track prices

[Anonymous]

A former HO modeler, I'm ready to go to G-scale outdoors. I've collected as much info as possible and have a rough design for a relatively small garden layout, which will have about 230 linear feet of track. Today, for the first time, I started looking at prices of track. Wow! Tell me if I'm wrong, but depending on brand and vendor, it looks like I can count on anywhere from $2.25 to $4.00 per foot. Does anyone have any advice for a guy on a railroad budget? Do you have any favorite vendors or track brands that you recommend? Also, I could use some advice on a suitable (no frills) power pack for this layout.

[Anonymous]

Piperford, Your lucky, prices here are from $16 a foot, pluss you still have to lay the bed. As an alternative, if you dont mind a bit or work refer my subject Hand Made Rails on the 4th page of the Garden General Discussion. Sure, the finished product does not look as good as the brought stuff, but its stronger and a lot cheaper. All up on the ground $2 per ft, ( If your quoting $US thats actually 98cents a foot) and it works perfectly. Up until yesterday I had not run the trains outside since March 03. Cleaned the debri from the track, cleaned off the cat s...., plugged in the transformer and it worked . I am happy to help someone to get a track down rather than store the trains in the shed because its too expensive to buy the track. If you send me an email I can send the info with pictures back to you. Its up to you.

[Marty Cozad]

Piper
I want to encourage you to go for it. All of us have a budget and we all go over it. Over the last 12 years Aristo has had the best sale offers. I buy the track when its (get 4 cases and the 5th is free, + shipping) Its a must have to run a RR. Plus I still am using 12 year old track, So it figures out over time. I also buy an engine when the sales says you get a free car with it. or buy 4 of these cars ,the 5th is free. Plus look for free shipping offers. I know its high, but its less money than a jet sky boat that can only run in the summer.

PS , the story behind the "jet sky boat" is ,,my brother thinks I waste money on trains. BUT he buys the jet sky for the "family" but he needs a trailor to pull it. OH, he needs a bigger blazer to pull the boat. Well with all the other toys that go with the boat he had me build a third bay to his garage to house all of this.[;)] OK, Now , who spends more money??? On his toys.[:p][:D]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input. I knew that this wasn't going to be cheap, but coming from an HO mentality, where track prices are nominal, to G-scale, where trackage is a big chunk of change, it was a shock. I do plan to "go for it" but will probably cut back on a siding and a turnout or two. Marty, where should I keep an eye out for sales an Aristo products? Also, please confirm this: By looking at some vendor sites, it looks like the rails and ties are sold separately. Is this typical? Is the flextrack easy to bend and get it right? (I learn quickly.) I'm afraid of spending the money, then messing it up.
-Piperford

[Marty Cozad]

I don't want to say dealers names cause I buy and spread the busniess around. BUT I know a "freind" who put out bids with a list of what he wanted to buy. about $3,000 to start and only St Aubins came back and wanted to deal with him. they got his $3,500 + dollars and he was very happy.
Now poor little have tried many things but the last 4 year s or so I buy the 4.5 ft sectional track from Aristo cause , I can remove ties and bend myself and the UPS chages jump up when you get to 5ft. I use battery so I usa American brass rail. ( side note, I personall think battery is THE cheapes way to go with Aristo being batt ready. simple gondola car with an TE in it and your done and on your way.
Again, thats only me talking.
I have a note on the train room door. I can run trains any time you want to watch them go!!!! You just have to show up. ( I say that light hearted to)

[bman36]

Piperford,
My recommendation would be to start off with a single loop of sectional track. Get that running with provision for the sidings built in. I too was shocked by the price of track. The best price I found was $4.25 per foot Canadian. I started out with 120 feet of track and 1 switch for a single siding. Add some on each year as you plan to expand. As for handlaying track, give it a go after you have a line running. I say this only for times sake in order to get trains running ASAP. Don't get discouraged. Once you are running outdoors you'll be having a blast! Later eh...Brian.

[Marty Cozad]

I forgot the most important part, I pay around $2.35 to $2.75 per ft this way. I have never paid over $3 per ft. Plus if you want track power buy the new NS stuff.I don't know the price on it.

[Anonymous]

I do plan to "bite the bullet" and do it, I just want to get the most bang for my buck (American or Canadian, eh Brian?). Marty whenever I had to personally justify the cost of my pasttime (when I was building an HO layout) was to simply compare the cost of it to a guy that works on cars (real ones) for a hobby. I figured my entire layout cost about the same as that guy pays for a set of chrome wheels. Anyway, I'll start small and plan for gradual growth as funds become available. It could be worse. I've been reading the strands from those fellows in New Zealand an Honduras. At the prices they're looking at to import it, they would be best to learn to make their own track.
-Piperford

[bman36]

Piperford,
We are quite fortuneate to pay what we do here in North America. When I told my wife how much track cost, she replied with "Oh that's not bad..." At that point gentlemen I was quiet. Very quiet. [:-^] Then again if she wants something for the house I never ask how much. Instead I ask do you feel it is worth the money? If she says yes I don't argue. I know it will work for me when I have my eye on a new piece for the layout. Marty is right in that Aristo will have track sales from time to time which really helps with the cost. You can sometimes get really good deals off eBay but be very careful to read the fine print on shipping and handling. That can turn a good deal into a rip off real quick. Generally the large hobby shops advertising in Garden Railways have really good deals. The "W" in Winnipeg where I live stands for "Wholesale". We are notorious for sniffing out bargains. Oh yeah BTW, I build Streetrods also. Yes you can build a whole layout for less than a set of billet wheels. Things sure have changed from when I fired my first engine. Think I'll stick to trains. A hotrod does not look quite right sitting in a garden. Later eh...Brian.
[tup]

[Grefflyn]

piperford
For my money i'm on marty's side St Aubin's the place. Best prices and best service.
no one has everything so i buy from others too but St Aubins is always the first place
i go.
Grefflyn

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bennysrr

TRAIN WORLD IS ALSO ANOTHER PLACE TO BUY TRACK, SOME OF THE LITTLE SHOPS AROUND HEAR ARE A LITTLE HIGH PRICED. CHECK THE GARDEN RAILSWAYS MAGAZINE THEIR ARE MANY GOOD DEALER IN THEIR. I USED A FEW OF THEM. BEN ---PA.

[Anonymous]

I'm buying a couple pieces from a local guy to get started. He was a little more expensive than internet prices, but he ordered the exact sections that I wanted and is selling it to me by the piece, rather than the box like most of the internet places. Plus, my tax dollars are going back into my local community and there are no shipping charges.

I'm just putting down a small 30' loop so I can get a train running while the final RR gets built. The small loop will then be moved and incorporated in the middle of the final layout.

[Anonymous]

Mike,

I'm in Parker, CO and have taken the plunge to build a new RR. Where did you find the "crusher fines" for your layout? I've got a 10' x 60' area for a start. I ordered a BUNCH of 8' Aristo track so the loop should go quickly. I hope bending the rail is as easy as folks say. I'm anxious to get started!

[Anonymous]

[#welcome] MileHi

I work in landscaping and on a g scale track for a man that owns his own shop. After 3 yrs of research for my railway I choose to buy this as a set:

LIL' CRITTER FREIGHT STARTER SETS M.S.R.P.: $225.00
Includes: Lil' Critter Diesel Switcher Locomotive, 20 ft. Gondola, Bobber Caboose, 12 pieces of curve track, and Track Power Connection Wire.
Sets now include Basic Train Engineer with wall mounted power supply!

Astro-craft. Nice start I thought and can expand later.
While the dealer I work for I play with his when he ain't looking [:D]
Just my [2c] though....

[Anonymous]

I have gotten my best deals from Internet Trains in California (www.internettrains.com). They will match anybody's price, and their shipping was only $8.00 for my Bachmann loco & tender, three pieces of rolling stock, and 4 cartons of Aristocraft brass track. They matched the 15% lower prices from www.wholesaletrains.com in New York as well.

[emipapa]

Piperford,
You didn't mention what MAKE or TYPE of track you are looking at. I would like to suggest that you purchase only a QUALITY PRODUCT. I did a comparison list a while back (6-months ago) on WEBSITE prices of "LGB BRASS TRACK" and found that Ridge Road Station was the most economical at the time. I also found them to be EXTREAMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE about the MANY BRANDS or PRODUCTS that they sell and were VERY HELPFUL when a question was asked. I do hope that this is a HELP to you and remember I only looked at "LGB BRASS TRACK". At this time I must state that I have NO CONNECTION to Ridge Road Station, I am just a VERY SATISFIED CUSTOMER.
Ron

[grandpopswalt]

Piperford,

If you're really concerned about price you might try sunset valley Railroad code 250 aluminum rail. It comes out to about $1.42 per foot and comes in 6 foot lengths. I'm not sure what tax and shipping add to it but the base price of the product is hard to beat.

Walt

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,
I know this doesn't affect you but, for info, here in the UK I buy from a guy in Scotland and a local shop. The guy up north is very reasonable but doesn't send track by post because of the cost. This last weekend I bought a box of Aristo 2' straights and a box of 8' curves for £118-00. Lucky for me there is a local shop, but they charge!
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]