The Death of Code 100 Track

[One Track Mind]

Code 100 outsells Code 83 in my shop. Not quite two-to-one, but more.

#1 reason given: cost

I also sold 2 packages of horn-hook couplers today. The death notice for them was given some time ago.

[onebiglizard]

jrbernier noted that Atlas released their code 100 #8  turnouts.  Wish I could buy some.  Walthers is constantly backordered, and my LHS hasn't any either. 

[Don Gibson]

In the  words of Mark (Code 100) Twain:

"The roports of my death have been  greatly exaggerated".  It will remain as long as there is a market for it. Guess who buys the most most of it? - and why?

1. Old timers bought it when then was the ONLY choice available. 2. metal track doesn't seem to wear out . 3. European 00 pre-dated HO when 3 rail O-27 dominated the American market.

 4.Newbies buy it becuse it's cheaper - no matter how you spell the word.

Whatever type of track you lay down will oultast YOU, so .. ?I use it if because I already have it  &  I'm too cheap to throw it away - but not for  new yards, spurs, & sidings.

Whatever track you lay down will outlast us all, and I hate the looks of those black  frogs,  so ... ?

[mononguy63]

When I was preparing to lay track on my new layout a couple of years ago, I actually went to the LHS and stood in the aisle holding a section of C83 in one hand and C100 in the other to see which way to go first hand. Compared side-by-side, there really is no comparison - the C83 has a lower profile and the ties are brown, smaller, and more closely spaced. It's just more realistic in every aspect. After seeing that code 83 track looked better, I promptly put it back on the shelf and bought more code 100. Why? Firstly, I already had a lot of salvaged C100 track and was on too tight a budget to replace it all. Secondly, code 83 costs more than code 100. Sure, the difference is relatively small, but multiply that small difference by all the pieces that needed to be purchased and it adds up. Thirdly, code 100 looks good enough for my purposes on its own merit - having some of both on my layout could lead to the "Hey that track looks nice - ewww, that track doesn't!" phenomenon. It compares favorably when there's nothing to compare it to.

[dinwitty]

A club I know of just started building a BIG layout and is using code 100. The man told me the savings for the humongus layout was substancial.They considered Fastrack turnouts but rejected them because they thought it would take too long to build em.

Google Worcester Model Railroad Club and check out the size and complexity of this layout, it's BIG.

At some point when I get my home layout done and I'm still kicking I may join, they are a great bunch of guy's.

 

Jules

 

 

I can build a standard switch in one hour, not even using fast tracks, just basic tools.