Hey all. I would like to start buying track and turnouts for a layout I'd like to build down the road. The problem is, I plan on moving within the next 12 months. What, if any, considerations should be made for buying track/turnouts (leaving it sealed in the packaging), putting it in a box and transporting it 1,000+ miles across country?
Atlas stuff, I'm guessing, probably wouldn't have much issue...It's sealed and should be protected, but I wasnt sure on some of the Peco stuff...
If you keep stuff in its original packaging and pack the boxes so that nothing moves around in them, I see no reason not to buy ahead. I bought ahead for years, but no plans on moving. My layout space got cut back to about 1/3 the original size, so I have surplus, just need to get planning so I know what is and isn't surplus.
Good luck,
Richard
Peco track "in bulk" comes in good sturdy packaging that should withstand packing and travel, given common sense precautions like not letting it be subjected to bending, or getting wet. The thin boxes the turnouts come in are also fairly durable and easy to stack and thus pack tightly.
In terms of the wisdom of buying now, using later, I bought most of my Peco track about five to ten years ago and there have been enough price increases since then to make me glad I did (track stored but not shipped).
Dave Nelson
I have Shinohara track and switches code 100 and 70 a lot of it around 45 years old,so old it was imported by Lambert and not walthers. I am now on a third layout and 2 local moves and it is still good and is being used . Sturdy packaging would my best suggestion.Buy now because it will be more later makes sense to me
Ron High
Buy later, I used to think it was cheaper to buy now but with things like e-bay, common items can be had fairly cheap. I use Shinohara turnouts and they cost me $4 thirty years ago and I only pay $5 to $7 now.
I store my excess flex track in a mailing tube and have a seperate one for cork roadbed.
I also have some left over EZ track from my last layout in a plastic bin where I suspect it will survive the apocolypse.
Joe Staten Island West
I have been buying track and turnouts for years in anticipation of my layout. Compared to what I would be paying today the prices I got the stuff for look pretty attractive.
As for as storage and shipping, I have purchased three boxes of Atlas Code 100 flex track. They were all shipped via courier in the original packaging with no problems. The turnouts simply need to be packed properly. I have received lots of those through the mail too.
Before you buy Atlas turnouts you might want to start a thread asking about the pros and cons of various brands. If I was starting out today I would be buying the latest version of Peco Electrofrogs. On that note, be aware that Peco has issued several different versions of their Electrofrog turnouts over the last 15 years or so. Earlier versions require a lot more work to make them truly DCC friendly.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I operate on the 'just in time' manufacturing process.
Why store it if you don't yet need it?
Sure, it will probably be cheaper but so is food and clothing and automobiles and whatever.
Plus, if you wait to buy it, it will be the latest and greatest technological version.
Rich
Alton Junction
LION buys Model Power track in boxes of 100 pcs. Gone through three boxes already, I think my layout is now finished as far as track is concerned.
LION has 50 Tortoise machines, now on third layout, bought them years ago when they were still $12.00 each.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Back when I started my first room sized layout, I took my track bill-of-materials to three hobby stores (remember them?) and asked for competitive bids. The winner was a $1500 bid which was several hundred dollars less than what I would pay by cherry picking the best discounted sales price per item advertised by any vendor.
If you are moving to a place where a brick & morter hobby store is within reach, I'd recommend this approach because the store will be very willing to give a steep discount for a large sale where they will likely just place a pass through order with their supplier. You can also entice them further with cash or an up-front payment.
Jim
I had a case ( 100 count ) of Atlas Flex Track code100 in storage for 18 years, just got it out of storage 6 years ago to start my layout that was put on hold when we moved in 1992. Paid $69.00 for a case of track, last time I looked it was around $400.00 There was no problems with having it in storage.
I don't buy and store turnouts. I build them on-site from stock-cut ties, raw rail and solder.
That said, my present layout includes track from a lot of sources, including some that has been lifted and relayed up to five times and even a couple of lengths of original Atlas nickel silver stapled to fiber tie strip. (No, I'm not going to use it as flex track! When I need it, the rail will be stripped and used as stick rail.)
A few years ago I took advantage of a sale to buy enough Code 83 to lay all the visible part of my double garage filler. Given my present rate of virtual non-progress, I'm sure it will last for the rest of my life.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - s l o w l y)
I have too much unused stuff on my workroom shelf. I've learned not to buy too far ahead, because plans change. I started my layout with Code 100 track and snap-switches, but after Phase 1 was complete I switched to Code 83 and Walthers-Shinohara.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.