doctorwayneicro Engineering track may have slightly more realistically-sized spike heads, but its lack of flexibilty and higher price makes it a non-starter for me,
Wayne,For my building of ISLs I can save money using ME flex because I can recycle it which I found hard to do with Atlas flex because the rails pops loose from the ties if you're not extremely careful.
I learn to lay track with the stiff Atlas fiber tie flex track so,laying the stiffer ME flex track came easy---kinda like old school track laying.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I could not even start a project like a model railroad if I was already thinking about how I would be taking it down......Everything in life may be temperary, but I simply can't think in those terms.
Sheldon
My layout is movable but not portable. A 5-ton truck would be required and the chances of getting it into a new house are unlikely. I have one bench that is 6' x 18' and is light enough to be picked up by two people.
I expect the wrecking ball when the time comes, that being said, it took very little thought to put it together in a way that it could be taken apart when moving day came.
The RH/TT assembly can slide into its spot on any future layout.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Brent, I was speaking specifically about the idea of peeling up track for reuse.
Even though it is unlikely that I would ever move again, my next layout will be build in benchwork modules small enough to allow disassembly and moving.
And items like turntables, structures and possibly even turnouts are installed in ways that allow removal.
But I glue down flex track, with high quality adheasive caulk on to homasote roadbed (Homabed/Cascade) or sheet homasote in yards/industrial areas. I tried once just for kicks, there is no peeling it up and reusing it.
I have never considered individual pieces of track reuseable once glued, ballasted and scenery is completed.
And if I had to think that way, I would loose all motivation to even begin.
BATMANA 5-ton truck would be required
.
Your layout weighs 10,000 pounds?
What is it framed with, 4 inch cold rolled C channel?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I could not even start a project like a model railroad if I was already thinking about how I would be taking it down......Everything in life may be temperary, but I simply can't think in those terms. Sheldon
Sheldon, I'm a firm believer in recycling what I can in order to save hobby dollars.. ISLs come and go on a routine bases since better ideas,change of era,etc happens much more then a basement filling layout that may take decades to build. Frame work for a simple (say) 30" x 14' ISL can be built in a day with time away from the great time waster the TV.
I'm moving Slate Creek Ry from a industrial park to a urban industrial sitting. With my ME track and Peco switches I had a 100% recovery.
Then the idea I tossed around for several years returned---code 70 track. With the availability of C70 I order the needed track.. The recycled track will be stored.
You should see my salvage part collection.
SeeYou190 BATMAN A 5-ton truck would be required . Your layout weighs 10,000 pounds? . What is it framed with, 4 inch cold rolled C channel? . -Kevin .
BATMAN A 5-ton truck would be required
Weight is not the problem, the size of the tables is. The box on a rental is 22' usually. My largest table is 6' x 18'. I am open to suggestions.
BRAKIE ATLANTIC CENTRAL I could not even start a project like a model railroad if I was already thinking about how I would be taking it down......Everything in life may be temperary, but I simply can't think in those terms. Sheldon Sheldon, I'm a firm believer in recycling what I can in order to save hobby dollars.. ISLs come and go on a routine bases since better ideas,change of era,etc happens much more then a basement filling layout that may take decades to build. Frame work for a simple (say) 30" x 14' ISL can be built in a day with time away from the great time waster the TV. I'm moving Slate Creek Ry from a industrial park to a urban industrial sitting. With my ME track and Peco switches I had a 100% recovery. Then the idea I tossed around for several years returned---code 70 track. With the availability of C70 I order the needed track.. The recycled track will be stored. You should see my salvage part collection.
That's fine if that is what works for you, but I have no interest in starting over, even if it is just a small ISL.
My new layout will have two nice sized ISL "areas" within the layout. They will be able to be operated independently without going on the mainline at all.
Once built, they may get improved, but never "started over".
ATLANTIC CENTRALThat's fine if that is what works for you, but I have no interest in starting over, even if it is just a small ISL.
Sheldon,My small ISLs may last 2-3 years of daily operation before the bug hits me to try a different track plan and then the planing begins.
If I had a basement filling ISL I doubt if it would be changed at all since I could add the wanted features I can't on small ISLs like a industrial yard and in the case of Summerset or SCR a interchange track for changing of cars. For my NS and CSX I would add stagging yard where cars could be changed out.
Even on my small ISLs the inbound cars is changed daily before operation begins. The outbound cars is removed and cycled through again days later.
Don't you just love these "versus" threads!
Amazing how they always open up a plethora of rabbit trails..............
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 Don't you just love these "versus" threads! Amazing how they always open up a plethora of rabbit trails..............
Meanwhile, the OP thanked us all yesterday morning for all of our comments and decided to stick with Atlas flex track and turnouts. Too bad that he couldn't lock his own thread at that point.
Here is the OP's final reply.
Rich
JPD I want to thank all of you for your comments. After considering your comments and checking out a few more things, I have decided that I will stick with Atlas tracks for the following reasons: (1) I am already familiar with it; (2) the painted and ballasted Atlas track on my switching layout looks pretty good to me and none of my visitors have commented negatively about it; (3) I am not really a rivet counter; and (4) cost and availability. The main thing I did not like about Atlas turnouts, the #6 (nos. 505 and 506), is that you cannot directly solder to the frog. I had to tap an existing small hole near the frog and install a brass screw underneath that I was then able to solder to. Not really much of a challenge, just something I found odd. When I started to design the around the room layout, I thought I would need some of the fancier curved turnouts offered by other companies, but my design only uses #6 and #8 turnouts. Besides, Atlas now offers a curved turnout. And if I do need anything else, like bridge track, I can just order it and work it into the Atlas track. Ultimately, it was not until I started to look at costs yesterday that I confirmed my decision to stick with Atlas. I will save several hundreds of dollars going with Atlas. Now I have to go back to Anyrail and redo my layout design because I used the Walthers tracks on my first attempt. Oh well, a lot easier changing a track design on the computer than on the actual layout. Thanks again for your comments.
Alton Junction
richhotrainMeanwhile, the OP thanked us all yesterday morning for all of our comments and decided to stick with Atlas flex track and turnouts. Too bad that he couldn't lock his own thread at that point.
And several years down the road this thread will pop up again..Its the way of forums.
And the forum pol-pol will have their say again..