Subway track

Sean007 posted:

bluelinec4 posted:

Unless you have full access to the track dont use Atlas.  I am sorry we did on our subway as it is the worst when it comes to dirt and grime  Do yourself a favor and use Ross switches with Gargraves track

That's a great point about access for track cleaning. I plan on having access from underneath, but that was for derailment.

Sean

Yes.  Some truth that Atlas gets dirty - but, in my experience, not a big difference from other track.

I use a track-cleaning car pushed along through difficult areas.  Works wonders.  I would not change my choice of track over this concern.

But.  That's just MO.  

You can only use a track cleaning car if the pulling power runs   Construction around the layout gets that Atlas track so gunked up that an engine will not run  I have a battery operated switcher that pulls the track cleaning cars   We just completed removing all the Atlas switches and replaced them with Ross.

Steve

I blame Brian for the height  LOL

Hey Ben

Still blaming Brian for the subway !!!! lmao lol lol

Ben I thought the problem with the Atlas track was connectivity. The clips between each track ?

MCD4x4 posted:

Ben I thought the problem with the Atlas track was connectivity. The clips between each track ?

 

Yeah that too   We have a wood floor with wood constructed layout  It tends to move with the changes in weather  The Atlas track connectors spread open and cause loss of power connection  We soldered all the rails to overcome that  

Ben you soldered all the rails on all four lines? 

MCD4x4 posted:

Ben you soldered all the rails on all four lines? 

I didnt do it personally  Hector did most of it  Yes all four subterranean lines have soldered track joints BUT  and its a big but.  We were learning as we went.  The irons we used in the beginning werent good enough to make a proper solder connection  We kept experimenting with bigger and hotter soldering irons  None of them were good enough causing many cold solder connections  The rails need to get hot for the solder to stick properly  It wasnt until we purchased the American Beauty Resistance solder station that it was done properly.  Worth its weight in gold.  Only half the track was done right

Another problem with the Atlas switches was also connectivity.  With the amount of track and the high current draw of most of the subways the Atlas switches didnt hold up.  They had a fine wire under the rails to make the connection though the switch  The wire melted causing many dead spots around the switches.  We had more jumpers through the switches than anything  Hence we have removed ALL Atlas switches with the exception of 5 wyes.  The Ross switches are great.  The only problem is that we are using the DZ1000 switch motors.  Some of the premier sets have a third rail shoe that sticks out pretty far and hit the switch motor.  A little filing of the shoe is necessary.  Using a different switch motor would be preferable though.