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Wooden roadbed.

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  • Member since
    May 2021
  • 7 posts
Wooden roadbed.
Posted by jward on Sunday, May 15, 2022 9:29 AM

Does anybody know what happened to the wooden roadbed companies, Campbell and Tru Scale? Last I heard, Tru Scale was being made by another company, but I can't find out which one  or if it is still being made.

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Posted by rrebell on Monday, May 16, 2022 10:37 AM

Those are both long gone. Talked to original owner of Truescale roadbed many years ago and he was surprised that it still had any demand at all, he called it junk compaired to modern items.

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Posted by Tin Can II on Monday, May 16, 2022 4:36 PM

When I opened my hobby shop in 1997, Walthers still stocked some select Truescale roadbed components.  I ordered some basic pieces for the shop; I received some straight pieces, all the other pieces (curves and turnouts) were backordered.  I never received anything else, and I never sold a single piece. 

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Monday, May 16, 2022 6:35 PM

rrebell

Those are both long gone. Talked to original owner of Truescale roadbed many years ago and he was surprised that it still had any demand at all, he called it junk compaired to modern items.

 

And I would still like to know WHY he thought it was junk? Prototype appearance? Performance? Ease of use?

It was without question the highest quality ready to use track of the 50's and 60's, and was also offered in kit form giving a great many modelers an easy introduction into hand laying track.

It performed very well on my first layout, and looked pretty good.

But to answer the OP's question, it is not being produced any longer.

I would recommend homasote roadbed.

www.cwhomaroad.com

Sheldon

    

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Posted by jward on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 4:16 AM

I agree with Sheldon. I've found Tru Scale roadbed to be the best base for handlaid track. I just wish I could find what I need. Homasote in any form is out of the question. It doesn't hold spikes well enough to keep the track in guage and has a tendency to swell and warp in moist environments. Been there, done that, regretted the results.

 

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Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 8:09 AM

That was just it, in the 50's it was great compaired to most other stuff out there, I talked to him over 15 years ago when I was on another forum. It was a mix of manufacturers forum for our hobby along with  others. Did some test building back in those days and met many that had companys, were planing companys, writers and others like Kathy Mallet and Dave Frary to name a few, miss that Forum but the owner was offered a good price for it and everyone said to go for it. Another forum was started but it just wasn't the same.

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 11:22 AM

jward

I agree with Sheldon. I've found Tru Scale roadbed to be the best base for handlaid track. I just wish I could find what I need. Homasote in any form is out of the question. It doesn't hold spikes well enough to keep the track in guage and has a tendency to swell and warp in moist environments. Been there, done that, regretted the results.

 

 

That's interesting. I have hand layed trackmon homasote with Campbell ties many times with no issues and used homasote under flex track with no issues for some 50 years now. The now nearly 70 year old Severna Park Model Railroad Club layout is all hand layed on homasote with no issues.

I do agree about the virtues of wood roadbed, but never had any issues with homasote.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 11:34 AM

jward
Homasote in any form is out of the question. It doesn't hold spikes well enough.

I have never heard complaints about Homasote's ability to hold a spike.

The opposite seems to be the prevailing opinion. 

I have never been able to get Homasote down here. My next layout will be built with it. I brought four sheets back from Indiana.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 10:25 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
jward
Homasote in any form is out of the question. It doesn't hold spikes well enough.

 

I have never heard complaints about Homasote's ability to hold a spike.

The opposite seems to be the prevailing opinion. 

I have never been able to get Homasote down here. My next layout will be built with it. I brought four sheets back from Indiana.

-Kevin

 

It may not have been true Homasote but something that looked a lot like it as is the case with Masonite of which the original formula is not available in California due to chemicals in it (used to use Masonite for underflooring on vinyl floors on the east coast but could not on the west coast as it was no longer very water resistant).

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Posted by fwright on Sunday, May 22, 2022 8:04 PM

A few years ago, Trout Creek Engineering had some stocks of Tru Scale plain roadbed.  Don't know if they still have it, it's not listed on their web site anymore.  Might be worth contacting them.

Fred W

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Posted by jward on Monday, May 23, 2022 5:16 PM

fwright

A few years ago, Trout Creek Engineering had some stocks of Tru Scale plain roadbed.  Don't know if they still have it, it's not listed on their web site anymore.  Might be worth contacting them.

Fred W

 

DO you have their web address?

 

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Monday, May 23, 2022 7:55 PM

jward

 

 
fwright

A few years ago, Trout Creek Engineering had some stocks of Tru Scale plain roadbed.  Don't know if they still have it, it's not listed on their web site anymore.  Might be worth contacting them.

Fred W

 

 

 

DO you have their web address?

 

 

 

http://www.troutcreekeng.co/

 

    

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Posted by Tin Can II on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 6:03 PM

Sheldon:  Thanks for the link to Trout Creek.  They carry BK Enterprises products.  Many years ago I hand laid two modules with BK Enterprises switch kits.  I still have a couple of kits, may order some more to match what I have.

 

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