EZ Track or Scratch?

[Anonymous]

Donald,
First let me state that I have a "decent" size layout (4'x8') and I use ez-track, atlas sectional and flex-track together. All you have to do is break off the tabs of the ez track on the end you are joining to the atlas track. Then you will have to use some roadbed (inexpensive) to bring the height of the atlas track up to the ez-track.

This is particularly useful to create variances in height between your "mainline" and your sidings. My mainline is generally ez-track and the sidings are the atlas track with gradually thinner roadbed underneath. AMI makes a good flexible roadbed (just double it up under the atlas track to match the height of the ez-track) or you can use cork roadbed under the atlas track and that should match the height of the eztrack. The ami roadbed can flex with flextrack as well.

Now, the other thing I like about the eztrack is that the switches do not have any exposed hardware and I don't have to worry about mounting an under the table remote thrower. But again on one or two less used sidings I have the atlas manual switches as well.

Finally, I don't hink your hobby shop gave you good advice. The first person I asked in my shop gave me the same negative feedback - then he called over another employee who explained to me that yes it is possible to mix and match eztrack and atlas sectional and flextrack. So my advice is to ask more than one person in the shop and you will quickly weed out the habitual naysayer from the truly helpful.

P.S. how big of a layout do you plan to build, will it be permanent - or will it be connected and disconnected. If permanent then all of my comments are applicable - If not then you will want to stick to all eztrack if your are constantly assembling and disassembling like on a living room floor.

Just my 37 cents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Donald,

I'm am a beginning to intermediate modeler and a civil engineer. In my opinion you are better off with flex track rather than EZ track. You will be limited in what you can do with EZ track. Right now they have fewer shapes in EZ than they have in sectional track, and I feel too limited with sectional track.

Having said all that . . .
I think an oval with a couple sidings built from EZ track would be a wonderful starting setup for a dad and son to mess with in the beginning. If your modeling career is anything like the norm, you will build several 'layouts' over the years and you will learn what is most important to YOU along the way. What I am trying to acheive may be totally uninteresting to you.

I received a set which included a John Bull and an oval of EZ track for Christmas. I let my (three year old) son play with the track and his engine occasionally and it is fine for that, but I couldn't do any more with it than that. For me, it's more trouble than it's worth to include in a layout. I am looking to build a layout with 24 inch radius curves minimum.

If you have the budget, I recommend you read the following books before you make any major decisions about your choice of track:
How to Operate Your Model Railroad by Bruce Chub
How to Design Track for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong
101 Track Plans by Linn Wescott
Easy Model Railroad Wiring by Andy Sperandeo (I think)
There are other books, but I think these give a major overview of what model railroading has to offer.

I favor operation myself, and you may not. That's fine if you do. Some are just railfans and love to see the side rods pumping away. Whether you choose to use EZ track, Sectional track, Flex track or even possibly hand laid track; it should be based on what you are interested in and not the rest of us. I would read these books so you can make an informed opinion.

Good Luck - Ed

[BR60103]

Donald:
I've had layouts with everything from sectional track to kit-built track in them (yes, at the same time) and I suggest you try different types to see.
As it's for your son, he may be quite happy with the EZ track as it can be taken apart and re-configured. It can always be used for something on your next layouts, and it should join up with regular track with some roadbed under it. He may not worry as much about the sharp curves and limited flexibility.
Don't get stampeded into something you're not sure about. When you think you want to try handlaid track, build a little section and see. You can always put scenery on it for photos or use it as a test track at your workbench.
Remember, it's your layout (or at least your son's).

[Anonymous]

PS

I am currently running my AMTRAK Zephyr - P40 complete wiih Walthers Superliner and baggage cars.


So you CAN run the larger cars on E-Z - just don't try a sharp turnout followed by a curve !!! 8-o

[Anonymous]

Don -

Some more thoughts on E-Z track:

1. You can be "up and running" faster, instead of spending days laying track. I just finished "hearing" someone compain (on another forum) about how they never got to RUN the trains - spend all his time laying track!

2. Cost: Yes, E-Z is more expensive. But if it is true that "time is money", does this add to the cost of the "nornal" types of track? Only you can decide. Don't forget to add in the cost of track bed materials!

3. While you have limitations, mainly how "sharp" you can have a turnout, and how close you can have tracks, it is in fact (IMHO) more prototypical - real roads don't have tight curves! See the "Handbook" for E-Z track limitations, and some ways to overcome them.

4. You CAN ballast this track and make it look "raal" - again, see the "Handbook" for more information - and some good photos of a finished E-Z track layout!


I don't expect that I will always stick with E-Z, but for a first project (and maybe for part of a bigger project later), it is certainly a possibility !

Again, good luck with your layout!

- George

[Anonymous]

In my opion EZ track is a good idea if you are
going to limit yourself on the size of your rail-
road. The radius is very limited, and the turn-
out size is limited as well. If you are doing
a Christmas layout under a tree or another small
layout for another special time okay. But a reg-
ular layout use flex track and bigger turnouts.
You can't run big engines or longer cars threw
small turnouts. Most engines can handle NO. 6
turnouts but 8's to me work better. What ever
you decide to do have fun and enjoy your railroad.
Ross

[Anonymous]

Donald -

For what is possible with E-Z track, I suggest you take a look at Robert Schleicher's book
"The HO Model Railroading Handbook." You (and others might be supprised at what is possible!

I found it in my local library, then bought it thru Amazon.com - has lots of good info!

I am building my first small layout with E-Z. May "add" to it in flextrack later - will see how it goes!

Good Luck !!!

- George

[Anonymous]

Donald: I agree with Justin, go with the flex or handlaid track, you can also use some predone fixed radius curve track with it. The first thing is that the EZ track would cost you too much, fine if you are only doing lets say a 2x4 or 2x6 module, or something very small just to practice on. If you want to build anything larger, the cost would be too much, save your monies for some nice other railroad things. As Justin said, you would be also limited, with flex track you can follow a plan or design your own and easily make changes as you go, to which you will do. A lot of the fun of this hobby is the creativity and building that you do, you see your railroad grow piece by piece, you get a lot of enjoyment in small things that you accomplish also, this could also include trackwork(dsigning it, putting it down, painting and weathering it, balasting, and all the extra details). Remember, all thoses layouts that you have seen, and will see in the future, and go "wow" over, all their builders were all beginers once too. Building a model railroad does not happen overnight, it takes time and patience, so go slow and enjoy !!!
Ron McIntosh, Abbotsford, B.C. Canada.

[Anonymous]

I posted a similar article regarding the use of Life-Like's Power-loc track. Although the price is horrible, the performance and ease of use makes it nice if you can pick enough of it up through other sources (ebay for example). It would be hard to model an entire layout in it though, because you have no flex-track for odd curves (unless you connect it to your EX track, which can be done and then bring the roadbeds to the same site), and your supply of shortened peices, wider curves than 18" radius, and others would be small and expensive. But the whole purpose of using it would be to simplify things, and I think that in the end it might be more work. And, again, the prices are horrid. I thought it was a good idea at first, now I don't think so (unless you really hate the idea of using roadbed and ballast).

[Anonymous]

Hi all again.
I posted earlier regarding EZ Track plans and no one responded, so I would like to know this. I bought my son an EZ track start system and hoped I could use more track for it to expand it. A local hobby dealer told me I should should start from scratch to build my railroad as EZ track would severly limit my layout options.

Is this true? Has anyone used EZ track exclusive to build a layout of a decent size?

Thanks again,
Donald Cathcart