How does everyone afford track

[Anonymous]

As an additional comment re: the high cost of track, I have a few G gauge locos and some rolling stock. The track I have has always been individual rails on wood ties. A lot of work, yes, but it was the only way I could afford the hobby. Now that the costs have soared, not only for track, but also for everything else, I've gotten out of garden railways and drifted over to 1/8 scale trains. I build them myself from common materials from Lowes and various dumpsters and scrap yards. Luckily, I have a complete machine and woodworking shop, so my only limitation is my own immagination and inventiveness. Track is made from 1/4 x 1 flat aluminum strip set into wood ties. 1/8 x 1/2 steel or aluminum strip would work just as well in G gauge. In fact, I made up quite a bit of track that way. It's your railway, so you can do it any way you want.

[SNOWSHOE]

    As all of us know, prices have been going up on everything from garden railway track to food and pantyhose. I used to think that when a gallon of milk goes up 50¢, how does that relate to an oil increase. What does the cost of oil got to do with milk prices? The answer is: the cost of a barrel of oil, affects not only transportation costs, but it also affects everything that depends on oil and that just about includes everything. That gallon of milk has to get from the dairy to the coop. The container is plastic and oil affects the cost of the container. The dairyman has to buy feed, which again has to be transported to the dairy for the cows. The cost of electricity to operate the dairy increases. The trucking cost to get that milk to the retail store increases. Once you add up all the small increases to get that gallon of milk to the retailer, it's not so difficult to see why the price of milk has increased as it has. For every gallon of milk, there are probably 30-40 other places where increased oil prices have had an incremental effect on that one gallon. The same holds true for track and just about everything you can imagine. Some industries work on a slim margin of profit. Holding the price down, might bankrupt that industry. All they can do is pass the costs on to the consumer. Those who work on a larger margin of profit, might be able to absorb the increased cost, but only to an extent. Their answer to cost increases is to cut the labor cost through layoffs, early retirements, etc.

     There isn't much the consumer can do about it. Screaming about high costs and boycotts has little or no effect on the problem. Since everything is geared to oil prices, the only way costs will come down is by a reduction in oil price. Don't blame the track maker. He has to increase his prices to stay in business. Otherwise we will just have to do without track.

I agree oil prices effect the prices of everything else including track.  But lets face it the price of track is way out of hand as compared to other products. 

[Anonymous]

    As all of us know, prices have been going up on everything from garden railway track to food and pantyhose. I used to think that when a gallon of milk goes up 50¢, how does that relate to an oil increase. What does the cost of oil got to do with milk prices? The answer is: the cost of a barrel of oil, affects not only transportation costs, but it also affects everything that depends on oil and that just about includes everything. That gallon of milk has to get from the dairy to the coop. The container is plastic and oil affects the cost of the container. The dairyman has to buy feed, which again has to be transported to the dairy for the cows. The cost of electricity to operate the dairy increases. The trucking cost to get that milk to the retail store increases. Once you add up all the small increases to get that gallon of milk to the retailer, it's not so difficult to see why the price of milk has increased as it has. For every gallon of milk, there are probably 30-40 other places where increased oil prices have had an incremental effect on that one gallon. The same holds true for track and just about everything you can imagine. Some industries work on a slim margin of profit. Holding the price down, might bankrupt that industry. All they can do is pass the costs on to the consumer. Those who work on a larger margin of profit, might be able to absorb the increased cost, but only to an extent. Their answer to cost increases is to cut the labor cost through layoffs, early retirements, etc.

     There isn't much the consumer can do about it. Screaming about high costs and boycotts has little or no effect on the problem. Since everything is geared to oil prices, the only way costs will come down is by a reduction in oil price. Don't blame the track maker. He has to increase his prices to stay in business. Otherwise we will just have to do without track.

[sclairfan]

I  started in this hobby Christmas 2006 with an LGB starter set. I was told by others it was the best you could buy however, LGB went belly-up and left a lot of us hanging. Just like the time I bought a Beta Hi-FI for close to a thousand dollars it didn't last either . I have been holding out on the Hi Definition thing but it looks like I may be forced into a decision soon. My point is none of that matters now and, I'm able to sell all of my Beta tapes on ebay anyway . I am going to continue to build my garden railroad and it is going to take me longer than I anticipated. I was lucky to have purchased some extra track last summer (only 20 ft. ) and it is still sitting in my garage but, I  need more track and it's going to cost me. This is a great hobby and I'm glad I can involve my family and friends in it. I have fun with it and I meet lot's of wonderful people from around the world. It wouldn't be possible without the internet and that is part of our hobby as well. This Forum makes it possible for us to learn new things and share what we already know. I don't golf and I know some my co-workers spend a few thousand  dollars a year in fees and buying the best new clubs on the market. That helps me justify some of the  cost in my own mind. I don't know if we are being gouged or not when it comes to the price  of track I will still have to buy more regardless. I do realize the cost of metal has gone up every where because the demand is high.  I have however saved some money on rolling stock by purchasing sale items.  I buy dollar store bird houses for my buildings just to get started and keep some of the cost down. I have asked my wife to give me gift cards for bithday's so I can purchase more track and Christmas gifts are Sale items such as rolling stock we have purchased but, they are tucked away for next Christmas. It makes no sense to me to get another screw driver set or a tool I'm not going to use.  Gift certificates make more sense and save everyone the hassle of what to get you.  I don't know where I read it but some one said get started don't leave it sitting there in the box and that is exactly what I did. The price of track isn't going to stop me, slow me down, yes. This is the World's Greatest Hobby just keep doin' it but, have fun.

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Try it now

http://4largescale.com/fletch/

[SNOWSHOE]

Check out the following link. He makes everything, locos, cars, tracks and turnouts from wood. I'm sure you will find the site very, very interesting.

http://4largescale.com/fletch/

For some reason I could not open the link.

[EMPIRE II LINE]

I know a gent who has a whole shed full of track, switches, alot of multi configured ones too, cross overs, strait and curve track galor, and he's already got a good bit set up. Don't think he's wanten to sell any though.....Byron

[Anonymous]

Check out the following link. He makes everything, locos, cars, tracks and turnouts from wood. I'm sure you will find the site very, very interesting.

http://4largescale.com/fletch/

[gbbari]

I bought my LGB track and turnouts all last year right after the Aristo announcement and got pre-crisis prices so I was happy and am done buying track for now. But that doesn't help Snowshoe or any new guys afford their track today.

I think the advice given earlier about joining a large scale model RR club is very good. Members are less likely to try and profit off of a new struggling young member and will often offer any used track or rolling stock at bargain or token prices if they know you're really going to use it (i.e. "keep it in the family") and not try to re-sell it to make a profit on your own.  Many large scale clubs have a lot of middle-aged and older men who like to mentor new-comers to the hobby and young lads with small wallets and help any way they can within their limits. 

Al

[Anonymous]

I live within a prett tight budget, so my layout does not get expanded very quickly or easily. Like all commodities, prices do go up over time, but frankly, I think the recent track pricing is total gouging - it does NOT reflect the increases in raw materials. So, for me, it has come to the point where I can no longer play with those big manufacturers - I don't afford track at those prices - I'm simply stuck at the level I now have.

 

Trainman

[Anonymous]

I quit buyn track. Seems copper used for bullets (Jacketed) went up as war going on and they will pay a high price for it even though we have a surplus of it, makes no since but that is my thought on "where it is all going" crushing blows to RR track, wire we use and who knows what else down the road.

I will stop buyn and they can keep it on there darn shelves!

Toad ( waiting for dad to come home)

[piercedan]

Sometimes you can find a deal!!!

 I was at the show in Springfield, MA and I got 4 1 foot USA new track for $1.25 each.

 My friend bought 9 feet for $10.00 from the same person.  

 These were under a table and hard to see, but I spotted them and went for it. 

 

RO iis up to $55 for 10 pairs of wheels, used to be $50.

 

[Kiwi Down Under]

Not Australian, he's from New Zealand.

You can go to his web site at www.gscalechuffchuff.com

and your right, I am having a lot of fun at minimal costs

Tony.

[hudrail]

 The one thing I learnt many many years ago was immagination. We live in a world of immagination we think we are Engineers Conductors Permenant way engineers and Civil engineers. So whatever you have its your railroad and you run and own it. A figure of 8 foulded over with a tunnel under or tressle over is great. that gives twice the run in the same area! Use plastic gas main or water pipe off cuts ,ask local contractors or where men are laying pipes for them .If you are thinking of using modern outline then you need One Foot Diameter pipe as that is the size for double stack containers to pass through! ALWAYS use the largest radius curves you can and largest points on the main line .One thing I never seem to read about is you guys using transition curves. These make trains enter even sharpe curves realistically. I have driven full size Steam Diesel and Electric trains down to Z gauge in my 60 years of playing trains be guided by us old people evaluate what we say then do your own thing.  ENJOY  Hudrail

[SNOWSHOE]

Here in the UK we suffer with track prices so badly. My new G scale track is more expensive than my 5" gange track ! See brenthouse.co.uk . £6000 is the amount I have spent since August 2007 and "can I afford it"? No Way. Life is a state of mind. I started in 1964 0n 3 August when I became an Indentured Apprentice and have built up the largest private railway in 5" in the UK.  Now into G Scale I will spend what it takes , the wife knows where the door is so get your priorities , decide your requirements , order the trains , and blow the consequences . P.S the richest man in the grave yard dosent play trains poor fellow

 

The problem with that is if I just buy what I need all at once and not worry I will no longer have a house and yard to display my stuff.   That theory will never work.  

For now Im just going with my basic 12 by 22 ft area and putting in a basic loop with some S curves and make it more detail to add intrest to the layout.  By next winter I will start making my own track to add on.  As long as I have a loop that will be plenty for me.  All need is a few more curve tracks and a switch or two.  The rest of the material I can get from my property (rock etc...)  Hopefully some day the track prices will go down again.    

[hudrail]

Here in the UK we suffer with track prices so badly. My new G scale track is more expensive than my 5" gange track ! See brenthouse.co.uk . £6000 is the amount I have spent since August 2007 and "can I afford it"? No Way. Life is a state of mind. I started in 1964 0n 3 August when I became an Indentured Apprentice and have built up the largest private railway in 5" in the UK.  Now into G Scale I will spend what it takes , the wife knows where the door is so get your priorities , decide your requirements , order the trains , and blow the consequences . P.S the richest man in the grave yard dosent play trains poor fellow

[barrister2u]

I am planning to double track the loop around my yard. I will be taking twice as long to do it, due to the price of track. It will get done, but will take longer. I did the first loop before prices went up. Once the track is purchased, it will last a long time.  I use Aristo brass.

Best, Mark 

[Southwest Chief]

If LGB/Aristo/USA seems expensive, don't ask how much Llagas Creek goes for

I'm not sure how many feet of it we have (maybe 250) but it cost a small fortune to say the least.  And unlike LGB/Aristo/USA, the curves needed to be bent by hand.  Although assembling your own track helps a bit price wise.  But then the switches are a whole other issue, with prices going out of this world for a single assembled switch.

I don't think we could have gone with this track if we didn't already have so much rolling stock.  The price is just too much to start from scratch.

I wonder if there's a market for all the LGB track I have sitting in boxes from the previous indoor layout?

[dltrains]

 Usually buy by the box A/C or USA but recently found 2 boxes of AML for $249.00 each some good said about this track some bad. But at half the cost of the others I'll wait and see for myself. The price is for 72 feet per box of brass

                                 Dave

[piercedan]

Snowshoe, check with Aristo with those reciepts to see about buy 4 and get 1 free.  You do not need to buy all the track at the smae time.  I beleive 2007 had the deal for the year due to the price increase and ends Feb 2008.

 Sometimes you can get the free track without buying 4 boxes.

 E-mail them with the track type and amounts to see if they will 'deal' with your track buys. 

[markperr]

Sold and old Boeing 747 the other day and I was able to buy almost 30 feet of 332 brass with it.

Then I unloaded the cruise line and bought another 42 feet.

Tomorrow I take the youngest one to the appraiser and see what I can get for her.  The oldest one reached adulthood before the price went up.

All kidding aside, I haven't bought track in over two years and still have about a 100' sitting in my garage that I haven't yet decided where to lay it, and NO, I'm not selling it so don't anybody ask.

Mark

[hoofe116]

Yeah, Jack, I saw that pic in one of the many sites you and another person posted for me. Upon closer inspection, the 'tread' of the wheel, especially the l/h one, would have to be wide enough to accept two diameters of log rail for the 'through' direction. And there should be a notch in the tunout rail to the lower right somewhere in line with the through rail. Not that that thing moved with any speed. But I bet it was heavy.

I'm sold on wooden bar rail in my mind. It's affordable, doable and mostly in period for my SL. That, and a mix of plastic track for the 'feeder line' should fix me right up.

Yeah, using my imagination isn't a problem. I used to be paid to build things that were essentially engineering-study model, not even prototypes, though I did some of those. My usual request from the engineer was and explanation of what was needed, and "see what you can come up with." Rarely did I have even a sketch to work from.

When I posted, I was thinking along the lines of squared beams and bar iron on top, plus frogs as needed, as in some of those articles I read.

As you said, I'll just have to sit down and fab something up. I enjoy that kinda stuff, anyway. I was hoping for a picture to perhaps avoid reinventing the wheel.

Les W.

[Anonymous]

Buy a little at atime.  Barry

Yep, that is how I do it. Very slowly now

[Run the Town]

I afford track buy selling my HO stuff and buying ALUMINUM  track since I am going RC and battery operated.  So Far I have acquired:

1 set of Pennsylvania locos all DCC ready 2 engines each F-ABA set.

12 Bachmann 3 hopper coal cars with metal wheels

7 various Reefers

I just purchased a 36 ton 2 truck Shay

96 feet Aluminum starights

48 feet Aluminum in curves

Buy a little at atime.  Barry

[tangerine-jack]

You made some switches for wooden rail? I'm going to--was going to make 'em for the brass rail by copying an Aristo, but that's now out. Could I get you to send me a pix of one? As for buying parts, I figure on making my own, doesn't look that difficult. (I may have to eat those words).

Les W.

 

 

Notice that only one "rail" is pivoted.  No frog, guide rails or other such technology is used.  There can be any number of modifications or adaptations of the method shown in the photo, remember that wood rail (normally topped with iron) pre-dates any known standard system, and trains were slow and light weight, so use your imagination. 

[hoofe116]

Not infrequently

Quite a few times

 

Every now and again, I try to reply to a post via the 'quote' thingy. I get a red error msg that says, 'non-matching quotes in reply' or somesuch thing. What's going wrong? I don't delete or alter any part of the quoted post.

Les W. Computer guru. Not.

[hoofe116]

You're giving a finger to LGB?

When I priced a little green engine, they wanted my whole arm!

[hoofe116]

You made some switches for wooden rail? I'm going to--was going to make 'em for the brass rail by copying an Aristo, but that's now out. Could I get you to send me a pix of one? As for buying parts, I figure on making my own, doesn't look that difficult. (I may have to eat those words).

Les W.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

It works but finding switch parts is a pain, which is why I havent made any more.