Hey, this is a survey on what type a track you use, whether it be fastrack, atlas, gargraves, realtrax or the time-tested tubular or other, say it here.
Opinions and comments and complaints about other track systems is also welcome.
(Disclaimer- I have no objection about what your track system is, its your choice to go with what you want, however, you may yell at each other for each others choice. )
Grayson
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
FasTrack on my layout, Gargraves on one of my Christmas layouts (would use FasTrack if it came in O27), FasTrack on the 2nd Christmas layout, Gargraves on my "club" modules.
FasTrack is great for something that will need to be moved (quick/easy connect). Track like Gargraves, once "rusted" and ballasted, looks great. I can honestly say, FasTrack is why I decided to build a "year-'round" 5x8 layout. Joe
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
FasTrack 100%
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Fasttrack in 0-72, 0-48. Lionel tubular in 0-27, 0-42, 0-54.
laz57
Selected various track for certain applications:
Atlas track for my mobile train display. Liked the nickel silver content as it won't rust or corrode, the solid rail for it's durability, and it's overall look when ballast is applied.
Lionel Fastrack for the trainroom lower layout. With it's many turnouts and reverse loops, I found the Fastrack to be superb and reliable in regular & low speed operations. No stalling over switches or corssovers, and the smooth operation of both powered remote & manual switches, make Fastrack a reliable winner.
Lionel 027 profile tubular with O-42 radius corners for the two overhead mainlines. The best "bang for the buck" in laying down a lot of rail. Just drag the rail cleaner around it for about 15 minutes when required, and this seems to keep the freight moving along for the most part.
I know it sounds like a mixed bag, but it works for me.
Best to all in "trains & trolleys", ...... Dave
Fastrack for all my current layout. I do however, plan to have a loop of O27 tubular for a sub layout under the main for my son. I also plan to have a loop of Lionel G track for a Thomas set.
Chief Fastrack switches also have the ability to have switch mechanism moved from one side to the other. It is a easy process.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Gargraves (with Atlas O for bridge track) on the permanent layout. {Side note: Peco On30 for the narrow gauge line, assuming anyone is interested.}
O27 Tublular (in O27, O34, O42) for the display and Christmas layouts as well as the ones the boys use on the floor.
SG Tubular for the Standard Gauge Christmas layout.
Since we were given permission to rant , I will not use Fastrack for ANYTHING for ANY REASON because it is thoroughly ugly--I cannot abide the U-section rails--and far too expensive for what one gets. I have no desire whatever to further enrich MTH, so I do not use any MTH track. Had I the bucks, I might have gone all the way with Atlas O for the standard gauge line on the permanent layout.
I use 027 tubular only.Lionel 27,42.54 inch radius with 027 and 042 lionel switches.I have added ties and painted the rails.It looks good and runs great.Other than short wheelbase stalling I've not had any of the problems I see here on the forum.
Ed
Using GarGraves track and switches for my outside mainline 042 curves, O gauge tubular 042 curves for the next two tracks with plastic ties inserted underneath from either 3R Plastics or Moondog Plastic and a combination of 027 and Gargraves 032 curves for the inside line near my S gauge track which is mainly Gargraves 42.5 inch curves and Gargraves straight track with a few K-Line straight sections. Using Gargraves and 027 for the second level and 027 on Ogre Pass as I call it, using 027 for the upper around the room train which is just being started as far as construction goes. Laying track at floor level on one inch by four inch boards one inch thick, one piece is ten feet long, others are eight feet long or cut to fit, running an auxillary power wire all the way around the upper track with power connectors every three or four track sections.
The reason I like Gargraves track is that it looks more realistic and the switches are dependable unlike current production Lionel tubular switches, also switch motors can be replaced very easy by ordering more online at Ross Switches, and you don't have to worry which way to mount the switch motor so you can get track clearance near the switch.
The only draw back to GarGraves Track is when you have a major derailment with a heavy locomotive as the track is a little softer than tubular. Another note about Gargraves curves and they are larger than tubular curves rated at the same size; example 031 in Gargraves is close to 032.5 inches, 042 in Gargraves is close to 043 inches.
Lee F.
Man, I was blown away by the posts! I was thinking this would be a popular post......
So, alot of you use fastrack and realtrax, not many seem to use the time-tested tubular..........
MTH realtrax for my main layout. I was fed up with Lionel 027 switches (both 27" and 42"). I couldn't get any of my trains to pass through them without stalling. The cost of the fasttrack switches scared me, and it wasn't the look I was going for at the time. I almost went Lionel 0, but the switches were expensive, and at the time I felt that the new switches weren't much better performers than the 027 versions. Realtrax was the only other local track available at the time, and I already had some from the MTH train sets that I purchased. My overhead layout is all lionel 027 since it won't have switches. I like that I can see through it and check out the bottoms of the trains on the overhead layout.
Wes
Super O for mainlines.
Tubular for trolly line.
What is this "overhead" layout I've been hearing so much about? Is that a loop of track that runs along the train room wall near the ceiling?
Grayson - I noticed that too!
lionel2986 wrote: What is this "overhead" layout I've been hearing so much about? Is that a loop of track that runs along the train room wall near the ceiling? That's pretty much what it is. At a height of about 7 foot to clear the doors, and runs around the 4 wall perimeter of the trainroom. That "moving of the freight" sound, and periodic glances of the overhead trains moving down the line, is a comforting atmosphere for the soul.
That's pretty much what it is. At a height of about 7 foot to clear the doors, and runs around the 4 wall perimeter of the trainroom. That "moving of the freight" sound, and periodic glances of the overhead trains moving down the line, is a comforting atmosphere for the soul.
magicman710 wrote: So, alot of you use fastrack and realtrax, not many seem to use the time-tested tubular..........
The technical term for that conclusion is Hasty Generalization: we have nothing apporaching a statistically significant sampling here.
Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839
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