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What is your opinion about Roco tracks?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Greece
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What is your opinion about Roco tracks?
Posted by Railroad on Sunday, October 1, 2006 4:46 AM
What is your opinion about Roco tracks? In comparison with Peco?
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Posted by cacole on Sunday, October 1, 2006 11:20 AM

The only Roco product I have ever used is a double-curved turnout that looks like it must be at least 10-15 years old.  Not very good quality compared to Peco, but Roco has undoubtedly improved over the years.

I'd try to find a hobby shop that carries both brands and look them over before deciding which to use, because they're both going to be expensive.

Another factor I would consider is Roco's current position in the market -- the founder of Roco passed away a few years ago and his widow took over management of the company.  One of her first actions was to withdraw Roco products from the North American market.  What is their current policy?  You didn't indicate where you're from.

 

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  • From: Greece
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Posted by Railroad on Sunday, October 1, 2006 12:02 PM
I am from Greece.Roco is easy to find.Another brand i can find is Piko but it has small variety.Another product that impressed me it Tillig,but i have to order them from another country.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 1, 2006 1:40 PM
Peco track would be more realistic, although Roco's track with fitted roadbed would be easier to use as you wouldn't have to ballast it (Roco also do unballasted track).   Also, I believe that the motors for the Roco ballasted turnouts fit inside the bases of the turnouts, which would make them easier/neater to use.

I think it depends on how much effort you want to put in to it!   I have been building a small On30 layout (I'll post some pictures soon), using Peco flextrack & turnouts.    I would also like to build a small HO or N layout some time in the future.   If I do, I'll probably go for something like Roco, Fleischmann or Marklin track systems (depending on the scale), mainly because I'm so clumsy!

By the way, if you check out  http://www.roco.com/index.aspx  you'll see that Roman & Company now distribute Roco in the USA.    Also, Modelleisenbahn GmbH took over Roco last year when they went bankrupt after a lot of investment in modernisation of the factory.
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  • From: Greece
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Posted by Railroad on Sunday, October 8, 2006 3:38 AM

I can not find any information of what is made from the roco track, Brass or nickel-silver?

Anybody know about it?

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 8, 2006 7:56 AM
According to the Roco 2002/2003 catalogue, their unballasted HO track is nickel silver.
I can't see that they mention the metal for their ballasted track, nor their N gauge track, but I would be surprised if it isn't nickel silver.   I've seen their HO Rocoline ballasted track, and it looks like nickel silver to me!
  • Member since
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  • From: Greece
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Posted by Railroad on Sunday, October 8, 2006 8:32 AM

I am asking  about unballasted Ho track.

I am a little confused because i have a piece of track and the color is a bit cold.It is not like the marklin or piko track.

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 8, 2006 8:50 AM
Hmmm.   Quote from the Roco catalog:
"The classic Roco 2.5mm nickel silver tracks"

This is the unballasted track, which I have never actually seen for real.

You could also try emailing Roco at roco@roco.cc, or the new American distributors at rocousa@roco.com
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Posted by Railroad on Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:44 AM

I send email to Roco but they did not reply to me.I can't understand why it's so difficult to find information about rocoline track.

Maybe i should take one track to a laboratory and make tests!!!!

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 22, 2006 6:55 AM
You could try emailing

howesmodels@yahoo.co.uk

as they seem to be the main Roco specialist dealers in the UK.
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  • From: Colorful Colorado
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Posted by Texas Zepher on Sunday, October 22, 2006 10:48 PM
 Railroad wrote:
What is your opinion about Roco tracks? In comparison with Peco?
The only Roco Track I am familiar with is code 83 stuff that was imported and branded by Atlas 10-12 years ago.  It was nice track.  On the turnouts, the connection of the point rail to the throw bar was weak and easily break if it was torqued in a non-normal direction.  But I would still be buying that track if it was available in the U.S.

I have not yet purchased any of the new Peco code 83 track so I cannot make a comparision.  I really like the Peco code 100 except for the european style curved departing route rail.
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Posted by pbjwilson on Sunday, October 22, 2006 11:14 PM
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Posted by Agamemnon on Monday, October 23, 2006 11:02 AM
The reason you're seeing all those DISCONTINUED signs is that Roco had to retire its entire track lineup with roadbed. The new management didn't inherit the applicable patents for the rubbery roadbed stuff (RocoLine), so they had to make a new lineup from scratch (GeoLine).
Gott ist Tot. "Tell them that God bids us do good for evil: And thus clothe my naked villainy With odd old ends stol'n forth of holy writ; And seem a saint when most I play the devil."
  • Member since
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  • From: Greece
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Posted by Railroad on Monday, October 23, 2006 3:25 PM

Agamemnon.

That name sounds that you are from Greece?

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  • From: Espoo, Finland
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Posted by Agamemnon on Monday, October 23, 2006 11:34 PM
No, but I get that a lot.
Gott ist Tot. "Tell them that God bids us do good for evil: And thus clothe my naked villainy With odd old ends stol'n forth of holy writ; And seem a saint when most I play the devil."

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