Compare the advantages and disadvantages of tubular track and fastrack.

[spankybird]

I have tube track because my layout was built before others were made, except for GG.

If you add the extra ties, it doesn't look all that bad.

and it sure is alot less noise than fastrack.

[Anonymous]

Since your tagline reads "Postwar all the way," I'm not sure why you're even considering FasTrack (which I think is a fine track system).  If you're going ALL postwar, go ALL postwar.

[otftch]

Hey,I knew you guys were knowledgable but all this scientific stuff sure impresses me.I like tubular because it is cheaper.I know that isn't scidentific but there you have it.

                                                                            Ed

[wrmcclellan]

I originally liked both, but my layout uses tubular and I do not plan on changing it.

But with Frank's completely scientific and unbiased analysis....I remain tubular....

[Dave Farquhar]

I really liked Fastrack around my Christmas tree because it holds together well on carpet and keeps carpet junk out of the trains and train junk out of the carpet.

But I use O27-profile tubular on my layout because it looks more traditional and it's much less expensive. I added ties to it. I don't think it makes it look much more realistic but it gives it a more finished appearance while still looking like toy train track.

Fastrack is louder than tubular but I wouldn't call tubular silent. It's quietER, but my wife still finds the noise objectionable if I'm not careful.

You can easily insulate one of the rails on tubular track to control accessories and such. So it's much easier to do a lot of the wiring magic with tubular.

As far as assembly, both systems have a pronounced strength over the other. Fastrack goes together very easily. When tubular goes together really easily, it usually means the track joints are too loose and you won't get very good conductivity. But tubular lets you cheat a lot more. I've drawn up plans on the computer that mathematically should have been a good quarter inch or even more off, and yet in the real world, with tubular, it went together fine. So tubular gives you a lot more margin for error.

And if you have to cut a track section to length, you can cut tubular track in a matter of minutes. It's possible to cut custom lengths of Fastrack, but it's a lot more difficult and it's probably going to end up looking like a hack job.

I don't know of any independent lab analysis that proves either Fastrack or tubular conducts electricity better. The rails are made of the same material so they should have similar properties. If you get one questionable track section with either system, you'll have conductivity issues. I've seen that with both.

Over the short term, Fastrack holds together nicely. I can hang my circle of Fastrack on the wall for 10 months out of the year if I want and it'll hold together just fine until November when I need it again. I am concerned about it over the long term. When I was a kid, plastics got harder and more brittle with time. We have better plastics today, but will my Fastrack assemble and disassemble just fine in 20 years? I don't know. I do know as long as I keep my tubular track away from moisture, it'll hold up just fine. Tubular track was invented by Marklin in the 1890s, so we've had more than 110 years to observe its behavior over time.

Both systems have their uses. The main reason I went with tubular was because some of the locomotives I run restrict me to using Marx switches, which are only compatible with O27 tubular track. But even without that restriction, I would have still gone with tubular because of the cost factor, and because I want a traditional-looking layout.

[Frank53]

First and foremost, the true answer can be found in your sig line, however:

Tubular Track (the most venerable and time proven of all track systems) Advantages:

1. Tubular track was made in the USA, which should be enough;
2. In independent laboratory analysis, tubular track has been proven to have superior conductivity when compared to cheap Asian imported plastic track systems;
3. Tubular track has tradition and character;
4. Tubular track is more visually appealing;
5. The visual appeal of tubular track can be greatly enhanced with ballast for an even more realistic appearance;
6. In constuction, tubular track is more "forgiving", meaning you can cheat it a bit when you are trying to make a track configuration that isn't exactly a perfeact fit;
7. Expense - Tubular track is so much less expensive than fast track, it is practically criminal - using tubular track is practically being given a license to steal
8. Abundence - there is so much tubular track out there you can build a layout from here to Pluto and back and still have some left over for industrail siding;
9. Noise - running on tubular track is nearly silent, particularly when compared to the echo chamber which is fasttrack;
10. Choices of radii - tubular track has a broader range of size choices, and is considerably easier to modify to your needs;
11. Tubular track is what O-Gauge trains were made to be run on, not plastic;
12. Health and safety - The FDA has confimed users of tubular track are less likely to suffer from the heartbreak of psoriasis when compared to fasttrack users;
13. Real men (such as Chuck and myself, for example) use tubular track and extract the pins with their teeth;

Tubular Track disadvantages:

1. None

Fasttrack Disadvantages:

1. fasttrack is made in Asian sweatshops where children are sold into slavery and workers must subsist on a single grain of rice per day;
2. In independent laboratory analysis, fasttrack has been proven to have inferior conductivity when compared to tubular track (the most venerable and time proven of all track systems);
3. fasttrack casuses global warming;
4. Fasttrack looks cheap and chintzy;
5. Fasttrack is un ballastedable, as teh design has a poor excuse for real railroad ballast molded into teh base;
6. In constuction, fasttrack is "unforgiving", requiring an absolutely perfect fit or no go. Model railroaders the world over have lost fingers and entire limbs trying to modify fasttrack to their layout ideas;
7. Expense - Fasttrack is so expensive you will have to sell your house, cars and kids to pay for a layout of any magnitude - $4.00 for a straight section??? Hah!
8. lack of availability - Fasttrack is in such short supply that you have to wait years to get it and pay through the nose for it
9. Noise - Fasttrack is louder than two cats doing the horizontal mombo under my back porch;
10. Choices of radii - Fastrack is limited to almost zero choices;
11. Fasttrack is teh anti-Christ of model railroading;
12. Health and safety - Users of fasttrack are more prone to suffer from the heartbreak of psoriasis. In addition, they get gas a lot;
13. Real men (such as Chuck and myself, for example) wouldn't touch a section of fasttrack without immediately heading for a decontamination station; Girly men - such as Apitz, for example, embrace fasttrack and paint their trains pink;

FastTrack Advantages:

1. None

So there you have it, an unbiased, scientifically documented comparison of the two systems.

 

[Anonymous]

Here ya go...

http://www.purkeystoytrains.com/trackguide.html

This is the site for a LHS.  They compare all the different track systems, I know you only asked for Lionel track, but this is a good overall comparison.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest tubular track.  It is cheaper, and I think that postwar trains just don't look right on anything else (no offense intended towards anyone, just my opinion).

[magicman710]

I know this topic has been talked about alot, but I'm planning on building a 10 ft. x 25 ft. layout soon and would like some pro's and con's on both track systems. Please do not suggest any  track from other companies like gargraves, mth, and atlas o. Please just suggest either types of lionel track.