Description
The Atlas 560 is an HO Code 83 Y / Wye Custom-Line turnout — a symmetrical turnout where both routes diverge equally from the centerline, the classic geometry for yard throats, balloon track entries, and locomotive turning wyes.
What a Wye does that a left or right turnout can't. A standard turnout has a straight "through" route and a curved "diverging" route; a Wye splits the line evenly in two, with both legs curving at the same angle. That makes Wyes the right choice at the throat of a yard ladder (one Wye splits into two ladder tracks at equal angles, saving real estate), at the entry to a balloon track or reversing loop, and at any junction where neither leg is the obvious "main" route. Three Wyes connected end-to-end form a locomotive turning wye — the classic way to reverse a locomotive without a turntable.
Custom-Line build quality. Blackened metal frog (better electrical conductivity than nickel-silver, more weathered prototype appearance), rivet-less switch points for smooth throw, drop-in compatible with under-table switch machines or standard Atlas remote/manual machines. Same geometry as the existing Atlas Code 100 Wye, so Wye-equipped Code 100 plans drop directly into Code 83 builds.
Specifications
- Scale: HO
- Rail Code: Code 83 nickel-silver
- Type: Wye (Y) turnout, Custom Line
- Frog: Blackened metal (powerable)
- Switch Points: Rivet-less for smooth throw
- Brand: Atlas
- SKU / Item Number: 560
Pairs Well With
- Atlas 561 — Code 83 #4 Custom-Line Mark IV LH turnout (yard ladder companion)
- Atlas 65/66 — Code 83 remote switch machines for electric throw
- Atlas 530–537 — Code 83 curves to complete balloon track or loops