Hello,
I keep hearing about the low cost of tubular track compared to that of Fast Track for Real trax. I have yet to see tubular track at a lower cost than the mentioned two types with the exception of maybe straights. The cost of curves 042 and up are more than the Lionel's or MTH's. The only thing I can see making it worth it is that tubular track may outlast the plastic road bedded track. Ebay is not an option as the people selling tubular track think they are selling gold. It seems that 4.65 for 1 042 curve is kind of pricey. I only paid 3.09 for MTH Real Trax 042 curves. I am wondering am I looking in all the wrong places for tubular track?
Thanks,
Kevin
Can't stop working on the railroad!
I have bought standard gauge, clockwork and O tubular on ebay and it takes patience and luck over a period of time. Some of the prices of course are absurd, usually set by sellers who have an inflated value on them due to their being vintage or some such thing. One trick I learned is to not simply input one term alone in their search engine..it is amazing what categories these items pop up in like "vintage toys" or what have you. I just purchased a lot of standard gauge some 20 pieces for $20.00. It took about a month of repeat searches. Do you bid? An example..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lionel-O-Gauge-10-Straight-Track-section-lot-12-/250927897280?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3a6c77dac0
I had the winning bid on this lot ..$9.00 for twenty pieces of standard gauge.
A bag of track locks were thrown in.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160675834743?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
Yes I do bid but I haven't had any luck so far finding a lot of track with 042 curves as of yet. I will keep searching until I find some until then I will continue to use the MTH track, I mostly don't like the low quality MTH switches as I have had two just stop working for no reason.
Yea it's tough finding 042 and wider tubular for cheap, even on ebay. This link here is from one of my LHS and he has the cheapest prices on track that I have seen. Maybe this will help.
http://www.discount-train.com/trains/lionel/o/lionel16.html
RRaddict Yes I do bid but I haven't had any luck so far finding a lot of track with 042 curves as of yet. I will keep searching until I find some until then I will continue to use the MTH track, I mostly don't like the low quality MTH switches as I have had two just stop working for no reason.
I can relate. See the thread on Fastrack....the photo of my MTH Realtrax scrapyard I buy primarily o27.
Best of luck in your search.
Kevin: Just a thought......It has worked for me. Once you locate a local hobby shop that carries the track you are interested in, try this: "Talk" to them. Sometimes, they want to 'move' their inventory, especially if it has been sitting there for awhile. Let them know that you are really interested in the track but that you just can't spend that much. Ask them if they would consider a deal.
Another thing: Ask them if they have any used track. "Used" track is not always "Trash" track and it is often very reasonable. You may have to sift through the stuff but I have found 042 and even 054 track mixed in with the 027 on sale for the same price.
Good luck.
Kevin,
I have just completed purchasing two months ago all new O27 for my 12'x16' layout in 42" & 54" curves from here https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/ Not bad on the cost. Don't know if you want to use O27 or standard O but I have boxes of 027 I got on Flea-bay that I wish I had not because in the end I just went with all new for the main loops. I also got seven 042 switches but I ran them out of stock.
I used the best of the Flea-bay track in the switch yard where it will not be run on, just parked.
I am glad I went with New for the running loops.
Kev.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
That's great I never thought of looking for 027 track. I don't mind using it at all. I like the lower profile as opposed to the standard O gauge. They still have it for very cheap, thank you very much.
Here are some pictures,
I have been running the layout for two month and am now ready to take it apart and do the ground cover then re-install the track now that i know it works like I want it to.
On a couple of turnoffs and my small inner loop I have used 027 curves and will only use trains that will work well with it like my # 41.
Best of luck,
Late reply I know but you were right I was able to pick up some 042 curves at a decent price there along with Lionel 042 switches for 27.95 each.. The MTH Real crap is history. I don't know if it's just me or what but it sure seems a lot quieter since I changed back to tubular.
the plastic realtrac and fastrack has like a belo under it and makes it a lot more noiser than that without the plastic roadbed.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
That makes sense thanks.
SJ nailed it on the sound. I only use a 1/4" foam under the ground cover and it is not loud at all. Was kind of loud when it was itting on the raw plywood. Poat some pictures if you can.
Tks,
Sorry about that I have fat fingures today.
Sitting
post
Has anyone used Williams by Bachman tubular track? They offer 0-27 and 0-31 but provide zero details in their catalog. What I remember about tubular track is that anything with a radius greater than 0-27 is taller and the rails are thicker.
your confusing O with O-27 track O gauge track was taller and a thicker metal but same withe. O-27 was lower but it came in 27", all the way up to and including ( if I remember correctly) 84" radius
084 for 027? I've never heard of that. I seen as big as 072 for 027, and I believe that was made by K-Line and is real hard to find.
K-Line made O27-profile O27, O42, O54, and O72 (all of which I bought a lifetime supply of when they went out of business). Marx made O34, which is still not that hard to find.
Bob Nelson
okay I did one size to big also it should be Diameter not radius. The point was the author was thinking that O-27 track came in just one size 27" diameter when it actually comes in many diameters. I was just trying to point that out thats why I said "If I remember correctly 84" " not that it was up to 84"
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