over 100 Switches and I will never use another one!

Good luck on your decision and happy railroading,

Don

These are all good valid points. I had atlas track on my layout and I do like it. However the switch motors are terrible and I have not had much luck finding replacement motors. Can you use z-stuff motors with atlas switches? If so there is a route for me to take then buying all Ross track and switches or atlas track with ross switches. I like to stick to one brand of track then mixing it up that's just my preference. Also soldering to Atlas track is a pain. I was told to solder to the rails for better conductivity and not to buy the atlas rail joiners which have the wires already pre soldered to them. I plan on running 16gauge wire to the track directly from my MTH terminal port. And finally I plan on wearing the track with rust oleum came brown spray paint then ballast ing the track for more realism. 

I know you can use DZ-1000's with Atlas switches and I imagine the DZ2500's will work as well, I believe I read this on the Z-stuff site about the 2500's. Atlas switch machines have been hard to get, but are now becoming available. My LHS is getting some next week finally.

As for track power, After reading forum member Ingeniero No1's build thread, I used his method of powering my Atlas track. I had a couple of previous temp layouts and this is my first permanent layout. It is 6'x16' so far, wired per Barry's guidelines and it is all 10's On my DCS system. Legacy also works very well. Best I have ever had anything work. A lot of the track was used and a bit dirty, I have never cleaned it yet nor have I removed any blackening from the center rails. I am very happy with it to say the least.

Here is a link to the track power connection methods used by Ingeniero No1 that I copied. I used #14 OGR wire to terminal MTH block and #16 OGR wire for all track feeds. The same wire was used by Ingeniero No1 in his build thread I believe.

Build Thread look for the post from May 1, 2011 9:06 AM, about half way down the page. I can't tell you how happy I was to find this before powering my track.

Also as DGJONES says, I think the earlier Atlas switches used smaller jumpers below the switches to the track sections. I believe this has been fixed with the newer switches. At least mine appear to be that way, smaller wires on the older used switches I have.

Some folks have posted some threads about some very nice looking weathered Atlas track they have done, unfortunately I can't remember any of the links to them. Might try a search for some?

The solid rail is what really sold me on the Atlas track, and I also really like the looks of it.