Track options

[Benjamin Maggi]

Don't forget about Gargraves track! Wooden ties, tinplate or stainless steel rails, flex track is available, and made in the USA in a small town in NY.

[Penny Trains]

Welcome! 

I also grew up in the MPC era!    I use O31 or O27 tubular and MTH RealTrax most of the time.  Not a big fan of the overly chromed and boxy look of the Fasttrack rails.  If you don't mind using elbow grease, large lots of postwar and MPC era tubular track can be found at rock bottom prices on Ebay.

Becky

[srguy]

I've got a 4x10x6 using O31 which provides great flexibility especially with the L shaped layout.  O 31 can be cut to odd lengths if necessary which I found very convenient. Good luck

[steve24944]

 I have O-31 tubular track on my layout.  I have post war locos and rolling stock.  I don't like the look of the fast-track, too plastic, and the rail does not have the profile of railroad rail, it's just an upside down U shape.  I have been cutting wood ties to place between the metal ties.  when ballast is added it looks pretty good.  The October 2006 issue of CTT had a review guide of several different track types.

Steve

[Seayakbill]

I agree with Texas Pete, go with tubular track for the 4x8 layout. Expense wise it will be at least 50 to 70% less than Lionel's Fastrack.

[Texas Pete]

For a 4x8 layout I would go with tube track.  FasTrack is nice, but noisy, and Lionel's unfortunate choices of curves to manufacture make it kind of impractical for anything smaller than 5x9 or 10.

Anyway, track is personal.  I dig the retroness of tube track, so that's what I'm using on my 4x10.  There's other choices, too. It really depends on what you are trying to achieve.

Pete

 

[MPCAnthony]

Hi Everyone,

I am returning to the hobby after about ten years and I now have an area where I can do a 4x8 layout.  My focus is the MPC era since that is the time I grew up and my collection started.  However, I have no track and was hoping the memebers here could advise me on whether to stick to tubular rail or go the fast-track route.  Please le tme know if there are other options available.

Thanks!