A call or message to Micro Engineering at 1-800-462-6975, 636-439-1112, or  service@microengineering.com should get you an answer.

Supplies have often been kind of intermittent.

. . .  so it's something I stock in the Stores. And it's so much cheaper than 83 or even 70 to boot.

I can't provide ME bases, but we do offer combo track packs with the CV bases which work well enough with code 55 for me to use 100% on my own demo layout.

Andy

My understanding is the molds for the tie strips have worn out, and that ME does plan to eventually have news one made, but until they they aren't manufacturing the c55.  Which is a bummer for many of us!

PECO manufacture a range of components to lay track your self.  Marketed under the name Individulay, their catalogue numbers all start IL-***

An Australian store has a good illustrated website http://www.brunelhobbies.com.au/PECO/pecoIL.htm  PECO has a very poor website, and no on-line catalogue.  They only sell through hobby stores.

I couldn't immediately find a US supplier via Google.  I am using Code 82 Individulay at the moment.  I don't know what the difference is between code 55 and code 60 though.

Just an alternative idea

Norman

Question from me:

I would like to confirm that you are no longer making code 55 HO Flex Track

Their Reply:

That is correct. It has been discontinued.

Micro Engineering, Inc.

I'm glad i abandoned plans on using code 55 rail!

$29.95 per 33 yard pack . . .but ME never got around to offering pre-built turnouts in code 55.  Not sure why the loss of just flex track would make any difference in those circumstances.

If I remember right, HO code-55 represents 75lb rail in the real world, and the more popular HO code-70 represents 100lb rail. Peko's code-60 rail would scale out to approximately 85lb rail in 12" to the foot scale.

The difference between -55 and -60 in HO scale would be minimal (about a 0.5mm height differential at most) and you'd barely notice the transition between the two if you joined them end to end. If you used Code-60 in a siding, it would look like cool, rickety, old lightweight track just the same.

The problem however is the original poster here was looking for Code-55 flextrack, not the individual rail for hand-laying track. And Peco's Code-60 was never offered as HO flextrack (actually they initially produced it for Z-scale before offering it for HO/OO modellers). So unfortunately Peco isn't a help here.

Sorry MP631, but it looks like you're out of luck unless you want to get into hand-laying Code-55. I've got a few spurs under my belt with the stuff, and it's not as bad to work with as you may think.

Oh, and I'm with Mr Reichert on really liking Code-55 for modelling brutal old spurs.

I've used quite a bit of Micro Engineering code 55 flextrack.  As much as I like it for spurs with light rail, it's not the easiest product to use.  Although the Central Valley tie strips are not necessarily intended for use with code 55, they can be made to work just fine as Andy notes above, and the installation will most likely be much quicker and easier than the ME flextrack.  Don't let the lack of flextrack availability discourage you from adding code 55 to your layout if that's what you want.

I found handlaying Code55 track not that difficult:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1905/code_55/

Thank you if you visit

Harold

The Proto:87 Stores "Fast and Easy" Track, or CV tie base system plus rail, is really just a slightly different form of "flex track", that many people actually prefer and find much easier and quicker to lay. (Hence my re-naming or our complete version with rail aligners). The laying method and pros and cons are slightly changed.

Instead of laying the track with rails already inserted in to the base, you just lay the base on it's own first, gluing it to the curves you want. Then just glue the rail into the "slots", and you have the same result as regular flex track, but without some of the irritating drawbacks to flex laying, like:

Some flex is stiff to bend, and has lots of little "straight" tie sections, even when curved.

The rails ends needing to be cut to the length of the shorter rail.

Ties needing to be cut back, so rail joiners can be fitted, and then new modified  ties put back after.

Not being able to have the choice of  the rail code you really wanted, or the tie spacing.

Worrying about melting the ties when soldering on feeders.

Not having a good range of matching turnout types and sizes.