Track opinion

[traindaddy1]

ROBMCC: Thanks for your suggestion.

[sjcox]

I'll chime in on this one.  The fiberboard or soundboard at Menard's (or any big box store) is NOTHING like Homasote.  It is half the density, uses corn starch for glue instead of wax and is made of sawdust not recycled paper. It is Homasote only if it says Homasote.  That is a registered name and there is nothing else made like it.   If you don't like Homasote, fine, but please make sure you are talking about the real stuff when you post.

 

Steve Cox

Cascade Rail Supply

[BigAl 956]

Menards has Fibreboard for about $7 (on sale) a 4x8 sheet. It's not called Homasote but has the same construction and consistency.

http://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/panel-products/construction-panels/fiberboard-panels/1-2-x-4-x-8-sound-board-fiberboard/p-1444435987610.htm

[Texas Pete]

sir james I

If fastrack is snapped together properly you can pick up the entire oval and carry it across the room. It does stay together. Loud yes.

 

Try that with a fastrack oval from a 2016 starter set.  If you can pick it up more than two or three times without it coming apart I'll be surprised.  Newbies be warned.

The only fastrack I have that stays together when you try that stunt is the oval from the P.E. set I bought on closeout in March '08, probably manuactured in 2007 or earlier.  The various starter sets I've gotten since then, the FT does not hang together nearly as well.

Anyways, I rushed out and bought some tube track immediately after I set up that P.E. set and heard the incredible din of the LOUDTrack, and it's been tube track for me ever since.  For the price of a single remote fastrack switch I got a half-dozen O22/5132/5133 type that, after a little TLC, have been working perfectly for five+ years.  And I like the "classic" look of the tubular track as well.

Pete

 

[robmcc]

Traindaddy, I don't think it's been mentioned yet, but have you looked at Menard's track since you are staying with traditional tubular track? They have wide selection of different radiuses and the price point is very good. Even though most of the stores are in the Mid-West, you can order online. For my two cents, I like Super O track for the postwar nostalga theme. I still have a 4' x 6' layout with ballast that I still use from time to time. Any of the typical documented problems with that track have been a non-issue for me. My main track is Atlas O.

[RUNTIME2]

Thanks KRM,

I have never seen a product quite like that at my local stores (Lowe's, Home Depot). 

[KRM]

Not sure what Jim is using but I covered my whole table with ¼’ foam that is used under pole barn metal siding insulation/wrap/underlayment. Don’t cost much and you can get it at big box home stores. Then I covered it with grass mat and don’t screw the track down tight so the track floats on the foam. Helps kill the noise and don’t make you go broke.

https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/insulation/multipurpose-insulation/1-4-x-4-x-50-extruded-polystyrene-fanfold-underlayment-foam-insulation/p-1444450494380-c-5778.htm?tid=-5071236234565752469

 

 

 

 

[RUNTIME2]

Hi, what is "quarter inch foam board? Is it naturally black? And where is it sold?

[phillyreading]

While homasote can deaden noise with Fastrack it is very difficult to find in southeast Florida. 

Like I mentioned before; I grew up with tubular track and I am staying with tubular track as it is more versitile then plastic roadbed track.

Lee Fritz

[Sturgeon-Phish]

In the picture above shows the cross ties I made out of 1/4" thick foamboard.  I had it leftover from making the roads.  A little white glue on the ballast is all I had to do.  I was sastified with the look.

Jim

[rivesm]

Not to hi jack the orginial thread, but while we are on the subject of dressing up tubular with cross ties ... what have you guys done in that regard that works well?

Thanks

[traindaddy1]

Runtime2: 

I've been a "homasote" fan for years. (It's getting harder to find at a reasonable price)

Any handsaw will do but it is very messy, especially if you have to make numerous cuts. The board holds nails and screws well.

Suggestion:

  If you do decide on it, give it a coat of paint first. It seals this paper product.

Side note:

       A few years ago, one of our projects did require many cuts. When we went to the lumber yard and purchased a board, we showed them a list of the nine major cuts we had to make. "No Problem", the guy said. He made the cuts, packed the pieces in our car and wished us well. (free)

All the best.

[Papa_D]

Any track system is expensive. Lots of factors go into selecting the right one for you, so it’s important to get as much information as possible to help make the right selection. User reviews found here are very helpful. Another good source of information is the CTT Special Issue “Small & Midsize Track Plans for O Gauge Trains” issued in 2011.

It includes a 6-page track buyer’s guide section that covers all the major track systems. It also has a track cost comparison for a simple layout. Note this is based on prices in 2011.

Considering the cost of any track system, this is a cheap investment to help your track system selection.

Papa D

[POTRZBE]

Each track system has a downside.  I like fastrack for the Christmas layout since it is versatile and now comes in all the most popular sizes.  A little noisy but that does not bother me or the kids running the trains.  I have to say that connectivity has never been a problem and I got started with this track with the 2004 Polar Express set.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I really like the old style track.  The only fast track I have is what came with my Polar Express.  On my S scale layout I used black foamboard like the craft panels for the ties.  Here is a picture.  For realism, you can remove that pesky center rail 

Jim

[Firelock76]

A lot of folks now are using thick insulation foam, which I wish I'd thought of before I built my tree layound on a 3/4" thick plywood panel.  That thing's getting heavier and heavier as I get older.  Can't figure out why.

I believe the foam panels come in 4x8 sizes just like plywood panels do and they're supposed to be easy to cut with no mess.  I'll have to try it one day.

[RUNTIME2]

rejoining to conversation if I may...

For my planned seasonal floor layout:

FastTrack seems too explesive, noisy, and difficult to freelance;

So I'm back to tubular, but I still think I should place the track on something other than right on the floor, to keep it in place. Yet I want it low, to minimize tripping over it.

I'm thinking of cutting homasote type board into 'roadbed' wide strips, and attaching the track with screws, perhaps also using Lionel's track clips. How does one cut Homosote type board? does it tend to fray or crumble at the edges? Will wood screws hold in homasote (actually Lowes green board)?

Thanks for any help.

[sir james I]

Nothing wrong with your choice, it has been used for over a 100 years. Dress it up with some fake ties and it will look good.

S.J.

[traindaddy1]

After reading all of your posts and considering the budget, we have mutually (the "boss" and I) decided to stay with the tubular track.

The current intent is to keep the present footpaths but do some improvements (after the holidays) such as replacing the contactors for the crossing gates and signals with insulated track sections. We have several of these on one of the lines and they are working quite well. Advantage is that there is no need to adjust the tensions on the contactors and the gates remain down until the train completes its pass.

Also, I'm considering the "detailing" option which will lend to realism but overall retain the 'Classic Toy Train' look.

Will keep updating.

Again, many thanks for your input and have a great holiday season.

[KRM]

Lee, I looked at those but they are kind of pricy if you need as many as I would. 250 won't go far.

[phillyreading]

For my 027 track I just bought some new track ties from 3R Plastics via Amazon.com $64.24 for 250 ties with shipping.

Lee Fritz

[BigAl 956]

Iv'e read a lot about attempts to silence FasTrack noise and I have yet to confirm anything is really effective.

I built a layout with OSB lumber covered with Homasote-like fibreboard with Astroturf carpet on top. I used only and handful of screws to secure the track and they did not extend into the OSB. I ran my Fastrack side by side with tubular O31 trackand could compare. Fastrack was unacceptably noisy. I had to give up on it and I ripped it all out and put in tubular O .

As for the budget, that 15' FT test line cost $65. I replaced it with less than $10 worth of tubular O. Fortunately I was able to sell off the FT on ebay and almost broke even.

[RUNTIME2]

Thanks for the reply...

As I posted, I am thinking of a Holiday setup for my new LR floor, to run around the furniture, at about 11' x 22'. With FasTrack this will be expensive, but for quick setup and takedown on bare (terrazzo) floor, is there any good alternative? And is there adapter track to marry to tubular?

BTW - Although I have never used FasTrack, I have used a bit ofLionel Super O (one loop, one switch). It has worked well, but the lower rail height is incompatible with higher wheel flanges of prewar stock (same for Gargraves).

[lion88roar]

FasTrack can be noisy if you don't understand how sound works.

1. The 'roadbed' is hollow, adding some carpet padding inside will fill the void, and deaden the sound
2. Don't put the track directly on plywood or other hard surface. Put down some homasote or other sound deadening board like 2x4 ceiling tiles, then screw the FasTrack to the sound deadening board (do not screw through to the hard board)
3. If you use Gargraves or Atlas 21st Century track (which I use) make sure to enclose the bottom of the structure
4. If you have hollow rolling stock (boxcars, reefers, cabeese, passenger cars) you will not be able to deaden the sound unless you fill the voids

Non-FasTrack accessories do NOT work well with FasTrack unless you mess around with getting the accessories positioned properly. This takes some time and patience. Lionel has released many of the popular opperating accessories as FasTrack versions. If you are running The Legacy Command System with switches, there is no better track system than FasTrack.

[thesiding]

Another Reason was no "UCS" section though that would be easy to due with half sections and  37uncoupler then use power 43 power track for another section

Also the operating switche motors  had a tendency to burn out and only 36 radius

Plus tools to make track are long gone 

An interesting thing I have notice is online at least prices for tubular track have skyrocketed and not just the shipping

 

and I mean ANY of it          switches or otherwise

[RUNTIME2]

HELLO EVERYONE!

'been away for a couple of years; was moving to a new home; seems all the same folks are here! lost my old e-mail and sign in, so unfortunately lost my prior posts I suppose.

But getting to this thread's topic:

I'm starting to plan a new 'holiday' layout (the last one at  the prior home stayed up for about 16 years -as my wife points out). This one will really have to be seasonal (2 - 3 months max). It may not even get set up untill next year...but it needs to be planned right, as everone knows.

I'm visualizing on the floor, about a 11' x 22' loop with possibly a few sidings for engine and car storage. I may be able to salvage the sidings and associated switches from the prior layout (classic tubular on raised luan plywood with cork roadbed), but I don' want to again build plywood underlayment for the rest of the loop. So I think Lionel FasTrax is my only real choice??

My questions include:

- how many power feeds are needed for a loop that size with Fastrac? (tubular would need perhaps 3).

- how tricky is it to freelance the loop configuration? (It would be rectangular at one end, riangulat at the other, and would marry to the aforementioned tubular siding.

- if Fastrac is no the best (or most economical) choice, what else would reliably run on bare floor?

looking forward to your comments,

thanks, 

Runtime2

 

[rtraincollector]

KRM

Penny,

 I always liked the Super O track and I thought it looked nice. I wonder why they gave it up?

Never have used any of it so don't know what the issues were if any.

One of the main reasons was the buzzbar ( center clip) as they had a habit of lifting up and off or getting stuck in engines. Some will say it ate a cut in middle of the pick-up but that has since been proven false. I have it but donot use it. ( I have enough to complete two of my sets which came with it.) Buying the buzz bar now days is about $1 a piece Plus shipping. I had it as a child as my first train set came with it. It's a nice system and wish Lionel would make it again. 

[KRM]

Penny,

 I always liked the Super O track and I thought it looked nice. I wonder why they gave it up?

Never have used any of it so don't know what the issues were if any.

[Penny Trains]

Firelock76

Now why didn't the rest of us "geniuses" think of that...

 

If I could afford it, I'd like to use either Gargraves sectional, Super O or handlay the track.