Toy train operating and collecting

overall wrote:

Traindaddy1,   You might think about using 027 profile track...  It comes in radii up to 054... George

I have quite a bit of O72 in O-27 profile...

Rob 

mpzpw3 wrote:

Interesting, and again, I'm wrong. Here are the results so far (Sorry Marx and K-line track users, I'm lumping you in with Lionel tubular.): Tubular: 10 people Gargraves and or Ross: 3 Fastrack: 7 Realtrax: 3 Atlas: 2 Not really what I was expecting. I was thinking Ross and Gargraves would be right under tubular. Fastrack looks to be more popular than I thought. When the weekend is over, I will re-tally. Thanks to everyone who has posted!

Keep in mind that this is the CTT forum and tubular track and classic toy trains go together.  Other forums might give you a different result.

MTH Standard gauge, Lionel O gauge tubular.

 - Clint 

traindaddy1 wrote:

MATT:    Beautiful.......How big is the layout?

Thanks

Length 114", width 78 1/2"

"Keep in mind that this is the CTT forum and tubular track and classic toy trains go together.  Other forums might give you a different result."

And to carry that thought process a little further, there are a good many people who read, but NEVER post anything on the train forums (plural). I know, I've talked to these people. I ask them why, and they say it's of no pressing interest, but they like to check things out. I think they approach the trains as more hobby and less of an obsession. And of those I know like this, it's 100% tubular: either 0 or 027. And their trains are either postwar, MPC or basic no-frills modern.

As for myself, it goes without saying: 027 track. It's affordable, easily modified, and made to look better with a little effort. And as CNW said, that's the track I got when I started buying sets and getting into the hobby. A few K-Line Cross Country sets and I had several engines, enough cars and enough track to really get going.

I know there's nicer stuff out there I know, but count me odd... I don't want it. I don't even wish I could have it. I actually really like the trains I have!! I do.

They didn't cost a fortune and that none have ever needed factory repairs. And I have MPC locos with 35+ years on them that still work, as do all my orginal K-Line Alcos, S-2's and MP-15's and lastly my publically misaligned starter Lionel 4-4-2 steamers.

.

Southwest Chief - Handsome setup you have there.

All this talk of Christmas layouts....you folks better post some pics on Sunday Photo Fun over the holidays...

jefelectric wrote:

mpzpw3 wrote: Interesting, and again, I'm wrong. Here are the results so far (Sorry Marx and K-line track users, I'm lumping you in with Lionel tubular.): Tubular: 10 people Gargraves and or Ross: 3 Fastrack: 7 Realtrax: 3 Atlas: 2 Not really what I was expecting. I was thinking Ross and Gargraves would be right under tubular. Fastrack looks to be more popular than I thought. When the weekend is over, I will re-tally. Thanks to everyone who has posted! Keep in mind that this is the CTT forum and tubular track and classic toy trains go together.  Other forums might give you a different result.

Agreed. Not a lot of hi railers posting here like we see on OGR. Results vary. Gargraves, Atlas, and Ross would win hands down amongst a hi rail group.

How about "all of the above"?  The layout I'm building now (I call it "Quick and Dirty #4") is made up of what I had laying around after getting rid of most of the Realtrax from my last layout.  It has an inner loop of Fastrack, passing siding and outer loop of Realtrax, a few Ross switches, and then a yard made up of Atlas track leading to Lionel and K-Line tubular track and switches. 

I built a few Realtrax layouts, but became disenchanted after a few flaky switches that fried themselves.  I've had trouble with Fastrack similar to one earlier poster (works fine then loses conductivity at the joints), so it's on probation on this layout.  In my mind's eye, I will build my next layout will Atlas track and Ross switches.  

My son's 4x8 layout is all O-27 tubular, but I am thinking of changing it over to K-Line Shadow Rail O-31 tubular, with plastic ties.

NH Chris

Marx 027 - with a couple 034 straights - on the current mini-layout (although I had to use some MPC-era Lionel straights when I eliminated some poorly planned s-curves - hopefully the spirits of Glen Dale and Girard will be forgiving).

The future big layout should be all Marx 034...