What year onwards are locos and rolling stock ok to run on Peco 55?

[thetigers123]

Hi I'm planning my layout in Peco 55 but want to run hya coal hoppers into a power station, I know these from Farish are discontinued and also I've been told some older stuff derails on flexitrack 55. I believe these wagons came out in 14/15 will they run ok? Thanks Andy

[PaulCheffus]

Hi I'm planning my layout in Peco 55 but want to run hya coal hoppers into a power station, I know these from Farish are discontinued and also I've been told some older stuff derails on flexitrack 55. I believe these wagons came out in 14/15 will they run ok? Thanks Andy

Hi

I run rolling stock I bought in the 1980s on Peco code 55 track without issue so you will be fine with those.

Cheers

Paul

[thetigers123]

Brilliant thanks for the speedy response

[MJKERR]

my layout in Peco 55 but want to run hya coal hoppers

Do these have the early silver wheels or the later black ones?
From memory they are the later black ones, so no issue

If you have any wagons with the early silver wheels, simply replace them with the latest black ones
I did this for some of my mine, that way they looked consistent and more realistic

[ntpntpntp]

Peco code 55 is designed to have pretty much the same flange depth clearance as code 80.  I've noticed some of the very latest pointwork seems to have slightly less depth through frogs but even so you will have absolutely no problems at all with models from only a few years ago!

My layout was built in the mid 90s using code 55. I regularly run models from the 70s at exhibitions, and I have models from the 60s which work fine. I've only ever come across one or two sets of very old N wheels with flanges so deep they bottomed out.

If people are telling you stuff derails on Peco code 55 flexi track then they've clearly got problems with their stock, or badly laid or badly ballasted track.   

(Note, other brands of code 55 (eg. Atlas) aren't the same design and yes some very old stock may have problems on that track).

[PLD]

Hi I'm planning my layout in Peco 55 but want to run hya coal hoppers into a power station, I know these from Farish are discontinued and also I've been told some older stuff derails on flexitrack 55. I believe these wagons came out in 14/15 will they run ok? Thanks Andy

There is nothing that will run on code 80 track that won't run on code 55 plain flexitrack. Some old pre c1980s items (mainly lima, Trix, plastic wheeled Farish) may have trouble passing through the double and single slips which do have slightly narrower clearances, but, provided the back to back of the wheels is correct, your shoppers should be fine.

[thetigers123]

Ok thanks for the replies that's put my mind at ease 👍

[NinOz]

I believe that 1931 was the year.

[honk843]

Hi

Personally I have found more or less anything runs over code 55 but be careful about the radii if curves and points.
Even if the manufacturers say that things go round first radius or 10 inch or whatever tight radius curves slow up trains and add to resistance so it is necessary to run quicker which is not appealing and can cause all manner of problems, particularly with older stock, and try to use large radius points. Code 40 is a different animal particularly
the points

https://www.flickr.com/photos/43506331@N05/33272691940/in/photolist-SGcf7q-NpkwUM-29bHnjJ-29bHmc3-2bSzaow-27PeaPp-Muy549-NdZFCL

[elmo]

I have Farish  1979 to 1982 diesels and 1982 steam that all run fine on 55 track
Elmo

[njee20]

As has been said it's the stuff with the big silver wheels which is more likely (but not guaranteed) to cause you problems. Anything with the blackened wheels will be absolutely fine, that was a change from about 1999 I think, and absolutely everything from c2002 onwards.

HYAs are definitely the latest wheels.