Atlas Model Trains - Tips on Optimizing Your Atlas Track Layouts

Atlas model trains manufactures models in the HO, N,and used by itself. This allows flexibility in your setup in
and O scales. Atlas prides itself on being a familycase you decide to ballast your own track after you
owned company. The company was incorporated inhave progressed into the hobby.
1949 in New Jersey where it is still located todayFor the N scale trains, Atlas offers N True-Track,
(2009).Code 55, and Code 80. Code 80 comes with black
The founder, Stephan Schaffan, Jr., had only one child,ties and silver rail. Code 55 comes with brown ties and
Diane, who is president of the company today. Herhas a lower rail profile than the Code 80.
husband, Tom Haedrich, is the current CEO andAtlas sells layout instruction books that have 40+
handles the daily operations of the firm.different railroad layout designs. This makes it very
Atlas claims to be the worldwide leader in trackeasy for the beginner to get started with their layout
manufacturing. They are world famous for theirquickly.
Snap-Track, Super-Flex Track, and Custom-LineIf your setup is for the HO train scale, the number of
turnouts.Code 83 or 100 track sections you will need to form a
Two products they carry for the HO scale are HOcomplete circle is as follows:o 12 pieces of 15" radius
Code 83 and HO Code 100 track. The code of thetracko 12 pieces of 18" radius tracko 16 pieces of 22"
track signifies the height of the rail in thousands of anradius tracko 16 pieces of 24" radius track
inch. Code 83 rail is.083" high, and code 100 is.100" high.For the N scale, Code 55 track, the number of track
Most discriminating modelers choose the Code 83sections for a circle is as follows:o 10", 11.25", 12.5",
track. It is closer to the actual prototype, which in turns13.75", 15", 16.25", 17.5", 18.75", 20", and 21.25" radius
causes it to appear more realistic in a layout. Code 83curves all require 16 pieces of track sectiono 30.609"
has fine brown ties in lieu of the black thicker ties ofradius requires 32 pieces of tracko 71" radius requires
the Code 100 track.44 pieces of track plus a 4.25" straight section
True-Track is another Atlas roadbed track productFor the N scale, Code 80 track, the number of
designed for the HO scale trains. It consists of a Codesections for a complete circle is:o 9-3/4" radius
83 track section, which is snapped into a gray roadbedrequires 12 pieces of tracko 11" radius requires 12
base. This is an easy to assemble track choicepieces of tracko 19" radius requires 24 pieces of track
because it does not have to be secured to anyIf you have any questions about Atlas model trains,
surface.you can get additional information and assistance at
True-Track is a popular choice among modelerstheir forum located at Happy railroading!
because the track can be removed from the roadbed