what track to use

[Anonymous]

what is the best track to use ez track - atlas or what

[Javern]

this is a hard one to pin down as people use various brands, Atlas, Kato, model power, etc. if you are on a budget makes a differance, also some brands may not have the size turnouts you want to you will be mixing anyway. I buy Atlas flex track and have been very happy. Also use their trunouts

[SpaceMouse]

I'm interested in the various tracks and turnouts.

Maybe you could give a ranking of your top three or each and say why.

[Roadtrp]

I'm an N scale semi-beginner (15 months) and I really like EZ Track. I found it relatively easy to assemble, and I NEVER have problems with derailments. I've read that N scale equipment is very prone to derailments, so I figure the track must be pretty good.

Although I've been very happy with EZ Track, my experience with the EZ Track turnouts has not been as trouble free. On about 50% of my turnouts I've had to spend considerable time filing the points, the frog, or both to get them to where they don't cause problems for any of my equipment. I've heard this can also be a problem with other brands of turnouts, so I don't know if it is a big negative or not.

If I were an experienced modeler I think I would go with Atlas Flex-track for its greater realism and adaptability.

I guess it depends on your situation and what you value. I wanted something simple, and for the most part EZ Track gave me that.

[Train 284]

Well, there are many good brands, Atlas, Bachmann, Kato, Life-Like, etc. Find out what works best for you.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train 284

Well, there are many good brands, Atlas, Bachmann, Kato, Life-Like, etc. Find out what works best for you.

I don't see that as an option myself. I really don't want to test build several layouts using multiple combinations of turnouts to try them out to see what works best for me.

I have neither the time nor patieince.

[markpierce]

It is not a life or death decision.
I'd recommend all-metal frogs, whatever.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

I'm interested in the various tracks and turnouts.

Maybe you could give a ranking of your top three or each and say why.

Chip:

Applies to HO.

For operation (not scale appearance): Peco code 100 Streamline turnouts, Atlas code 100 flextrack. Most reliable, which equals best for operation.

Best for appearance: MicroEngineering, Central Valley or handlay.

[Anonymous]

Chip,

I pretty much agree with Nigel. I value the scale appearance most and I'm willing to pay, so I go with Micro Engineering flex and turnouts (in code 70, 83 they only make no. 6s). The railhead on Micro engineering track is the most realistic of the brands out there. You can notice the difference looking at the track. It is also more expensive.....Peco kicks butt on reliability, but is too heavy looking for my taste, so I use Peco code 100 turnouts in staging with Atlas flex.....Railway engineering and BK make good looking/running turnouts that you lay on ties that you glue down first..More work, but cool looking. I also use Walthers/Shinohara code 83 for stuff that ME doesn't make. The new DCC friendly stuff works well anbd looks reasonable good. As Joe F. says in another thread, it all can look pretty good when weathered.

I did a test 2 x8 board with all of the brands of flex track and painted, ballasted and weathered them all in a variety of codes. The ME won hands down on appearance and operated well. Overkill, maybe, but my new layout is going to have several hundred feet of track (already does) and I wanted to see for myself.

Go look at the ME and other brands at the LHS, you will see the difference and then have to decide which parameter is most important to you....

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut1250

Go look at the ME and other brands at the LHS, you will see the difference and then have to decide which parameter is most important to you....

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

My LHS has 6 pieces of Atlas 100 flex and has had since Christmas. They sell EZ almost exclusincely, but have a few pieces of Atlas 100 snap. The "train guy" recommends pieces over flex.

I need to find a NonLHS within an hour drive to look at some of the things people are talking about. Perhaps I wouldn't ask so many stupid questions.

[tstage]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut1250
Peco kicks butt on reliability, but is too heavy looking for my taste, so I use Peco code 100 turnouts in staging with Atlas flex.....

Trainnut1250,

Peco does make Code 83 track: #5 & #6 (and sometime in the future #8) turnouts: http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?quick=peco&start=210

Funny thing that they don' make a #4 turnout yet? (That's probably the one you'd use anyhow in your yard.) Never mind....

Tom

[Anonymous]

Tom,

I have two of their code 83 no.6s....Too heavy for my tastes. The ties on either side of the throwbar are huge...They operate very well however. List is @ $30 a piece....I didn't mean to imply that they don't make code 83.....I should have been clearer...

[CraigN]

I model in N Scale and I'm starting a new layout. I already bought 100 pcs of Atlas code 55 Flex track and 30 atlas code 55 #7 turnouts. Now I just need to come up with the money for the Tortoise switch machines that I want.

[simon1966]

Having now used flextrack, I can not imagine ever wanting to use sectional track pieces for a layout, especailly one that was planned to be DCC. I have found the Atlas Trutrack sectional track with roadbed to be great for temporary layouts on the floor, but now I am building a permanent layout, flextrack is the only way to go. There is a lot of personal preference when it comes to track selection, so what works for one modeller may not be right for another due to different selection criteria, so I would not be too concerned about anyone particular ranking. Decisions need to be made regarding Code, prototypical look, price, availability, function. I will lead you thru my decision making process and perhaps it will help guide your decision.

Code:
I have several older models from my childhood in the UK. For sentimental reasons, I felt that I wanted to be able to run them on my layout. They have larger flanges and so I decided to go with Code 100 track, so that I have the option to run them. In reality, I will run them very rarely, if at all, but I was willing to accept a heavier rail to allow this.

Prototypical Look:
Well, this went out the window with the Code 100 decision. I have seen modules with the microengineering track and it is really fine and wonderful to see. I use Atlas Flextrack and make sure I get the version with the finer detail (there are some versions of the Atlas flextrack that have really heavy spike details). With painted ties, weathered rail and ballasting, I am content with the results achieved.

Availability:
There is a lot to be said for having a local source of the track you are using. There have been several trips to the LHS on a Saturday to pick up the odd turnout, or section of flextrack needed to complete a job.

Function:
I wanted DCC ready turnouts, that had a good reputation for reliability. I do not intend to use switch motors for a while and did not want to be forced to install ground throws. Peco code 100 insulfrog turnouts fit the bill for me. They are very well made, reliable, work for DCC with no modification and most importantly they have the sprung switch action providing for solid switching. Further more, I like the idea of using a British made product on my layout. If you ever get the chance to go to the UK and visit the Peco factory in Beer, you will have to agree that no model RR product is made in a more beautiful, unexpected location!!

So Atlas code 100 and Peco turnouts fit my needs and I feel are good value products. If I did not impose the requirement to run my older trains, I would probably choose Atlas Code 83 flextrack and the new Peco US prototype code 83 turnouts.

[Don Gibson]

What's the best - or what's the cheapest?

FOR simplicity - Modular track. - KATO seems to get the most ''yeah' s and Bachmann the most 'nay's.

I started with Atlas 'Snap Switches, then Customline, then all rail atlas kit's, True scale swiches and modular lay-your-own-rail wood roadbed. I found a difference in switches was the no. of DERAILMENT'S they caused. Equipment rarely derails on straight sections.

Each brand has their Champion's - "I use" ... "I like" ... Peco, for instance.

For me, It seem's I have fewer derailment's using SHINOHARA made product's, so that's what use Walthers & Shinohara, along with (recently) micro-Engineering track.

I haven't been sorry.