Here is a picture of the new Piko G gauge brass track.
Enjoy!
Yes that is nice looking track but I have spoken to my Piko - LGB dealer about a month and a half ago and they were not sure if they would be selling it. I wonder if that is because Marklin will be producing LGB Track again very soon?
Ron
emipapa wrote: Yes that is nice looking track but I have spoken to my Piko - LGB dealer about a month and a half ago and they were not sure if they would be selling it. I wonder if that is because Marklin will be producing LGB Track again very soon?Ron
Marklin may be restocking LGB track to US dealers, but their distributor, LGBoA also is distributor for Piko, so... conflict of interest?
I doubt it, I suspect they will make both available, if not by stock then by ordering, as Piko has some track that LGB has never offered, like a wye switch (Yeah!), and given the predeliction for modelers to mix and match track depending on what they require, I think we will be in track heaven come this time next year.
I just wish one of these guys would offer a simple affordable outdoor turntable kit!
Have fun with your trains
I agree on the Turntable kit. I just think that people are playing games regarding the track to get the PRICE up out of sight. Ron
I'm sure some of the price hike is legitamite increases in material costs, but I'm sure alot of it is pure profiteering, 30% increase in raw materials = 200% price increase? yeah right.
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/another.wav
GearDrivenSteam wrote:I withdraw both my questions.
Well now that you've withdrawn the question and I dont feel the overwhelming public peer pressure to produce an answer... brass only (for now), code 332, basicly the same (in the compatable sense of the word) as LGB.
Whew..thats was a load off my mind...
vsmith wrote: GearDrivenSteam wrote:I withdraw both my questions.Well now that you've withdrawn the question and I dont feel the overwhelming public peer pressure to produce an answer... brass only (for now), code 332, basicly the same (in the compatable sense of the word) as LGB. Whew..thats was a load off my mind...
Hi there,
There are substantial differences between PIKO and LGB track as far as track geometry is concerned. Just because it is Code332 doesn't mean that it will easily fit with LGB track, but the geometry does complement it. Check before you buy! make sure that the "R" designations are corresponding to what you need i.e. while PIKO uses the same "R" monikers, the values are different!
At least that's what HWUK (He Who Usually Knows) tells me.
Hope that helps
ER
vsmith wrote:Stock Aristo and LGB rails and joiners are both "compatable" if enough brute force is applied in the right places, but prying off the joiners and utilizing rail clamps significantly improves their "compatability". I'm sure the same technic will resolve 90% of Piko and LGB "compatability" issues.
I'm suprised by that comment, Vic. My club uses mostly LGB but we mix in some long Aristo track and they seem to go together without much of a problem (I have the past two days putting together a big layout for the Maryland Home & Garden Show this weekend). Also, to all those folks who say how great those LGB switches are, I'm not buying it anymore. They have just as many (more in my opinion) problems that any of my Aristo switches.
-Brian
altterrain wrote: vsmith wrote:Stock Aristo and LGB rails and joiners are both "compatable" if enough brute force is applied in the right places, but prying off the joiners and utilizing rail clamps significantly improves their "compatability". I'm sure the same technic will resolve 90% of Piko and LGB "compatability" issues. I'm suprised by that comment, Vic. My club uses mostly LGB but we mix in some long Aristo track and they seem to go together without much of a problem (I have the past two days putting together a big layout for the Maryland Home & Garden Show this weekend). Also, to all those folks who say how great those LGB switches are, I'm not buying it anymore. They have just as many (more in my opinion) problems that any of my Aristo switches.-Brian
Brian my experience is that the web between the bottom plate and the rail head of LGB track is slightly thinner than Aristo track (no set screws to accomodate). When combining track the Aristo joiner will fit the LGB track no problemo, but the LGB joiner need to be "coxed", forcably, to fit, once its been done, the tracks can be pulled apart and then put together without any trouble, but that first time...
As for LGB vs Aristo, I will not buy another Aristo switch ever again, nothing but constantly engines stalling and derailing, maybe its my smaller running stock but the LGBs are far better performers to me. Even my big Annies would jump the Aristos constantly. The one big huge weakness LGB switches have, at least in the manual switches, is a patheticly weak spring, I can throw the switch and nothing happens, on several of them I had to throw the switch, then physically move the points over.
In the future I plan to ditch the stock thowers entirely and use outdoors some Tenmille's I bought from TOC, and indoors some brass stands, either from Sunset or Trackside Details.
What I have always liked about the LGB track is how it oxidizes to a nice black color, yet still conducts electricity. I do hope that the Piko track will do the same. But if real LGB track will still be available, I'll stick with it. My garden railroad is now 14 years old, and I haven't had to replace any of its track...all LGB.
SandyR
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