Buying Track

[Handy Andy]

 This may be inappropriate for this forum. So if the powers to be
 remove it, I won't be too upset.

 Apparently Sunset Valley and LLagas Creek are the primary makers
 of custom track. I went to a clinic by Sunset Valley at last year's
 convention but am unfamiliar with LLagas Creek.

 I am planning to buy a fair amount of nickel silver track and
 want to get it right.

 Any opinions about these vendors' products would be welcome.

 Thanks in advance.

[cacole]

I have no personal experience with either Sunset Valley or LLagas Creek.  I purchased my rail from SwitchCrafters in Oregon.  Give them a try.

http://www.switchcrafters.com 

[Handy Andy]

 Thanks, Cacole.

 On your suggestion, I checked their site and they offer strictly
 aluminum which is fine for battery power but I intend on using
 track power DCC. That's why I'm interested in nickel silver track.

[ttrigg]

Not to sure about using nickel silver outside! Had some that I tried to fabricate a windmill with, turned out it had steel core which rusted out causing the K-S to flake off. As far as pushing electrons down the rails Aluminum, Brass, and Stainless Steel all do very execelent job. I have used brass for a dozen years without any problems (except for damage done by dogs and chickens, but that is another issue). I would suggest reading older posts here talking of track types before making a final decision.

 

[Handy Andy]

TRIGG,

I have read the posts on this forum as well as other Internet
sources. The problem is if you ask 10 different people, you get
10 different answers. I suppose this adds to the interest of the
hobby.

According to Wikipedia, nickel silver does not actually contain any
silver but is a copper alloy with nickel and zinc. Go figure.

[smcgill]

You could also try Train-li

http://www.train-li-usa.com/store/around-track-c-54.html

Good luck!

Sean

[kstrong]

You're not going to go wrong with either Llagas Creek or Sunset Valley. Note that while both make code 250 track, they use a slightly different rail profile. The base of Llagas' rail is narrower than Sunset Valley. Not a big deal if you're using the same brands' track and ties, but you won't be able to put Sunset Valley rail into Llagas tie strips or vice versa. You will be able to join the two brands together with conventional rail joiners or rail clamps.

Personally, regardless of which brand you go with, I'd recommend getting the pre-assembled track, especially if you're going to be using the Llagas "1:20.3" tie strips. They're a VERY tight fit on the rails, and hand-assembling them is a bugger to put it mildly. The pre-assembled track and a dual-rail railbender will be your best friends.

You don't mention which scale you're looking to run, but check each manufacturer as they make different tie strips to be more scale appropriate for the various scales. Find a tie that you like, and go with that manufacturer. I believe both manufacturers will send you samples, maybe for a buck or two to cover postage if that.

Both manufacturers offer switches as well. I've used Llagas Creek switch components (frogs and points) on my hand-laid switches in the past with very good results, but got lazy (meaning: I wanted to actually get trains running) with my current railroad, so I went with Sunset Valley's pre-built switches. They're about as problem-free as you can get. The Llagas components built into equally problem-free switches, but I've not used their pre-built ones. I've heard good things, though, and would presume them to be better at making switches than me--and if mine worked well, theirs should as well.

Seriously, you're not going to go wrong with either manufacturer. Both have been in the business a long time, and have survived changing hands because the product is that good. It really comes down to aesthetics. Find what appeals to you visually, and go with that.

Later,

K

[Handy Andy]

 KSTRONG,

 Thanks. You have given a most comprehensive and comparative reply.
 It's exactly what I was looking for.

 As to what scale I am using, it's 1/29. But I'm leaning toward
 narrow gauge style track. I know that's out of scale but it looks
 realistic to me. My favorite railroads in my area are class III
 so their ties are not lined up closely spaced and neat like a
 class I.

 Thanks again.

[ttrigg]

Handy Andy

TRIGG,

I have read the posts on this forum as well as other Internet
sources. The problem is if you ask 10 different people, you get
10 different answers. I suppose this adds to the interest of the
hobby.

According to Wikipedia, nickel silver does not actually contain any
silver but is a copper alloy with nickel and zinc. Go figure.

So true... So true... At times we have a tendancy to "discuss" the virtues of our favorite brand of rail by type. I openly admit to being a adamant fan of LGB Brass "flex" rails. Yes, it does sit a bit "tall" in scale, but I like the patina it develpes over time. My advice is to get the rails that suit your tastes, and to ensure that it is NOT Nick/Sil plating over steel core.

Put a thousand of us in a room and you will find a five thosand different "preferences". Some are diehard scalers, some like me mix and match, some customize to match their singular road name, some straight from the box, and don't forget the guys who scratch buld everything. That is the beauty of this hobby. We are all right, and can enjoy each others aspect of the hobby. Enough said, now get outside and start playing in the dirt!

[kstrong]

Here's a link to a discussion on the MyLargeScale site recently about ties. There are some good photos there which show some comparisons of the different brands:

http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/aff/23/aft/123710/afv/topic/Default.aspx

About halfway down, there's a photo that shows a comparison of many of the different manufacturers' tie strips next to each other. For what you're describing, I'd be tempted to lean towards the Llagas Creek "G" scale ties (identified in the photo as "LC Black.") I also like the look of the Sunset Valley 1:32 ties as shown in the photos of Paul Burch's railroad in that thread, but the look may be a bit too "well dressed" for the atmosphere you're trying to convey.

There's a photo near the bottom showing my AMS 1:20 track, whose ties are a bit larger than anything shown in the earlier comparative photo. I'd definitely not use those strips for 1:29 stuff. I'll occasionally shoot product review shots on my railroad, and the 1:29 stuff just looks out of place sitting on my 1:20.3 ties.

Later,

K