Joe Baldwin aka Joe Daddy

Http://www.joe-daddy.com

Prototype practices

Choosing the right code rail for your needs

Tools

Interoperability and compatibility

Turnouts

Commercial

Hand laying

Rules and Laws

Money Matters

Poor track work is prototypical!

S Gauge Turnout

Z Gauge Turnout

ME HO Gauge Turnout

S Gauge Turnout

Z Gauge Turnout

S Gauge Turnout

Lots of opinions

Code 100 is for toy trains

Code 83 is the only acceptable mainline

Code 70 for main lines, code 50 for sidings

Micro Engineering track has proper spike detail

Real model railroaders Hand Lay

Atlas track sucks

Bachmann – outright laughter

Kato – I didn’t know they made track

Decisio

n Fact

or

Co

de

10

0

Co

de

83

Sup

er T

rack

Reliability 3 2 2

Authenticity 2 3 1

Prototypical requirements 2 3 2

Cost 3 2 1

Ease of use 3 2 3

Speed of deployment 3 2 3

Kind of users (children) 3 2 2

Average Score 2.71 2.29 2.00

Jack Rummel BMRC Shinohara and Peco turnouts

Many modular (train show) layouts

Jeff Morrison, (good friend) Atlas Turnouts

Dave Cochrun (Good friend) Atlas Turnouts

All members of the Code 100 team

Jerry Gilland

Jerry Wilson

Bob Rothe

Doug Geiger

All members of the Hand Layers union

Doug Wright – Peco & Walthers Turnouts

John Parker - Peco Turnouts

Joe Baldwin – Atlas & Walthers Turnouts

Code 83 Atlas

Porter Cable

Model #371

compact belt sander

2.5" x 14“

~ 100 bucks

Vacuum Port

Unfortunately, Tools like lasers

don’t ensure Straight track. . .

Unfortunately, Tools like lasers

don’t ensure Straight track. . .

Areas of concern• Rail Height• Web Width (rail joiners)• Tie Height

Factors to consider• How many interconnections?• Location of the ‘problem areas”• Personal skills• Personal patience• Time allocation

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Micro Engineering

Walthers

Atlas

Peco

Web

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Wal

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Micro Engineering

Walthers

Atlas

Peco

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Micro Engineering

Walthers

Atlas

Peco

TopicStep 1 - Using Assembly Fixtures Step 2 - Pre-Building The Frog Points Step 3 - Solid vs. Hinged SwitchpointsStep 4 - Installing The PC Board TiesStep 5 - Preparing and Installing The StockrailStep 6 - Preparing and Installing The SwitchpointsStep 6 (Cont) - Preparing and Installing The SwitchpointsStep 7 - Installing The GuardrailsStep 8 - Installing The FrogpointsStep 9 - Installing The ThrowbarStep 10 - Cleaning The TrackworkStep 11 - Finishing With QuickSticksBuilding Z Scale Trackwork With Fast Tracks Assembly Fixtures

Rules

o Rule #1 it is my railroad

o Rule #2 when in doubt, refer to Rule #1

Laws

o Turnouts must work in four directions

o Don’t trust the knowledge of internet forums

o Code 83 means rail height, nothing else

o Think hard before mixing track and turnout makers

Three significant cost drivers for my layout

Track

Turnouts

Switch machines

DCC / remote control

Rail Code Manufacturer Retail Caboose

100

Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 4.65$ 3.49$

Peco Railway Models 7.60$ 5.92$

Shinohara Track 8.99$ 7.05$

83

Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 5.75$ 4.31$

Micro Engineering 5.49$ 4.83$

Peco Railway Models 7.20$ 5.61$

Walthers Track 9.30$ 7.99$

75

Peco Railway Models 9.30$ 7.24$

70

Shinohara Track 7.99$ 6.37$

SKU Code Descriptoin Type W Decoderscale MFG stock retail CH

150283 100 TURNOUT #6 LEFT HAND CODE 100 - BLACK TIES - CUSTOM-LINE - NS NICKEL SILVER TRACK Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc Yes $15.35 $11.51

150284 100 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND CODE 100 - BLACK TIES - CUSTOM-LINE - NS NICKEL SILVER TRACK Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc Yes $15.35 $11.51

16044135 100 E-Z COMMAND #6 TURNOUT LEFT DCC Turnout HO Scale Bachmann Industries Yes $60.00 $49.58

16044136 100 E-Z COMMAND #6 TURNOUT RIGHT DCC Turnout HO Scale Bachmann Industries Yes $60.00 $49.58

16044559 100 TURNOUT #6 LH E-Z TRACK - GRAY ROADBED BLACK TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER RAIL Turnout Y HO Scale Bachmann Industries Yes $43.50 $37.74

16044560 100 TURNOUT #6 RH E-Z TRACK - GRAY ROADBED BLACK TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER RAIL Turnout Y HO Scale Bachmann Industries Yes $43.50 $37.74

5521905 100 TURNOUT #6 RH SLE95 CODE 100 - MedRadius- ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8in Radius 36in Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $22.99 $17.90

5521906 100 TURNOUT #6 LH SLE 96 CODE 100 - MedRadius- ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8in Radius 36in Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $22.99 $17.90

669118 100 WYE TURNOUT #6 NS c100 Wye HO Scale Shinohara Track $23.99 $20.13

669104 100 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND NS c100 Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $21.99 $18.45

669108 100 TURNOUT #6 THREE WAY NS c100 Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $45.99 $38.59

669127 100 TURNOUT Curved #6 RH Code 100 Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $35.99 $30.20

150505 83 TURNOUT #6 LEFT HAND CODE 83 HO TRACK BROWN TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc Yes $18.50 $13.88

150506 83 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND CODE 83 HO TRACK BROWN TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc Yes $18.50 $13.88

150563 83 TURNOUT #6 LEFT HAND CODE 83 CUSTOM-LINE - BROWN TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER TRACK - INSULATED FROG Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc Yes $17.35 $13.01

150564 83 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND CODE 83 CUSTOM-LINE - BROWN TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER TRACK - INSULATED FROG Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc Yes $17.35 $13.01

3812860 83 Turnout LH electric #6 LEFT 34 5/16 10DEG Turnout Y HO Scale Kato USA Inc Yes $55.00 $41.79

3812861 83 Turnout RH electric #6 RIGHT 34 5/16 10DEG Turnout Y HO Scale Kato USA Inc Yes $55.00 $41.79

25514705 83 TURNOUT - CODE 83, #6 FROG, LH Turnout HO Scale Micro Engineering Co Yes $20.95 $20.95

25514706 83 TURNOUT - CODE 83, #6 FROG, RH Turnout HO Scale Micro Engineering Co Yes $20.95 $20.95

0552SL8361 83 TURNOUT #6 RH SL8361 CODE 83 - INSULFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $33.99 $26.46

0552SL8362 83 TURNOUT #6 LH SL8362 CODE 83 - INSULFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $33.99 $26.46

0552SLE8361 83 TURNOUT #6 RH SLE8361 CODE 83 - ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $33.99 $26.46

0552SLE8362 83 TURNOUT #6 LH SLE8362 CODE 83 - ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $33.99 $26.46

9488803 83 TURNOUT #6 LEFT HAND DCC OK - CODE 83 Turnout HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $24.98 $21.29

9488804 83 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND DCC OK - CODE 83 Turnout HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $24.98 $21.29

9488814 83 TURNOUT #6 DOUBLE SLIP DCC OK - CODE 83 Double Slip HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $74.98 $63.79

9488826 83 CURVED TURNOUT#6-1/2 LH 18/24in - CODE 83 Curved HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $41.98 $35.69

9488827 83 CURVED TURNOUT #6-1/2 RH 18/24in - CODE 83 Curved HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $41.98 $35.69

9488808 83 3-WAY TURNOUT #6 DCC OK - CODE 83 3 Way HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $54.98 $46.79

5521912 75 TURNOUT #6 RH SLE195 CODE 75 - MedRadius- ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8 Radius 36in Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $24.99 $19.46

5521913 75 TURNOUT #6 LH SLE196 CODE 75 - MedRadius- ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8 Radius 36in Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Models Yes $24.99 $19.46

25514805 70 TURNOUT CODE 70 #6 FROG LH Turnout HO Scale Micro Engineering Co Yes $20.95 $20.95

25514806 70 TURNOUT CODE 70 #6 FROG RH Turnout HO Scale Micro Engineering Co Yes $20.95 $20.95

669303 70 TURNOUT#6 LH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $20.99 $17.61

669304 70 TURNOUT #6 RH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $20.99 $17.61

669308 70 TURNOUT #6 3-WAY Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $45.99 $38.59

669326 70 TURNOUT Curved #6 LH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $35.99 $30.20

669327 70 TURNOUT Curved #6 RH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $35.99 $31.87

669126 70 TURNOUT Curved #6 LH Turnout HO Scale Shinohara Track Yes $35.99 $30.20

This is just the data on HO #6 Switches!

Code Manufacturer Caboose Retail

100 Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 11.51$ 15.35$

Peco Railway Models 17.90$ 22.99$

Shinohara Track 29.08$ 34.66$

Bachmann Industries 49.58$ 60.00$

83 Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 13.45$ 17.93$

Micro Engineering Co 20.95$ 20.95$

Walthers Track 21.29$ 24.98$

Peco Railway Models 26.46$ 33.99$

75 Peco Railway Models 19.46$ 24.99$

70 Micro Engineering Co 20.95$ 20.95$

Shinohara Track 27.68$ 32.66$

Turnout Cost Comparison by Code & Manufacturer

Or the Bob Rothe Tortoise & the Hare

Inexpensive

Expensive

PFM

Old Atlas New Atlas Manual

New Atlas Electric

Caboose Industries

Old Atlas New Atlas Manual

New Atlas Electric

New Atlas Manual

Old Atlas

PFM

Peco

SwitchMaster Tortoise

• Easy to install• Slow throwing• Quiet• Expensive• Versatile, other uses

• Plug and play decoders

• High Current required• Difficult Mounting• Requires detent latch• NOISY

• Easy to install• Slow throwing• Quiet• Expensive• Harder to wire

Peco

SwitchMaster Tortoise

• Easy to install• Slow throwing• Quiet• Expensive• Versatile, other uses

• Plug and play decoders Hare & Cobalt

Peco

SwitchMaster Tortoise

• High Current required• Difficult Mounting• Requires detent latch• NOISY

SwitchMaster

• Easy to install• Slow throwing• Quiet• Expensive• Harder to wire

Type Manufacturer Retail Caboose Quality Ease of use Comments

Electric

Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 10.85 8.14 Low Poor Poor design, fragile

Rix Products 12.99 10.98 No experience

Peco Railway Models ** 13.99 10.89 High Poor Noisy, hard install

Circuitron Inc (Tortoise) 18.95 13.27 High Great Flexible and easy

Builders In Scale (Switchmaster) 22.65 19.25 High Good Passionate users

Manual

Caboose Industries 3.25 2.75 Good Good Inexpensive

Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 4.7 3.53 Poor Poor Poor design, fragile

Accessory

Peco 7 5.44 Good Reqiured**

** Required to give similar functionality as Tortoise and Switchmaster

How I'd Do it!

Cost Total Cost Total

Track 170 4.31$ 732.70$ 3.49$ 593.30$

Turnouts 35 21.29$ 745.15$ 17.90$ 626.50$

Switch Motors 20 13.27$ 265.40$ 13.27$ 265.40$

Decoders 20 15.00$ 300.00$ 15.00$ 300.00$

Fast Trax Jigs 1 500.00$ 500.00$

Peco turnouts 16 26.00$ 416.00$

Switch Motors 15 11.00$ 165.00$

Accessory switches 15 5.50$ 82.50$

Income from Peco 15 (6.00)$ (90.00)$

Refund from Jigs 1 (450.00)$ (450.00)$

Lenz LS150 3 50.00$ 150.00$

Income from Lenz 3 (35.00)$ (105.00)$

2,711.75$ 1,785.20$

(926.55)$

How I did ItTrack

componentsQty

Code 83 Atlas Flex Track

Peco Insulfrog Turnouts (woops)

Peco Switch Motors (woops)

Lenz DCC stationary decoders (woops)

Hand Laid (Fast Tracks) turnouts (BIG woops)

Walthers and Atlas turnouts

Tortoise Switch Motors (Used)

Hare Stationary Decoders (Used)

Atlas Code 100 Flex Track

Peco Code 100 Turnouts

Tortoise Switch Motors

Hare (Wabbit) Decoders

Why?

o Cheaper

o Stronger

o Easier (plug and play)

o Quicker (my detours cost me 5 months work)

o Look just as good (to Me!)