Garden Railway Newbie--Track Brand ?

[Anonymous]

Good day all!

I have finally taken the plunge into garden railroading after my son has been on my case to purchase a model train set. After much discussion, we decided on G-scale and will build it outdoors after the 2 degree F weather passes.

I have purchased a Bachman G-scale set to begin with and would like to add more track. Questions: can I mix different brands of track with Bachman track? I used to be an HO scale modeler and you could mix basically any brand.

Thank you very much for your replies and happy holidays to all!

Jim
(4est-ranger)

[vsmith]

Welcome to the Forum Jim,

Short answer No, besides you dont want to use Bachmann track outside, it will rust in peace quickly. Bachmanns trains are great to start with but unfortunatly their track is strickly indoors only. Its something they really should dump.

Aristocraft, USA, LGB are the makers of the brass track most commonly used outdoors. All are intercompatable, Aristo and USA are from the same factory, just be aware that the joiners are little tight between USA/Aristo and LGB track but it does work.

Personally on my indoor layout I use Aristo straights and curved track with LGB switches as LGBs work best for my trainstuff. but outdoors I used mostly LGB than Aristo I also used rail-clamp joilners to connect the switches so they could be removed for maintanence.

Good time to check out Aristo is after the first of the year when they hold a big sale on track via mail order, you can get good prices then, stock up between now and spring and you'll be ready to lay track down come the thaw!

Try to have an idea of how big you want the layout to be, figure out how much track and slowly start buying it. A little each month and before you know it you'll have all you need. Try to buy in bulk (by the box) which with most dealers is cheaper than buying individual pieces and buy the longest pieces available, a 5' straight is cheaper than 5 12"inch straights. this is why a track plan is so helpfull.

Good luck, Vic

[FJ and G]

Vic,

I'm surprised that Bachman's track only is for indoors. What were they thinking?

I'm curious now as to what it's made of.

Perhaps Jim is using r/c operation and doesn't mind if they rust (as long as they don't rust all the way thru!).

I believe some modelers have used steel track outdoors.

[Anonymous]

Vic:

Thanks very much, your reply is very helpful. Bachman should specify the indoor track usage in their ads and packaging. I live in Wisconsin and the weather we have can range from 100 degrees with 88% humidity to 20 below zero and 2 feet of snow (at one time!). The track wouldn't last long--I'd hate to have a derail in the rain garden!

Jim

[vsmith]

Dave its stamped steel, supposedly stainless steel, like Lionel 3-rail and just like the Lionel it rusts like a muther! Be gone fast and your RC engine would be running on tieplates.

I'm sure it was because in the very very beginning Bachmann marketing considered the battery opted original Big Hauler more as a Xmas tree train set, even after the track powered sets arrived it was still aimed more at the Xmas tree crowd. Only after it became clear that more and more people were opting to put them outdoors after they had done with them around the tree did they realize that the track was crap and that everyone else was buying LGB track for their garden empires. Maybe it was that Bachmann didnt want to take on the 600 lb Large Scale Gorilla that LGB was back then but for what ever reason they decided to NOT produce their own line of outdoor track but continued to offer the stamped poo-track still offered today.

I still use the poo-track, for indoor storage and display, but thats straight sections only, I cant tell you how much of the curved stuff I've just tossed out.

[Anonymous]

OK, so much for Bachman steel track. So the way to go is brass and I am assuming you can mix manufacturers?

[Capt Bob Johnson]

To further obfuscate the answer, I use only Aristo SS track because of the more solid nature (Less prone to accidental bending than brass) and far less cleaning problems if track powered ops are foreseen! I find it well worth the extra 20% price differential.

Next, I've had it with those @#$%^&^#$^## little screws in the joiners that don't always have the holes proberly aligned, bit the bullet, and bought a whole bucket full of Split Jaw SS clamps. All new ( and reworked sections) will only have clamps!

Do it right the first time and have less bullpucky to put up with over the long run!

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4estranger

OK, so much for Bachman steel track. So the way to go is brass and I am assuming you can mix manufacturers?

Yes with Brass, although like I said above, the joiner between LGB and Aristo/USA track has to be pressed together rather firmly but once done they stay together. this is because the 2 tracks have slightly different web flange thicknesses. Best bet is if you can afford it to use Hillmann's or Split-Jaw railclamps where the two join. I would use one brand as much as possible, LGBs are just pressed together , where aristo/usa use the little set screws in the joiners Bob mentions to tie the track together. It also helpd alot with the conductivity if your looking for track power. I used mostly Aristo straights and curves but LGB switches, thats because all my stuff is small 2 axle industrial locos and the LGBS are the best ones for small locos.

ALSO try to plan for the widest curves you can fit, it used to be 5 foot diameter (2.5 foot radius) absolute minimum was recommended but in the last couple years so much new stuff has come out that requires 8 foot diameter (4 foot radius) that it has now become the minimum recommended diameter. This is suggested mostly so you do not have to rebuild half your layout to accomodate a new Aristo Mallet.

That being said, if you do not have room for 8 footers, then try 6.5 foot diameter (3.25 foot radius), if thats still to large, then 5' diameter is the minimum I would recommend. This will still allow you to accomodate many engines and cars that are avaliable. Try to use the 8 or 6.5 if possible.

Personally all my stuff is 4 foot diameter (2 foot radius), but as said I do industrial and tram lokies so it works fine for me, and if you like that too then go for it. Its YOUR railroad.

PS try to keep in mind that HO track is referenced in RADIUS, while in large scale its almost always referenced in DIAMETER. Helps keep thing from getting confusing ordering track.[;)]

[Anonymous]

Vic and Cap'n Bob, thanks guys! Can't wait to start building it in spring. It was only -5 below zero this morning.

I have subscribed to Garden Railways so that will also help my learning curve.

Happy Holidays and keep on tracking! [:D]

Ranger Jim

[nalts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4estranger

I live in Wisconsin and the weather we have can range from 100 degrees with 88% humidity to 20 below zero and 2 feet of snow (at one time!).
Jim

Jim-

Ain't that the truth. What you really meant to say was you get this kind of weather all in the same week! LOL!

What part of Wisconsin are you from? My parents recently moved to Spooner in the NW section near Hayward. I'm just north of the Twin Cities. -8 F last night. Not as cold this night.

Welcome and have fun!

Chris

[Anonymous]

Chris:

I live at the northern tip of Lake Winnebago, about a 1/2 mile from the lake. The weather is a lot colder in Spooner for sure. Our temp this AM was -3. BUT, the lake creates a weather abnormality for folks in our immediate area. Temps are generally colder by as much as 10 degrees in the winter and summer and the winds are very strong at times.

Thanks for the welcome--I'll try to keep youse guyz tuned up with my RR progress!

Ranger Jim

[piercedan]

Also, Lionel made 45mm track and it is hollow just like the Bachmann track and is for indoors only.

All 332mm track work with each other if solid.

I use clamps as the clamps align the track both vertically and horizontally.