Gargraves flex track is a viable option - that picture appears to be the 301 or 302 2-rail flex track. My problem is with availability. I don't have a Gargraves dealer close by; and although I have seen a variety of online sources for 3 rail Gargraves, I have yet to find an e-tailer that carries the #301. On the other hand, aluminum code 250 rail is readily available online, and precut O scale ties are also available - I could even just cut my own ties from 1/4" stripwood if I wanted too. I also looked into Atlas 2-rail flex track, but I'm afraid that the rail is too small (Code 148) and the deep Marx flanges might hit the spikes.
Living out here in the sticks has its advantages, but readily available hobby supplies isn't one of them!
- James
How about flex track like Gargraves?
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
Crazy for liking mechanicals? Not in the least. Crazy for wanting to hand lay rails? Couldn't tell ya. I've thought of doing it myself. Would it be better then using what's already there? Couldn't tell ya that either.
There is a member here, fredswain, who's done some handlaying. He's even offered some templates for laying ties. Another member, timboy, hand laid his whole layout in s gauge, posting a how to. It's been quite some time since either of them posted, so maybe a search of their names would bring up their threads.
I can't help it, I like Marx mechanical windup trains! I would like to build a little layout so I can exercise my small collection of windups, but I would really like to handlay the track... it would give me a lot of flexibility in the design of the trackplan, and it would be easier to add features such as easements and superelevation to the curves. I kind of like the idea of a simple - dare I say crude - windup toy train running around at warp speed on nice, smooth trackwork. Since the flanges measure about 1/8" deep, I'm thinking that code 250 rail would work just fine.
Have any of you done this? Any pitfalls that I need to be aware of? Any suggestions on rail, spikes and ties? Am I crazy for a) liking the mechanicals or b) wanting to handlay track for them?
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