Aristo or LGB

[piercedan]

Note that USA track is very much the same as Aristo in color and same screws/joiners..

I believe that it is USA track that comes with the HLW train sets.

[jhsimpson62]

I used Aristo for three years and only cleaned it twice a year. Must of my problem was from dampness just about sundown. The little screws do pose somewhat of a inconvience, but simply checking the tightness of them while touching up the ballest each spring kept everything running fine. Just moved and will be starting a new line and I doubt I'll try anything different although the jury is still out on that. Jsimpson

[Greg Elmassian]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BMTRAINS

I am trying to decide whether to use Aristo or LGb track
Aristo is cheaper and i am happy with my LGB track
I would rather have better track for a few more $'s than have crummy track
Thanx
Alex

SS Aristo with split jaw clamps, since you said for a few more $'s...

Will be maintenance free, never clean the rails. The clamps will allow you to pull the turnouts out easily for maintenance (all brands need it)

More radii available, nice #6 turnouts, and a wye coming.

You can start with the Aristo joiners and swap in the clamps as you go, put them on the turnouts first.

Regards, Greg

[ttrigg]

While "developing plans" for the Rosebud Falls GRR, I had put a shortened version on the upper patio, (the lower patio belongs to the wife and the upper patio belongs to me when she is not using it). Any way the LGB rack sat out there for almost 18 months without being cleaned. Train still ran fine, tram ran fine, speeder ran fine. Only had to start cleaning when track started going around the pond, now spending more time keeping the weeds out of the track than running the train.



That is supposed to be my MAIN LINE, NOT an abandoned line!!!!

Yes the clamps add to the cost, but have had absolutely no problems at all (other than weeds, and flooding neighbors yard) (also the shoulder being of of whack for the last six weeks has not helped either.

[John Busby]

Hi Buksco
Don't think so my Hartland Mack runs on it OK
and that doesn't have the benefit of the scraper effect of LGB's pick up skates
Don't know when the last time i cleaned the track was
tegards John

[Bucksco]

John has a good point. Does oxidation impede the pick up of electricity? I've never had that problem with my LGB track. Then again I keep it pretty clean.
I think the quality of the track might have to do more with the lead content in the Brass? This is what I believe determines whether the brass is more pure (I realize it is a compound).

[John Busby]

Hi Busco
Different compasition of brass all brasses are not created equall LGB does brown off
faster than Aristo track the browning helps desguise the girder rails quite nicely..
I have not had any pick up problems.
regards John

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I think Aristo SS is well worth the extra money --- That being said, It's a lot extra when you throw away those $%#@%$#^$% tiny screws and use the Split Jaw Clamps; A lot extra but well worth it for my money!

So much less wasted time, so much less troubleshooting, so much less long term maintainence! Just touch up ballast once a year!

[Rastun]

What do you consider 100% brass? Since Brass is a Copper and Zinc alloy, which version of brass do you consider this 100% virgin brass? I would say though since the LGB track does darken quicker than the Aristo track that the LGB track has a higher copper content than the Aristo. SInce Brass can range anywhere from 95% Copper/5% Zinc to 63% Copper/ 37% Zinc (known and common brass) I'd say it's pretty easy to see where one brass could oxidize faster than another brass.

Jack

[Bucksco]

How can virgin (100%) brass oxidize faster than other brass tracks?

[BudSteinhoff]

The LGB track turns darker much faster than Aristo which means that it oxidizes faster.
I replaced all my LGB track with Aristo and have no problem with it.
I still have many LGB switches and they do oxidize faster and require the most cleaning.
Bud[8D]

[Bucksco]

Depends on how you're going to feel about it down the road a piece. I visited a bunch of outdoor layouts in the Chicago area during the Garden Railroad convention in July and the LGB track had a much better "weathered " appearance than Aristo. The Aristo ties seem to take on a very faded grey appearance as time goes by.

[Train 284]

ARITSO-CRAFT!!! This stuff works great for me and has not failed! They also have the SS track, which I love the look of, but a little out of my price range. The Aristo comes with joiners and screws which go a long ways in the future, as with LGB your stuck with buying those hugly expensive clamps and soldering the joints.

Just my [2c]

[folkestonekeith]

Uptil now I've been using LGB track but recently bought my first load of Aristocraft track....one advantage of Aristocraft over LGB is that Aristocraft have a much greater range of curved tracks than LGB....good for me as I'm hopeless at trying to get decent curves with the so-called LGB flexible track........

[smcgill]

Hello Alex ! [8D]
I was wandering how you were making out ? [;)]
I have been useing the USA track ( Aristo [;)] ) with the screws .
This is my second layout ( moved [V] ) and I reused all of my track with no problem! [:)]
I have both USA and Arist switches on same line no problem!
I just run an Aristo track cleaning once in a while! [;)]
I have a small layout for now but for the bigger one I'll still use the same type of track! [8D]
Tell us how you do and what you will be running! [:)]

[Anonymous]

I use both.All of my points are LGB and all of my straight track is Aristo.
Don't waste your money on LGB straights and curves.
I have no expereience of Aristo points though.

[John Busby]

Hi BMTRAINS
Not a whole lot of difference
If your line is Narrow gauge might just as well stick with LGB
If std Gauge go with Aristocraft.
thats about it.
Be aware there is a slight diference in rail size so make sure the rail heads are level if you deside to change to Aristocraft track a little shim brass in the fish plates will fix that easy
there realy is not much to choose between other than price.
I have both brands on my line but prefer LGB points (switches)
regards John

[kstrong]

If the joints are strong and kept conductive, there's not a whole lot of difference between the two tracks beyond aesthetics. Aristo has the stainless steel track, which while it hasn't been on the market for the decades that the LGB rail has, has already gotten rave reviews in terms of not having to clean it for operation. In that regard (and the price) I'd be tempted to go with Aristo's track. Aristo's track comes tapped with screws to hold it together, which will also go great lengths to maintain conductivity. With the LGB track, you'd do yourself wise to add railclamps at the joints to maintain proper conductivity (At an added expense.)

On the other side of the coin, LGB track weathers very nicely to a dark brown in short order, looking more like prototypical rail than the yellow or silver ribbons of Aristocraft track.

It's your call, your dollar, but I've never noticed any significant difference beyond aesthetics between the two tracks. If you want to spend the money, go ahead. Frankly, I'd save the money and spend it on another locomotive.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

I have four friends with garden railways in thier bakyards. Together they have over 6,000 feet of LGB track and are extremely happy with it! One of my friends has had the same track in place for 17 years and has never had a problem with it. If you can spend the extra money it will be worth it!

[Anonymous]

I am trying to decide whether to use Aristo or LGb track
Aristo is cheaper and i am happy with my LGB track
I would rather have better track for a few more $'s than have crummy track
Thanx
Alex