3-Rail Track Prices!!!

Yes indeed. I’m sure that’s why MTH stopped using solid rail. Atlas is beautiful though.

The good news about track prices is that you only have to pay once . Wait until you buy switches John

I guess difference between tubular and solid rail.  I’m a Gargraves guy myself.  I think noise production on solid rail is less.  A bit more prototypical look.  Not a fan of plastic ties for track.  
For the price, Gargraves is excellent!

Holy Cow!! That is a huge difference John.  Good info though as I’m looking at either Gargraves or Atlas track for my own layout in the future.

Years ago, I started using Gargraves track because it was so much less expensive than O27 tubular.  Not sure if that’s still the case.

Once in a while you see an ad from Steve Brenneisen comparing the price of his American made Ross switches to higher price Atlas switches.

Cost of brass.

I confess, all things being equal, I'd have used Atlas and Ross switches. I think Atlas switches are junk, even though they have improved them in the last few years.  However, I do like the track, just not at those prices.

@trainbob posted:

The good news about track prices is that you only have to pay once . Wait until you buy switches John

Bob, 24 Ross switches with the DZ-2500's and counting, well over $3,000 in switches!  I knew the switches were going to be a significant hit, but you do need them.

After following your thread on building a new layout I figured you would be using a sizable amount of switches.

I think my first design started out with nine, that went out the window in a HURRY!

For us old penny pinchers, Menards is making tubular track in 31, 36, 42, 54, 72 and 96.

A 24 pack of 54 is 50$, 72 is 55$ and 96 is 60$, delivered to the store. Since I'm not going anywhere near proto-typical, thats my choice.

Anyone use the RossPlate tubular switches, RTP125?

Yikes! The refurbished track market is where I'll go when it's time to build again.

Brass went through the roof a few years ago. It also impacted the #1 Gauge market with track doubling quickly. The 2-rail Atlas track is a bit less expensive (fewer rails/lighter rail stock), but not by much. Even ScaleTrax went up substantially.

@MR_P posted:

For us old penny pinchers, Menards is making tubular track in 31, 36, 42, 54, 72 and 96.

A 24 pack of 54 is 50$, 72 is 55$ and 96 is 60$, delivered to the store. Since I'm not going anywhere near proto-typical, thats my choice.

Anyone use the RossPlate tubular switches, RTP125?

I tried Rossplate #4 switches early last year and promptly returned them. Everything I ran through them--even my modern trains-- derailed. I really wanted to use the #4 switches, but went back to my K-Line super snap O72 switches. I modified them so the distance between tracks on crossovers is very close to what I would have had with #4s.

Even traditional tubular track is getting more expensive now that Lionel stopped producing it, especially the 40-inch straight sections.

I think Marty Fitzhenry told me on one of my visits to his home that he had approx. 85 Ross switches on his layout. Do the math on that one, Gunrunnerjohn!!

The mind boggles!

@BlueComet400 posted:

I think Marty Fitzhenry told me on one of my visits to his home that he had approx. 85 Ross switches on his layout. Do the math on that one, Gunrunnerjohn!!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Just thought it was interesting to see the contrast in prices, this indeed is an expensive hobby!

You should have witnessed the prices go up in one gauge for stainless track. My first box was one something ($140.00??).

My next box was near 400. For a brief period later on, some sellers wanted $800!

I should have bought all my track in the beginning. I would have had to borrow the money. It still would have cost less overall!

Being indoor, I went with the cheap stuff, Phantom tinplate.

And Ross and Gargraves are USA made,  Atlas is not.

And there are those out there that think this hobby can & will attract newcomers ?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I confess, all things being equal, I'd have used Atlas and Ross switches. I think Atlas switches are junk, even though they have improved them in the last few years.  However, I do like the track, just not at those prices.

BOY!  John is crushing me... my poor atlas switches!!!    They seem to work fine so far.  I just bought 16 brand new, O72 switches at 70.00 apiece total... that price includes shipping and tax.  I'll let you know if they hold up.

Well, the new ones are reputed to be better than the ones from a few years ago, maybe you'll get lucky.   I'll stick with Ross...

Keep your eyes and ears open for used track at some of the auction houses - cabin fever, stout, etc.. I have purchased all my track, switches, transformers, buildings etc from tthese guys. Most of the time, in excellent condition and 10 to 20% of new. Remember, it was recently used so it wasn’t hanging around collecting dust and rust. I bought so much I can build a couple new layouts.

I do NOT recommend buying Gargraves flex track used!  The ties dry up and get hard to move, and it's no longer useful flex track.  Yes, you can spray them with WD-40 or the like, but that's messy and since it isn't that expensive brand new, that's a non-starter for me.

I use the flex track for straight. I buy curves for curves. bending the flex is a prescription for frustration

For What It Is Worth, I have used both Gargraves and Atlas-O track.
My experience with Gargraves is that it wears grooves in wheels and pickup rollers. I have not had that problem with Atlas-O— probably because nickel silver is softer than steel.

@ctr posted:

For What It Is Worth, I have used both Gargraves and Atlas-O track.My experience with Gargraves is that itwears grooves in wheels and pickup rollers. I have not had that problem with Atlas-O— probably because nickel silver is softer than steel.

It does on the prototype also; hard to see but here is an example:

@ctr posted:

For What It Is Worth, I have used both Gargraves and Atlas-O track.
My experience with Gargraves is that it wears grooves in wheels and pickup rollers. I have not had that problem with Atlas-O— probably because nickel silver is softer than steel.

I am pretty sure I'll have difficulty wearing out pickups and wheels unless I run 24/7.

@Geojr posted:

I use the flex track for straight. I buy curves for curves. bending the flex is a prescription for frustration

Not really, it's actually not that difficult.  After the first few and a couple of kinks, you get the hang of it.  This is my first big project using flex track.

WHOA!!!!  Sweet!  My layout can fit in John's access cut-out!  No knee-walls!

Sore knees from laying track however!

The January 14 stout auction has some Ross switches listed for sale, a 4 way yard switch and 2 double crossovers

@ctr posted:

For What It Is Worth, I have used both Gargraves and Atlas-O track.
My experience with Gargraves is that it wears grooves in wheels and pickup rollers. I have not had that problem with Atlas-O— probably because nickel silver is softer than steel.

You must run your trains a LOT!  I have used Gargraves since the mid 80s and never had a problem with worn wheels or pickup rollers.

Wow - if gargraves worn out the train wheels, the train wheels must have really torn up the softer atlas track??

I’m pretty sure that a part of Atlas’s pricing is due to the nickel-silver alloy. I’ve been running it for years. No tarnish, and I haven’t cleaned it in years.  However, I am not a heavy runner.
Alan

@MR_P posted:

For us old penny pinchers, Menards is making tubular track in 31, 36, 42, 54, 72 and 96.

A 24 pack of 54 is 50$, 72 is 55$ and 96 is 60$, delivered to the store. Since I'm not going anywhere near proto-typical, thats my choice.

Anyone use the RossPlate tubular switches, RTP125?

I have several #4 Rossplate switches on the layout and one more coming in. Now these are used for the diversion to the various yard sidings and no high speed through the turns outs so no derailments. They align with the my tubular track and work perfect. Love all my Ross switches.

@patternpilot posted:

I have several #4 Rossplate switches on the layout and one more coming in. Now these are used for the diversion to the various yard sidings and no high speed through the turns outs so no derailments. They align with the my tubular track and work perfect. Love all my Ross switches.

Thanks, I'll in the planning stages of build a mega layout this spring / summer(upper loft level of new 3 car garage).  Probably will be on-going forever, LOL.  My current layout is in a shed and is 4 ft by 10 ft at best, so anything double in size will be mega!  Anyways, I've got some Lionel 031 and K-line 042 switches that I'd hate to discard from using, since they work just fine.  But I'll need a large diameter switch for a couple of consists, at least 054, but I'm leaning to 072.  So that's why I asked and thanks for responding.

Cheers, MR_P

Great topic.  So where can one purchase 3 rail Atlas flex track?  I'm having difficulty locating sources of it.

With most lines of track (in all scales for that matter), flex track is significantly less expensive than sectional track.  But not so with Atlas 3-rail. The cost per linear foot is the same.   I use Altas track and turnouts in my layout.   I would not have used it if I had to pay new prices.  It would have run about $4000.  I lucked into fire sale prices on used track at a local club.   It needed a good cleaning and some of the turnouts needed repair, but I was paying 25 cents on the dollar.  

The problems and the fixes for the older Atlas turnouts are well documented on the forum.  I ran power leads to all sections of center rails rather than rely on the inadequate jumper wires. My only regret is using flextrack on some of my curves.  Atlas flex track is a bear to bend and it is difficult to avoid kinks on the curves. You can't pre-bend it like Gargraves.   I used the usual techniques of extra track screws near the joint and I even made slotted wood blocks to help man-handle the track.  I did ok with most, and they are all functional, but a few joints on O-72 curves bug me when I see them.   Once I lay ballast and more scenery, I will forget about them.   My do-over would be to use their sectional track for curves.   You can lay it 5 times more quickly.

We used Gargraves on our club layout. Even though Gargraves ties are huge, it is remarkable how the combination of ballasting and a normal low angle view of the track makes for a very pleasing scale appearance.

Bob

@Steam Guy posted:

Great topic.  So where can one purchase 3 rail Atlas flex track?  I'm having difficulty locating sources of it.

Think twice before buying Atlas flex track. It is really difficult to bend. Any curve smaller than O-100 is almost impossible. It always wants to return to straight.

Thanks for the tip on auctions Geojr!  I am rather new to the O gauge world and am at the plywood and supports stage of putting together a three rail layout with three levels.  Lots of switches and track for the layout plan I have.  Trying to use flex track but the cost of Atlas flex rather put me on the back foot.  I like the look of the Atlas and have some on the way that I can see about bending.  I have been getting Ross switches used and that has been a great approach so far.  Ordered new as well but they have not delivered so the Ross factory must be very backed up.  Like Atlas seems to be also backordered for months through Trainworld and discount sites.

If you have more auction sites that you could recommend I would really appreciate the information.

Cheers!

Gotta sell more car lighting kits and Super Chuffers John!

Rod