Best Tracks to Use

[Anonymous]

I am really new to the model railroad scene. I am interested in knowing what is/are the best type(s) of tracks to use when building a layout? There seem to be several to choose from.

[Anonymous]

I am really new to the model railroad scene. I am interested in knowing what is/are the best type(s) of tracks to use when building a layout? There seem to be several to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Big subject ... see the MRR Turtle Creek Layout discussion!

I take it your modelling in HO scale, if your into N, O/On30 or G the advice might be a bit (but not a lot different). Do you want to use sectional track (like Snaptrack or Unitrack track) or do want to use flex track which you have to bend yourself and cut to the right length? Some people even build there own track from scratch but I wouldn't recomend that to begin with.

If you're going to make any sort of permament style layout I would recommend you use flex track this way your not tied to the set curves of sectional track and you can make the layout look more realistic, although it might take you a little longer to get up and going; Atlas, Peco and Walthers are all quite reasonable makes that won't brake the bank and look quite reasonable. They all do a range of matching turnouts in a variety of different sharpnesses.

Flexible track systems are pretty interchangable so you aren't set into buying from a particular manufacturer; for example I use a mixture of Peco, Walthers and Micro Engineering track on my layout together with a bit of hand laid track.

[Anonymous]

Big subject ... see the MRR Turtle Creek Layout discussion!

I take it your modelling in HO scale, if your into N, O/On30 or G the advice might be a bit (but not a lot different). Do you want to use sectional track (like Snaptrack or Unitrack track) or do want to use flex track which you have to bend yourself and cut to the right length? Some people even build there own track from scratch but I wouldn't recomend that to begin with.

If you're going to make any sort of permament style layout I would recommend you use flex track this way your not tied to the set curves of sectional track and you can make the layout look more realistic, although it might take you a little longer to get up and going; Atlas, Peco and Walthers are all quite reasonable makes that won't brake the bank and look quite reasonable. They all do a range of matching turnouts in a variety of different sharpnesses.

Flexible track systems are pretty interchangable so you aren't set into buying from a particular manufacturer; for example I use a mixture of Peco, Walthers and Micro Engineering track on my layout together with a bit of hand laid track.

[wp8thsub]

You didn't mention your scale, but if you're in HO it's hard for a newbie to beat Atlas code 83 (the code is the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch, i.e. .083"). Most products aimed at newcomers in HO use larger code 100, but many of them have exceptionally sloppy tolerances, especially with the flangeways in the turnouts and are less reliable than the Atlas 83.

(More info on track terminology can be found in the Trains.com glossary, http://www.trains.com/glossary/glossary_search_user.asp .)

For example, I built my staging yard with Atlas code 100 turnouts and found that I had to do a lot of fine tuning. Plastic oozed around the frog castings, causing derailments; the points were too blunt, causing equipment to bounce; and several of the turnouts were badly out of gauge through the points, enough to cause Atlas's own, Athearn Genesis or other cars with almost scale width wheels to fall into the flangeways and derail. All of the fixes are no problem for experienced modelers but might be very frustrating for newcomers.

Because most code 100 track is aimed at beginners, it often lacks the detail or assembly quality of the code 83 or 70 products marketed to more experienced hobbyists. Fortunately for new modelers, the Atlas 83 is easy to use, and now includes items like sectional track. Their website has more info: http://www.atlasrr.com/code83.asp .

Rob Spangler
WP 8th Sub
Layton, UT

[wp8thsub]

You didn't mention your scale, but if you're in HO it's hard for a newbie to beat Atlas code 83 (the code is the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch, i.e. .083"). Most products aimed at newcomers in HO use larger code 100, but many of them have exceptionally sloppy tolerances, especially with the flangeways in the turnouts and are less reliable than the Atlas 83.

(More info on track terminology can be found in the Trains.com glossary, http://www.trains.com/glossary/glossary_search_user.asp .)

For example, I built my staging yard with Atlas code 100 turnouts and found that I had to do a lot of fine tuning. Plastic oozed around the frog castings, causing derailments; the points were too blunt, causing equipment to bounce; and several of the turnouts were badly out of gauge through the points, enough to cause Atlas's own, Athearn Genesis or other cars with almost scale width wheels to fall into the flangeways and derail. All of the fixes are no problem for experienced modelers but might be very frustrating for newcomers.

Because most code 100 track is aimed at beginners, it often lacks the detail or assembly quality of the code 83 or 70 products marketed to more experienced hobbyists. Fortunately for new modelers, the Atlas 83 is easy to use, and now includes items like sectional track. Their website has more info: http://www.atlasrr.com/code83.asp .

Rob Spangler
WP 8th Sub
Layton, UT

[emdgp92]

Even though I've been into trains for years, I still use the old standby.... Atlas code 100, nickel-silver rail. I suppose I could have switched to code 83 when I built the new layout, but 83 isn't available everywhere...and I have alot of older rolling stock. Once the code 100 track is painted, it tends to "shrink" a little. I've had no problems other than dirt with the track.

[emdgp92]

Even though I've been into trains for years, I still use the old standby.... Atlas code 100, nickel-silver rail. I suppose I could have switched to code 83 when I built the new layout, but 83 isn't available everywhere...and I have alot of older rolling stock. Once the code 100 track is painted, it tends to "shrink" a little. I've had no problems other than dirt with the track.