Ordering a Large Amount of Track

[mbinsewi]

I got the Walther's Flyer on Thursday, and they have a track sale going on.  I don't know how that compares to others, as I don't need any track right now.

What little track I may eed in the future, I'll get from Hiawatha.

I do have my eyes out for On30 track, for an upcoming project. Peco or ME.  LHS stocks ME.

Mike.

[richhotrain]

Atlas Code 83 flex track can still be bought for $4.00 per stick on eBay, but you have to buy in bulk, 100 pieces or more.

Rich

[Medina1128]

There are decent prices on Hobbylinc's website. You didn't specify what code you were looking for, but I included a link below.

Hobbylinc

[hon30critter]

SeeYou190

I use Atlas Code 83 flex and sectional track, and I have never ordered it before I needed it.

Not to be contrary Kevin, but I agree with Randy. After what our club experienced when Atlas turnouts were hard to get, I am a firm believer in buying stuff in sufficient quantities to get the job finished. When we started the layout we initially decided to buy only those track supplies that would be needed in the short term, largely because some of the members were afraid of spending big dollars all at once. Big mistake! The Atlas turnout shortage a year or so ago set our club's layout construction back by five months. Once the turnouts were available we bought everything that we thought we would need to complete the layout, and most of the track was down in less than three months after that. We ended up with four surplus turnouts, and they are all Pecos.

Dave

[rrinker]

According to the track length calculator in 3rd PlanIt, I need about 180 sticks of flex track just for my first level. Peco seems to only come in 25 packs, no 100 piece cases, at least not from the various retailers (they do make big cases, i saw them in the episode of James May's Toy Stories where he tries to run an HO train 10 actual miles over a bike path that occupies an abandoned rail line).

I'll probably buy 100 sticks to start, and order another 100 when that starts getting low. There's no LHS to run out and get a few pieces if I run out on a weekend, so I don't want to run out. I hatew when I get rolling on a project and then have to quit to go buy more of something, or in this case, quit for a couple of days until a new order can get delivered. Running to the store every week to pick up 10 pieces at a time is a huge waste - of time, gas, and money, considering larger quantities are much cheaper per piece.

                                   --Randy

[SeeYou190]

I use Atlas Code 83 flex and sectional track, and I have never ordered it before I needed it.

.

Shinohara Code 83 Turnouts... I buy those whenever I can find them, and hoard them.

.

-Kevin

.

[rrinker]

 I dunno about Peco, but their price on Atlas is WAY more than Modeltrainstuff. And not an insignificant difference, if talking about buying it by the 100 piece case. ANd thats WITH some sort of "Track Sale" going on at BRH.

                                       --Randy

 

[jim57]

JPD

Do any of you have a recommendation for a better place to order from?

[quote user="JPD"]

The cheapest source of Peco track I have found so far is Blue Ridge Hobbies https://www.blueridgehobbies.com/index.htm.  Frank is always helpful.

Jim57

[The Milwaukee Road Warrior]

I possibly could have found my boxes of flex for less on-line somewhere but decided to just buy them right from my local store.  Easy in, easy out and I can support a local business.  Due to the amount I bought I got a discount.  For what its worth...

[JPD]

I used AnyRail to design my switching layout and made very few changes. I prefer to order all at one time as I expect I will make few changes. I test the AnyRail design by using TrainPlayer to verify that the operations work out as I expect. If I have a few turnouts or flex track left over, then I will eventually find a use for them.

I will check out Model Train Stuff, thanks for the tip.

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Well, If you are building a larger layout, I would buy at least 80% of what I need all at once and find the best prices.

I have always bought Atlas flex by the 100 pc case............

I'm the kind of person who designs the layout then builds it, I don't figure it out as I go along, so changes during construction will be minimal......

Sheldon

[carl425]

wjstix

FWIW I would recommend against buying everything at once.

Except that the best prices on flextrack come when you buy a box of 100 pieces.  I'd at least buy that as bulk.  Another consideration is that prices are only going to go up.  Anything you'll eventually use can be bought cheaper now rather than later.

[rrinker]

 A couple of years back when I was evaluating different track, I ordered some Peco flex, ModelTrainStuff was out of stock, but I found another place, the name escapes me, that had an even lower price, counting shipping. I was only ordering a 5 pack, not a whole case of the stuff. ANd it does come in cases - I just watched the James May's Toy Stories video on YouTube where he atempts to run an HO train a real 10 miles over an abandoned line that was turned into a bike path. Case after case of Peco Code 100 flex was used. Granted, the first order came completely mangled in shipping - despinte being packed in a box that it comes in for smaller quantities, with plenty of packing. So I had to get a second oder shipped (they did so, no questions asked after I showed them a picture of what I got), second box came perfectly fine. So now I have enough spare rail and tie strip for anything. I can look up the name of the place, see what their prices are for Atlas.

Edit: I found my old order - checked current prices, they are $40 higher for the 100 pack of Atlas Code 100 (compared to ModdelTrainStuff).

 You might still get the best deal at your LHS, if you are going to buy a mass quantity in one go, they may be able to work something out. You might have to wait until they make their next order. If they get it right from Atlas, there's a good chance of some sort of deal. If they get their stock through another distributer, like Walthers, not much chance of them getting a whole lot lower on the price.

 There's already a pretty good price break at ModelTrainStuff. They are usually my go to for buying train stuff. Atlas Code 100 is over 57% discounted from MSRP in a case of 100.

                                --Randy

 

[wjstix]

JPD

Given that I will need 55 turnouts and about 350 feed of flex track, I am wondering what is the best way to order the turnouts, track, cork, turntable, etc. that I will need. Does it make sense to compile a detailed shopping list and send it off to a hobby shop and ask them if they can meet the order, the cost including shipping, and when it could be delivered?

I'm guessing if you go to any hobby retailer and say you need 55 turnouts and 100 or so pieces of flextrack, they'll find a way to fill your order.

You probably could do price-checks yourself by checking out the websites of the various model railroad retailers that are online, like Model Train Stuff, TrainWorld, etc. Certainly wouldn't hurt to send them an e-mail asking about getting a discount for such a large order. Keep in mind you don't have to buy it all at one place. One retailer might have the best price on flextrack, another might have the best price on turnouts.

FWIW I would recommend against buying everything at once. When you start laying track and seeing how it all fits together, you may come up with new ideas on what would fit best where. Maybe start out getting the mainline in place and figure out where the industries and sidings etc. will go. Not that hard to go back and cut in a turnout to an industry spur track.

[nealknows]

Another vote for modeltrainstuff.com  I've found the best prices with real freight costs figured in for shipping. Trainworld.com has free shipping so you may be able to pay a few cents more on a case of track and get the free shipping. 

[Onewolf]

I ordered most of my track/turnouts from ModelTrainStuff.com. I have always gotten excellent service (and price) from them.

[mbinsewi]

Make a shopping list and send or email it around to different stores.  Search around, there are many places you could send your list.  Model Train Stuff, and Trainworld, just to name a couple of them, along with Hiawatha.

I think if you look for what you want on the various sites, you can figure out how much it's going to cost you, including shipping.

You always call where you want to order from, and ask about shipping, quantity discounts, etc.

I'm spoiled, Hiawatha is about 30 miles from me.  I perfer going there in stead of Walthers, and what Hiawatha doesn't have, they can get fairly quick.

I think the motors you can adapt to any turnout, unless you want to get a price on them too.

Happy shopping.

Mike.

[JPD]

This may be naïve, but I need to ask. What is the best way to go about ordering a large amount of track?

 

I am nearly done with my small switching layout and with my wife’s blessing will be expanding to an around the room layout that the switching layout will plug into as a peninsular. Given that I will need 55 turnouts and about 350 feed of flex track, I am wondering what is the best way to order the turnouts, track, cork, turntable, etc. that I will need.  Does it make sense to compile a detailed shopping list and send it off to a hobby shop and ask them if they can meet the order, the cost including shipping, and when it could be delivered? 

 

I plan on using Atlas track and so far I have learned that ordering it from Atlas directly or Walthers, even during their annual track sale, is very expensive. I have done some pricing at Hiawatha Hobbies and Midwest Model Railroad and see that I can save a considerable amount through either one of these hobby shops.  I do not have a local hobby shop in my area. Do any of you have a recommendation for a better place to order from?

 

I should point out that I plan on using Tortoise motors for the turnouts. I have been buying them used and getting some good pricing (usually half the list price). I test them when I receive them and so far only one has been a dud. I only need 15 more. Circuitron makes a great product and used Tortoises are pretty reliable in my experience. I have used ones on my switching layout and they perform flawlessly.