Description
The Atlas 522 is an HO Code 83 Snap Track 3-inch straight filler section, four-pack — the short adjuster that closes those last awkward gaps when full and half lengths just won't fit. If you've ever cut a piece of Snap Track because the math didn't land on a 9-inch boundary, this is the piece you should have reached for instead.
Why a 3-inch filler matters. HO Code 83 Snap Track is built around the 9-inch base straight (Atlas 520) and its 6-inch counterpart (Atlas 521). When you lay out a yard ladder, fit a passing siding inside a 4×8 sheet, or chase a turnout's offset through a curve, the geometry rarely lands exactly on a 9-inch boundary. The 3-inch filler bridges the final gap so your turnouts and curves snap into place at the correct centerline — no cutting, no shimming, no rail joiner misalignment.
Code 83 vs. Code 100. Code 83 nickel-silver rail puts the railhead within roughly 4% of the prototype's modern 132 lb/yard mainline rail, visibly finer than oversized Code 100 — but at nearly the same price. Brown molded ties carry centerline nail holes for Atlas #2540 track nails, so you can pin the geometry exactly where you want it before ballasting, then leave the nails in place or pull them once the ballast cures.
Specifications
- Scale: HO
- Rail Code: Code 83 nickel-silver
- Section Length: 3" (76.2 mm)
- Pieces per Pack: 4 (12" / 305 mm total)
- Tie Color: Brown
- Compatibility: All Code 83 Snap Track + Custom Line systems
- Brand: Atlas
- SKU / Item Number: 522
Pairs Well With
- Atlas 520 — Code 83 9" Straight (6pc), the base mainline length
- Atlas 521 — Code 83 6" Straight (4pc), the half-length
- Atlas 523 — Code 83 1.5" Straight (4pc), the finest single adjustment
- Atlas 525 — Code 83 2" Straight (4pc), fits between #523 and #522
- Atlas 524 — Short Straight Assortment (10pc), a sampler when you don't know which length you need