Nicely done Mike. Thanks for taking the time to put together a video explaining the differences. This really helps.

Another great video Mike, I have been using Peco code 55 since my start in N scale. It's been working great for me. Looking forward to your next video!

Thanks for taking a look and sticking with me Doug. Mike

Code 55 Peco. Turn the track over and on the sleeper you will see a tiny arrow. That arrow should always point towards the inside of the curve. The inside track also has more spaces between the sleepers to enable the track the bend

Thanks Mike, lots of good information, good comparisons and pros and cons.

Great comparison on n scale track. Thanks for the effort and time. Really well done.

Mike, Excellent question and video. I have used the older Atlas code 55 and like you mentioned, the older pizza cutters did ride on the spikes, although I did not have any issues with the frogs. All of my equipment has since been upgraded to low profile wheel sets. One issue I did have with one Atlas code 55 turnout was with the points and where the point rail connected to the metal strip at it's pivot point near the frog. Since the turnout was already spiked to the layout and ballasted, I simply choose to solder the point rail to the metal contact strip. All of my visible Atlas code 55 turnouts were controlled with Caboose Industries sprung ground throws with zero problems. My hidden Atlas code 55 turnouts were controlled with Hump Yard Purveyance turnout controls with zero problems. The Hump Yard Purveyance controls work like a charm, but do take some care in setting them up. The neat thing with the Hump yard purveyance controls is they look like little Armstrong levers that can be mounted to the fascia of the layout. A few questions I have Mike: Is Atlas back in full production of the code 55 line or is supply still hit or miss? How is supply with the Peco line? How is supply with the Micro Engineering line? Thanks again Mike for another informative how to video. Rich S.

Thank you for sharing .Lots of good information.

another great video mike...thanks

Found that interesting and helpful. I also liked reading all the comments. Mr. B.

Awesome video comparison! Thanks a bunch!

Hi Mike, our club has been using Peco Code 55 for many years, including the turnouts. We are very satisfied with it even with the larger tie spacing.

We found that using Atlas rail joiners on the Peco track over the years made the joints easier to install on the small flange. I guess that is because of a wider gap in the joiner. It has worked well for us especially since it is easier to see.

Always modelled in ATLAS FLEX... Tuff, durable and very easy to work with. Did I mention it was exactly precise as well?

In Australia (well the state of Victoria) is prototypical to peco code 55. So of course I am only using this on my layout. I am debating Fast Track and building my own. Thanks again Mike for the posting.

Mike - thanks for the video. In Victoria Australia, Peco code 55 has the correct spacing and is our standard track, this being the case I will also be using Peco C55 for the American freelance layout that I am still planning and working on.

I have nothing but the Atlas code 55 and very satisfied with the flex track and sectional track. all of the turnouts I have are the 1st generation and like most people that have them I haven't had any problems with them coming apart. I laid most of them before I realized the small quirks they had. and also at that time was a bit of a novice with the code 55. but have since learned like everyone else. I have noticed that if cleaned to hard the silver coating or something tends to come of the points and frog area and reveals a bit of copper color. again I don't know if it is me or manufacturing process. I use the caboose industry ground throws and don't have any issues other than being a bit large and out of scale. (can live with it) but if I was to start over I definitely would use the lessons learned with code 55 which was it is definitely fragil, be careful and take your time and don't rush to lay it as mentioned in the video as I can pop out of the ties. I did have that problem but it was my errors that caused it and not the way it is constructed. also on the Atlas, it does not have the holes for track nails pressed thru it which gives it the solid tie appearance. due to the small size of the ties, I do not recommend that you use the Atlas track nails as it can split the tie even if you punch the bottom side at the appropriate places. I have yet to purchase and of the new atlas turnouts so I don't know how they are compared to the gen 1 versions.

I had frog problems with code 80 switches from atlas and my vintage n scale.

I wished you would have shown the the weathered Mirco Engineering Track which is extremely accurate, and look great. A huge time saver.

also forgot to mention that you must ensure that the locomotive wheels are in accordance with the NMRA standards gauge with atlas turnouts. as mine would cause derailments if not.

Thanks :) I have some Peco turnouts... but the thing is I want to build an American layout. Thanks for showing me Atlas. It looks like the one I want to use - might be buying some to compare. Too sad that there is no concrete of that.

hi Mike... i have had a multitude of problems with my Atlas C55 turnouts.. the first thing is where the point rails pivot there is a tiny & i mean tiny clip that holds the rail in place.. well guess what that clip falls off causing the point rails to literally fall out.. i also have electrical conductivity with them... when i started with my C55 set up, i chose Atlas because at the time they were $1.00 cheaper per turnout than the other brands.. out of the 50 or so Atlas TO's i have on my layout more than 50% are defunct... "pennywise... dollar foolish"... as far as the Pico goes they make an excellent product except that they are NOT a true C55 & no-one makes metal transition joiners.. ( lots of grinding work to do to get metal C55 joiners to work) the plastic transition joiners by ME are very fragile & break very easily... the ME TO's are more prototypical in that the point rails go to the end of the stock rails as compared to the Atlas which only go half way... i am using ME C55 flex & have had 0 problems... all my new construction is & will be ME products... ANY HOW... thanks for sharing... vinny

very good info, if i were to change track i think i would go with peco, am using atlas now.

great review just love peco...........

Nice video Mike.

Hello Mike: Do you have any videos on the difference in the types of tracks. I am new to N Scale train modeling and I am not good at a lot of wiring things - if this helps. Do you recommend a type of track if new to the N scale and I plan to just build my first layout on a 4x8 plywood sheet. If you recommend any type of books to read or videos to watch that would help.

Maybe I missed it, but did you mention that the Peco switches are sprung?

I used peco flex code 80 on my helizes I built and am having issues with my larger locomotives staying on the track at a couple of joints. any suggestions for fixing this issue?

I have had many problems with Atlas code 55 Turnouts they fell apart when trying to work with them . The point rails have a little retainer ring under the turnouts and once these fall off the point rails fall apart. .

Mike, I know I'm late to the party here but after building two layouts with Atlas code 55, I have to tell you that the little frog wiring tab is a point of failure. I don't know if it's the mysterious metallurgy that the Atlas factory in China uses or if it's mechanical, but almost any Atlas frog I wired to the provided tab ended up becoming unpowered at some point...but my own soldered joints are solid. I've seen that same story corroborated by several other users. The points tend to work loose too. It's bad enough that I plan to build an all-new Colorado Midland in N scale using Peco code 55. I've never had a Peco turnout fail and I've used them in N scale and HOn3.

can you use atlas c55 turnouts on micro engineering flex track

i was using atlas code 55 & 80 80 was my main line 55 branch & yards trying to us a #5 switch in the replace of a #4 switch for my yards did not work out to well i found that in the early development of code 55 that they not making it for this purpose if you want to use these two you haft to reveres these two 16 years later no one makes a #4 switch in 55!!!

Very good video, I'll take three questions. Do joiners to code 55 are smaller than the joiners of code 80 ?? Can I use code 80 joiners ? and finally, Can I combine different brands? (Atlas and Peco , ME and Peco ) This certainly is the peculiarity of rail PECO

When curving flex track which side does the rail that moves go on? If it matters. Thanks!

Hi Mike, I am just getting back into N scale after a long break. I am planning to use Atlas code 80 track on my layout. I liked the Peco double turnout, and I would like to use two of them in place of regular turnouts. I also could use a curved turnout as well for one siding that I want. I know the Peco is code 55, but would it be possible to it with the Micro-Engineering transition joiners?

G'day Mike. I'm just getting back into this and decided to go with N scale. You blokes in the states seem to have access to a whole lot more gear than we do down in the lower corner. I want to use code 55, Peco of course and I would like to use some of the Atlas points because they have a nice sweep to them rather than going around a corner. Do you know of a joiner that will line these rails up or am I better off just sticking with Peco. I've spoken to some of the suppliers and they don't know diddely squat about it but just want to sell there wares to me. Could you please point me in the right direction. After watching this video I saw the main difference with them which has prompted me to contact you. Any help would be good. Thanks Mate.

Hi Mike. European tie (or sleeper in the UK) spacing: there is a guy in the UK (Underground Eric) who models the London Underground in OO (HO in the USA), but doesn't like the European spacing of the ties. He cuts the webbing between ALL of the ties and then adjusts the spacing to his liking. Obviously, this is incredibly time-consuming, but you do what it takes, right?

Hey Mike could you show the use of the ME code 80 to code 55 joiner with a code 80 turnouts? I am new back into the hobby and I do have a small modular with ME code 55 but I hate the ME turnouts and was thinking about using Atlas code 80 to replace them.Thanks Tim

Hi Mike, I can use peco code 80 whit atlas code 55? Thx. Viktor

Mike, Great vid. Can you use ME and Atlas track/turnouts together? If so, any performance or durability issues? BTW, thanks for your "get into the 21st Century" comment (which applies to DC-to-DCC, too). I switched out all my MT, Atlas, and other wheelsets to BLMAs. They run much better than even the MT plastic wheels, and they sound great, like a real train, going over breaks in the track. Those who want to still use their rolling stock with "Pizza Cutter" wheels should stick with the ancient track that came with their 1970s Christmas set. Thanks, Mike Ross

Hello everybody , anyone has any experience with mixing rails ? I think to mix peco 55 with atlas 55 . Who can tell me anything about it ?

I have one older style N-Scale locomotive (SD 38 style 4 axle road/switcher), that seems to jump the track on a certain turnout but none of the rest of my locomotives (EMD style 6 axles), does this. I'm suspecting that it has the larger flanged wheels on it. of which may be causing this locomotive to jump the track. If it does, is there a way to swap those larger flanged whels out with a more modern smaller flanged set of wheels and get that locomotive to function correctly and not jump the track on that turnout? Note 1 - I use Code 83 track and switches. Note 2 - That particular road/switcher is my favorite locomotive of which I use the most so I really don't want to just put it in a box and let it go to waste and have it feel rejected and neglected. Sorry. After a few years of running model trains I think that some of these locomotives (and other rolling stock), do seem to have (develop, or take on), their own personality and individual quirks even though they are nothing more than mechanically/electrically operated mechines. But I guess if humans can (develop, or take on), their own personality and individual quirks then so can machines, LOL. Note 4 - I don't want to have to try and change out the turnout unless it becomes absolutely necessary to do so (But it might be the defective culprit, who knows)? As I said that turnout only has problems with this track jumping on that one particular locomotive engine and even then the problem seems to exist in only one of the three different directions (when making the left turn from the staightaway input side from the main track but not from either of the the reversing loop sides of the switch and also no problem if proceding straight through the switch. Could you possibly advise me of what the problem might be? Anyway - Thanks for another great instructive/information video.

***TEAM MICRO ENGINEERING!***

I decided for Kato....my best Idea ever :-)

how about fleischmann? I found their variety of tracks to be the biggest, are they just european look only?

I actually have an idea, we can use the concrete tracks for the NEW TRACKS that you place for safer services

I have a PECO and am satisfied .......

im really new to building my own custom set. I grew up in the 80s with the HO scale however, im now liking the smaller N scale. Can you explain to me what the diffrences is between 55 and 80.. sorry for the newbie question.

How long is an N scale straight track in that middle pack? Whats a frog?

🤠🖐🚂🫵👍

The PECO is not really a Code 55 - I think it looks bloody awful (yes, I'm English). I've no idea why Peco has such a great name over here in the 'States... If you want durability just buy their Code 80.