Laying Track?

[Anonymous]

Ahhh flextrack,,,,the busy man's friend!

[on30francisco]

I use Micro Engineering codes 70 and 82 for the On30 section of the layout and Micro Engineering codes 70 and 55 for the HO portion. Some track is handlaid but I use commercial turnouts (some stub switches).

[cp1057]

I use code 100 nickel silver flextrack, whatever brand is available. The code 83 track looks really nice but its expense means a higher cost per foot on my layout. Also I have a number of code 100 turnouts recycled from a previous layout.

There are a number of internet sites that feature track plans. Can anyone help out 'a have a golden' and recommend one?

Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario

[Anonymous]

do you have any track designs

[Anonymous]

HI I HAVE BEEN A R .R. MODLER FOR ONLY 2 YRS. I HAVE MADE MANY MISTAKES BUT I FOUND OUT THAT 18 IN CURVES ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 40 FT CARS & 4 AXLE TRAINS KEEP CURVES AS BIG AS POSSIBLE AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RUN A LOT OF NEW ROLLING STOCK 50 FT. &6 AXLE TRAINS HAVE FUN & IF YOU DON' T BE LONG TO A R. R. CLUB I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU JOIN ONE YOU WILL GET A LOT OF GOOD INFORMTION & HELP FROM SOME GOOD MODLERS

[conford]

While I do have an inventory of track components, from which I draw liberally, I still have to go down to the Local Hobby Shop and buy some new piece of track now and then. I prefer the track that has a gauge of 5/8" (16.5 mm) as this works with my HO trains!

Most of the track on the layout I'm building is code 83 on the mainline and code 70 on sidings. Micro Engineering is my favorite flextrack, and I am using switches from Walthers/Shinohara, Micro Eng, and Atlas. Do have a section of code 100 on one section of the layout and plan to use code 100 on the staging areas too.

;-)
Peter

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mike1
[Sometimes it is difficult not to get a kink on the curves and it is twice as hard to find!

Hey Mike1 -
You can completely eliminate the kinks by soldering the flextrak pieces together BEFORE you bend them into your curve. Without solder, and at a radius as small as 22", I don't think you will ever get curves without kinks otherwise.
My .002
T[:)]

[Anonymous]

I have 1000 ft of handlaid code 70 track with 130 built up turnouts. I have very few derailments, mostly human errors.

[michaelstevens]

My vote is for Modelpower's HO code 100 flextrack.
Except for the slightly heavy rail height, once it has been painted/weathered, I think that it looks better than Atlas (smaller clips/spikes e.g.) -- and it certainly is much more economical (at approx. $100 per 300' box) -- with no noticeable defects in quality, whatsoever in the 3 boxes which I have installed and have in service, so far.

[Anonymous]

I should have enough but there always room for more track rather have to much than not enough.

[Anonymous]

I don't see where season has anything to do with working on your layout-it's nothing like lawn work that only requires attention a certain amount of the year. My railroad is in a U-shape around my furnace in my basement in Erie, Pa. It gets plenty cold here in the winter, my basement has had temps as low as 50 during the winter, but with a heavy shirt and a small space heater to augment the heating duct off the furnace, I work year round on it (although I do have to admit, the A/C in the summer is more effective than the heater in the winter), and enjoy it the same. I will admit however, I try to construct buildings (upstairs) during the peak cold. Bottom line, for me and the Frostbite Valley Railroad Association, track laying and working on the layout knows no season!

[Anonymous]

Hello everybody, due to our little apartment i have to build in N-scale. I really would like to have an HO or bigger scale but if you three persons sharing 59 m2 , you've to settle for an N-scale layout. I use Roco track, the prototype is european but all my rolling stock runs extremely well on the tracks.
Jørn-Ove, GM4ever

[vsmith]

Track laying is done, so I dont need any more. Even have enough left over to build a small spur yard in the future.

[Anonymous]

tripling size of N scale layout, have about 24 sections of flex track, this will cover the yards, will need more for mainlaine, and many switches, x-overs, etc.
Doing the framework and sub-base now, hope to start track afer the Holidays

[Anonymous]

I have Atlas code 100 sectional track. It would be good if they also had 24" radius in code 100 track as they have in code 83. You can't afford to replace the track on your lay out and mixed track dimensions is worse that having out of scale code 100.

[johncolley]

In my quest for more realistic trackwork I wonder how many others are going for the larger numbered turnouts for mainline crossovers, and for siding ends on single track mains?
John Colley, Port Townsend WA

[Anonymous]

All my British O scale layouts used hand laid track with the correct rail chairs for bullhead rail. Changing to On30 (American) this year and requiring to complete a portable layout by October 2004, for a local show, I used Peco 16.5mm Narrow Gauge track for speed.
I am not happy with it and I noticed that it is now possible to purchase On30 track bases from the States for hand laid track, so future extensions to the layout will be done with hand laid track.

[vw-bug]

Hawks05,
I suggest going with Code 83 flex track and turn-outs. It may seem dificult, but it does a few things well.
1. It eliminates numerous track joints that can cause derailments and poor running.
2. It also lays a curve that has easement, verus the sharp changes between straight and curved sections that snap track sections cause.
3. it give a good electrical connection to each rail. The rail connectors do there job but over time get oxidized and will give dead sections of track.

As to the Code, 100 is pretty unrealistic that is all. 83 looks alright almost any train will still run on it.

[Catt]

Your poll is abit confining for us multi-scalers [:(] I model in N scale as well as 0n30 and will be buying track for both setups.By the way my track of choice is PECO for both scales.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lordbullfrog

sorry i don't buy the U.S mag anymore i find there is more stories and tips in the UK mag

Is the MR sold in the US different from the MR that we get in the UK?

Jon

[BRAKIE]

I have all but finish laying track on my new layout..I used Atlas Code 83 on this layout where beforeI was using the more common C100.

[IRONROOSTER]

I'm getting ready to lay the second track on my double track mainline. I plan to use Shinohara code 100 from Scenery Unlimited. While the track buying articles were a good idea the Shinohara code 100 line was omitted for S scale and the wrong turnout sizes were given for S Helper line.
Enjoy
Paul

[alpreston]

You didn't provide a check button for my vote! If I use up my existing stock of track, I plan to buy some HOn30 flex track. (for turnouts, I tend to handlay or use kits)

[Anonymous]

November to March means N rail construction continues. Very satisfying twin track layout has provided me time to operate on lower level cross country system while developing track upper elevation, yards, switch back and industrial park this winter season. Grand kids love the N for size to space ratio, and intrigued with the newer diesels, brighter lighting and the greater speed in adding new track that appear and disappear in a much smaller space than my permanent HO layout. Will be driv'n nails for many months to come and thankful.

[douginut]

allways buy a box of flex track, a box of cork, little nails, and supplies. then stare at them for months, make a GOOD plan and begin.
the accumulation process is almost as good as the actual building though not as good as the running


Doug in Utah

[rcl1930]

I voted for Large Scale because I am actively building track for my Garden RR using ARISTO TRACK. Newer track is Stainless Steel in place of the Brass that has been used in the past.

If I could vote again, I would choose handlaid HO for when I go back inside. I handlay all track and turnouts in Code 70 and 55 except for the staging yards where I use Atlas turnouts and Flex track.

Hand laying track gives me the flexibility of design with custom turnout geometry, and greater reliability than any commercial track on the market

Rich Laube
Trenton NJ

[sparkingbolt]

I use micro engineering code 70 and 55 flextrack, and hand lay all turnouts. I build them at the bench and install like commercial ones. 18 of the 20 made are installed, will need about 3 more. they have powered frogs, solid rail points. (no hinge) trains glide smooooothly thru 'em.
Layout is 9+' x 11+' around the walls. Have one Atlas #6 in the staging area which is atlas code 100. I'm about 75%done laying track. Have about half of what i need for remainder.

[Anonymous]

When You look at the quality of trains you can get from such companies as MTH, K-Line, Atlas O, Williams, and Lionel ..... Why would you want anything other than O-Gauge??!!??

[sparkingbolt]

I use Micro Engineering code 70 and 55 flextrack on my HO layout, All turnouts hand laid. Atlas Code 100 in the staging. layout is 11+' x 9+' around the walls. 75% of track is laid, I have about 70% of what I need for the remainder of the layout. Ahhh, the hard part's done.
The hand laid turnouts are built on the workbench, installed as a commercial one would be. 18 of the 20 made are installed . 3 of those are curved. All have powered frogs. Trains run smooooth thru 'em! (ok, i have 1 atlas #6 in the staging area) Dan, Bend Or.