If you must have integral roadbed track.......

[Big_Boy_4005]

There's a new player, and in my opinion a hands down winner, ATLAS!!!

I was just flipping through the new issue of OGR (which contrary to some people's opinions, I found to be pretty good) when I spotted this new product.

Those of you that have been hanging around here for a while probably know where I stand on integral roadbed track. Frankly, I don't care for it. I have always felt that it was too limiting when it comes to design potential. I consider it OK for beginners, or use on temporary layouts, but permanent layouts are better done with regular tubular or better yet flexible track.

Atlas appears to have taken their already superior 21st Century track system, and added a roadbed directly to it. Not only is this the best looking product of it's type, but it is also the best engineered product of the ones cuttently on the market.

Lionel's Fastrack has a terrible noise problem, and a very cheesy look. That combined with it's electrical inflexibility with regard to insulating gaps, make it almost worthless except for the most basic layouts.

MTH's Realtrax is a better product than Lionel's, but still has flaws. The electrical contacts between sections are weak, and have a tendancy loosen with use.

Combine Atlas's solid rail with the new cork and plastic roadbed, and the sound quality should be superb, allowing you to hear much more of the electronics you pay for, and a lot less wheel noise. The track uses the same joiners as their non roadbed track, allowong for easy insulation when it comes to accessory operation, block wiring, or train detection. If you design a layout that requires flex track in a couple of places, all you have to do is shim up the original style track. No special mating tracks required.

Keep in mind that these are just my first impressions, having only seen a single photo of the product. I am anxious to get my hands on a piece.

So Mr Keller, what do you think?[swg]

[spankybird]

I have to agree with you that the track looks good and should be better for the noise problem of the others.

See the rail clip, being the same as HO and G is a real turn off for me. Every year when I set up our Xmas layout, G gauge, my wife thinks I made up a new pray when I am assembling the track.

You would think after this may years, they would improve that also.

Can’t weight for your test.

tom

[Back2Trains]

This sounds like something I might like because I'm not into building roadbed. The only problem is I just spent the last 8 months laying "miles" of Lionel tubular track. I think wheel noise is the original sound system. Too bad we can't feel the ground shake like when you are about 15 feet from a loaded CSX 100 car coal train. But then the displays would probably fall off the walls... I agree about MTH Realtrax. My grandkids have it and everytime they want to set up the train I have to go over and rebend half of the contacts.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Hey Tom, sorry I didn't notice sooner, congrats on that 4th star.

What kind of trouble are you having with that style of joiner? One nice thing about them is that they can be adjusted or replaced as necessary. This is more like the pins in tubular track, and less like Realtrax and Fastrack. If you are planning something permanent, they can easily be soldered too.

[spankybird]

Thanks about the fourth star.

The biggest part is, this is only a xmas layout and on the floor. I am my own worst enemy as I do not tie the track sections together and of course the clips really don’t either. Then there is having one connected correctly and one is under the rail. And then there is one that always become to loose and slides onto the one rail to far and then you know.

I know, if I would do a better job of setting it up, most of these would go away. See I am too used to having pins like the old tube track.

tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

I see the problem now Tom. Actually, I think if you look closely at that photo, you'll see little interlocking tabs that snap together, similar to those on the other brands. I can't remember if Atlas's non roadbed track has those little tabs too. This makes for a decent physical connection, and allows the joiners to simply be an electrical connection. If the joiners get a little loose, just pinch 'em. The alignment issue can get a little fussy, but with the roadbed and the tabs, this should be easier than HO or G even with the 3 rails to match up.

[dougdagrump]

Tom, What about the clamp style rail-joiners for your Christmas set? That seems to beat the fussin&cussin the joiners cause that came with the set.[:D]