richhotrainMeanwhile, the OP thanked us all yesterday morning for all of our comments and decided to stick with Atlas flex track and turnouts. Too bad that he couldn't lock his own thread at that point.
And several years down the road this thread will pop up again..Its the way of forums.
And the forum pol-pol will have their say again..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
mobilman44 Don't you just love these "versus" threads! Amazing how they always open up a plethora of rabbit trails..............
Don't you just love these "versus" threads!
Amazing how they always open up a plethora of rabbit trails..............
Meanwhile, the OP thanked us all yesterday morning for all of our comments and decided to stick with Atlas flex track and turnouts. Too bad that he couldn't lock his own thread at that point.
Here is the OP's final reply.
Rich
JPD I want to thank all of you for your comments. After considering your comments and checking out a few more things, I have decided that I will stick with Atlas tracks for the following reasons: (1) I am already familiar with it; (2) the painted and ballasted Atlas track on my switching layout looks pretty good to me and none of my visitors have commented negatively about it; (3) I am not really a rivet counter; and (4) cost and availability. The main thing I did not like about Atlas turnouts, the #6 (nos. 505 and 506), is that you cannot directly solder to the frog. I had to tap an existing small hole near the frog and install a brass screw underneath that I was then able to solder to. Not really much of a challenge, just something I found odd. When I started to design the around the room layout, I thought I would need some of the fancier curved turnouts offered by other companies, but my design only uses #6 and #8 turnouts. Besides, Atlas now offers a curved turnout. And if I do need anything else, like bridge track, I can just order it and work it into the Atlas track. Ultimately, it was not until I started to look at costs yesterday that I confirmed my decision to stick with Atlas. I will save several hundreds of dollars going with Atlas. Now I have to go back to Anyrail and redo my layout design because I used the Walthers tracks on my first attempt. Oh well, a lot easier changing a track design on the computer than on the actual layout. Thanks again for your comments.
Alton Junction
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
ATLANTIC CENTRALThat's fine if that is what works for you, but I have no interest in starting over, even if it is just a small ISL.
Sheldon,My small ISLs may last 2-3 years of daily operation before the bug hits me to try a different track plan and then the planing begins.
If I had a basement filling ISL I doubt if it would be changed at all since I could add the wanted features I can't on small ISLs like a industrial yard and in the case of Summerset or SCR a interchange track for changing of cars. For my NS and CSX I would add stagging yard where cars could be changed out.
Even on my small ISLs the inbound cars is changed daily before operation begins. The outbound cars is removed and cycled through again days later.
BRAKIE ATLANTIC CENTRAL I could not even start a project like a model railroad if I was already thinking about how I would be taking it down......Everything in life may be temperary, but I simply can't think in those terms. Sheldon Sheldon, I'm a firm believer in recycling what I can in order to save hobby dollars.. ISLs come and go on a routine bases since better ideas,change of era,etc happens much more then a basement filling layout that may take decades to build. Frame work for a simple (say) 30" x 14' ISL can be built in a day with time away from the great time waster the TV. I'm moving Slate Creek Ry from a industrial park to a urban industrial sitting. With my ME track and Peco switches I had a 100% recovery. Then the idea I tossed around for several years returned---code 70 track. With the availability of C70 I order the needed track.. The recycled track will be stored. You should see my salvage part collection.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I could not even start a project like a model railroad if I was already thinking about how I would be taking it down......Everything in life may be temperary, but I simply can't think in those terms. Sheldon
I could not even start a project like a model railroad if I was already thinking about how I would be taking it down......Everything in life may be temperary, but I simply can't think in those terms.
Sheldon
Sheldon, I'm a firm believer in recycling what I can in order to save hobby dollars.. ISLs come and go on a routine bases since better ideas,change of era,etc happens much more then a basement filling layout that may take decades to build. Frame work for a simple (say) 30" x 14' ISL can be built in a day with time away from the great time waster the TV.
I'm moving Slate Creek Ry from a industrial park to a urban industrial sitting. With my ME track and Peco switches I had a 100% recovery.
Then the idea I tossed around for several years returned---code 70 track. With the availability of C70 I order the needed track.. The recycled track will be stored.
You should see my salvage part collection.
That's fine if that is what works for you, but I have no interest in starting over, even if it is just a small ISL.
My new layout will have two nice sized ISL "areas" within the layout. They will be able to be operated independently without going on the mainline at all.
Once built, they may get improved, but never "started over".
SeeYou190 BATMAN A 5-ton truck would be required . Your layout weighs 10,000 pounds? . What is it framed with, 4 inch cold rolled C channel? . -Kevin .
BATMAN A 5-ton truck would be required
.
Your layout weighs 10,000 pounds?
What is it framed with, 4 inch cold rolled C channel?
-Kevin
Weight is not the problem, the size of the tables is. The box on a rental is 22' usually. My largest table is 6' x 18'. I am open to suggestions.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMANA 5-ton truck would be required
Living the dream.
Brent, I was speaking specifically about the idea of peeling up track for reuse.
Even though it is unlikely that I would ever move again, my next layout will be build in benchwork modules small enough to allow disassembly and moving.
And items like turntables, structures and possibly even turnouts are installed in ways that allow removal.
But I glue down flex track, with high quality adheasive caulk on to homasote roadbed (Homabed/Cascade) or sheet homasote in yards/industrial areas. I tried once just for kicks, there is no peeling it up and reusing it.
I have never considered individual pieces of track reuseable once glued, ballasted and scenery is completed.
And if I had to think that way, I would loose all motivation to even begin.
My layout is movable but not portable. A 5-ton truck would be required and the chances of getting it into a new house are unlikely. I have one bench that is 6' x 18' and is light enough to be picked up by two people.
I expect the wrecking ball when the time comes, that being said, it took very little thought to put it together in a way that it could be taken apart when moving day came.
The RH/TT assembly can slide into its spot on any future layout.
doctorwayneicro Engineering track may have slightly more realistically-sized spike heads, but its lack of flexibilty and higher price makes it a non-starter for me,
Wayne,For my building of ISLs I can save money using ME flex because I can recycle it which I found hard to do with Atlas flex because the rails pops loose from the ties if you're not extremely careful.
I learn to lay track with the stiff Atlas fiber tie flex track so,laying the stiffer ME flex track came easy---kinda like old school track laying.
I like Atlas code 83 track for its affordability and its flexibility, the latter especially for easily creating easements.Micro Engineering track may have slightly more realistically-sized spike heads, but its lack of flexibilty and higher price makes it a non-starter for me, and likewise for Shinohara.
I do, however, use turnouts from Atlas, Peco, Micro Engineering, and Shinohara, along with a few scratchbuilt ones.
Once the rails are painted and the track ballasted, it becomes simply part of the scenery to most observers, with most non-prototypical features no longer so readily apparent.
I also have some track built using Central Valley tie strips and M.E. rail (would have preferred Atlas rail, just for the price, but it wasn't available). I think that the track looks as good or better than any of the others mentioned, but, like those other brands, once painted and ballasted, it too simply becomes part of the scenery. I doubt that most observers would notice what track and turnouts were used unless they were specifically searching for such things.
Wayne
railandsail You are correct Douglas, I did spend a LOT of time trying to utilize equipment I got on sale, etc. In the scheme of things when I look back on it, I wonder just what I did save in the overall project of building a new layout. What if I could have had less problems of incompatibility, and more running realiabilty, and eaiser construction if I had been willing to spend a few hundred dollars more on track and turnouts? ...the cost of one really nice brass engine??
You are correct Douglas, I did spend a LOT of time trying to utilize equipment I got on sale, etc.
In the scheme of things when I look back on it, I wonder just what I did save in the overall project of building a new layout. What if I could have had less problems of incompatibility, and more running realiabilty, and eaiser construction if I had been willing to spend a few hundred dollars more on track and turnouts? ...the cost of one really nice brass engine??
Actually, it was Sheldon's idea.....I was just having some fun. Most of us have been there. Nice to see you're a good sport. Good luck with your layout.
- Douglas
kasskaboose I swear by ME track. While more expensive, I like that the track stays curved and not return to an original form. I remove the "V" made by the ties coming together with a hobby knife.
I swear by ME track. While more expensive, I like that the track stays curved and not return to an original form. I remove the "V" made by the ties coming together with a hobby knife.
I agree. I used weathered ME flex with Peco switches on my last ISL and never again will I use the wimpy Atlas flex. I can curve the ME flex and it stays in place unlike Atlas flex which springs back in place.
BTW, the Tillige flex track also seemed to hold its curve rather than spring back like atlas. I think it was because the tie voids are NO all on one side, but distributed onto both.And it was much nicer to handle than the ME flex track
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
The first phase of my layout was all Atlas code 100, with a few Peco turnouts added. After that, I switched to code 83 and WS turnouts. I like the code 83 stuff much better. I also switched to Tortoise machines, and these were all improvements.
The Atlas flex 83 looks much better than code 100 and works fine with the WS turnouts.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Doughless ATLANTIC CENTRAL railandsail Tillige track and turnouts.....German quality I would suggest you have a serious look at Tillige product,.. https://www.tillig.com/eng/Elite_Gleissysteme.html https://www.tillig.com/eng/Standardgleissysteme.html Last week I visited a LARGE layout being constructed utilizing code 83 of this track and turnouts. It really does appear to be excellent quality product. Also built in live frog if desired, and the track is pre-weathered, rust color. I don't see any $50 turnouts in my future...... Are you not the same guy who spent countless hours trying to use multiple brands of old outdated stuff you bought cheap? Sheldon (sorry Brian)
ATLANTIC CENTRAL railandsail Tillige track and turnouts.....German quality I would suggest you have a serious look at Tillige product,.. https://www.tillig.com/eng/Elite_Gleissysteme.html https://www.tillig.com/eng/Standardgleissysteme.html Last week I visited a LARGE layout being constructed utilizing code 83 of this track and turnouts. It really does appear to be excellent quality product. Also built in live frog if desired, and the track is pre-weathered, rust color. I don't see any $50 turnouts in my future...... Are you not the same guy who spent countless hours trying to use multiple brands of old outdated stuff you bought cheap? Sheldon
railandsail Tillige track and turnouts.....German quality I would suggest you have a serious look at Tillige product,.. https://www.tillig.com/eng/Elite_Gleissysteme.html https://www.tillig.com/eng/Standardgleissysteme.html Last week I visited a LARGE layout being constructed utilizing code 83 of this track and turnouts. It really does appear to be excellent quality product. Also built in live frog if desired, and the track is pre-weathered, rust color.
Tillige track and turnouts.....German quality
I would suggest you have a serious look at Tillige product,..
https://www.tillig.com/eng/Elite_Gleissysteme.html
https://www.tillig.com/eng/Standardgleissysteme.html
Last week I visited a LARGE layout being constructed utilizing code 83 of this track and turnouts. It really does appear to be excellent quality product.
Also built in live frog if desired, and the track is pre-weathered, rust color.
I don't see any $50 turnouts in my future......
Are you not the same guy who spent countless hours trying to use multiple brands of old outdated stuff you bought cheap?
So here is one older discussion I ran into while looking for additional comments on Tillige,..http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/104432.aspx?page=1
I didn't find much on the Tillige equipemnt but I did find these images. Notice that the tillige turnouts have solid continous rail rather than separate point rails and clousure rails
electroloveI will add Tillig to the list.http://www.reynaulds.com/tillig/tillig1.htmlMore pictures of Tillig and Pecohttp://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=980&hl=tillig+elite
I have used... and will use on the next layout... Shinohara switches with Atlas sectional and flexible track.
This combination has looked good, performed well, and been as rugged as I would expect.
I wish Kadee made track.
For ISLs I never liked C100 or C83 since it looked like main line track.. This time I'm using Peco C70 which has the right look for a industrial lead serving a older idustrial area.
Sticking with Atlas is probably the way to go.
As background: I build around the room switching layouts. I've used Atlas nearly exclusively in the past. This time I'm going with Peco 83.
The main reason is that after reusing the Atlas track from 2 previous layouts, its got enough dings and loose rails that I need to buy new stuff anyway. I thought that I would try PECO simply because I haven't before, and I feel like learning what its about.
The other reason is that PECO switches stay put as you change the route with your finger. Atlas' throwbars are loose to where its best to use switch machines or some device to keep the point rails stuck to the stock rails. Too much work to install them on a layout where I'll be inches from each turnout. PECO turnouts also tend to be more compact from point to frog, saving a bit of space if your layout has a cluster of turnouts in a confined area.
Having said that, I think their flex track is a bit more difficult to work with.
Also, Atlas makes sectional track. Some people laugh at using it, but I sometimes find it useful that with switching layouts, getting a short perfectly straight or curved portion made from sectional track is much easier than trying to produce the same few inches of track from a long piece of flex track.
Pick your poison, but really, neither is a real poison. These differences are just nitpicky things really.
richhotrain I gotta weigh in here. I have used Atlas flex track for 15 years while building 3 different layouts. Atlas flex track is superior in every which way. Rich
I gotta weigh in here.
I have used Atlas flex track for 15 years while building 3 different layouts.
Atlas flex track is superior in every which way.
Agreed.
I started in this hobby in 1968, my first layout was TruScale wood roadbed track, some their "ready track", some their kit form.
I worked in this business starting in 1971, I was taught how to hand lay track and build turnouts by the master craftsmen at the Severna Park Model Club at the tender age of 14.
I have seen, touched, used or otherwise experienced most every track product in this hobby that has been manufactured in the last 50 or 60 years.
On balance, the Atlas Custom Line system is hard to beat for value and performance.
The fact that the Custom Line turnouts make crossovers and yard ladders without cutting is a feature I like. I also prefer their wiring approach.
And like Rich said, the flex track is the best in terms of ease of use and quality of result, not to mention price.
Unless someone updated and reintroduced the TruScale wood roadbed line, I'm staying with Atlas.
Out of all the visitors to my layout, most of them are not model railroaders, the only comment I have ever heard about the track (all Atlas ) is "How did u get it so smooth?"
Yes, very nice product, at more than twice the price of Atlas.
I'm still more than happy with Atlas, and I have the skills to hand lay my own if I need something special.
Which is it, economy or quality?
In my business, construction, we have a saying: You can have your choice of two: quality, price or speedy completion, you don't get all three.
The Tillig #6 and #8 turnouts are close enough to north American geometry, but I would still question any track designed for both RP25 and NEM wheels......
Atlas has concrete tie track in Code 83, so Peco is far from the only one.
Peco 83 is north american style track, not British style like their Code 100 and 75. And they now have code 70 to go with the code 83, so you can use lighter rail for sidings and stick with the Peco line.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.