Can a true Hi Rail layout be built with sectional track?

Yes, sectional track can be used for hi-rail and toy train layouts. Just like flex track and hand laid track can be used for hi- rail and toy train layouts.

Charlie

I've never seen a hi-rail layout with hand-laid track (tie by tie) and switches. Only in 2-rail have I seen that. Seems that if you were going to that much trouble, you wouldn't settle for the scale inaccuracies that 3-rail carries (claw couplers, oversize flanges and rails, etc)

Hi-rail, to me, just means a more realistic style than a traditional postwar, toy approach. For that, any track system can be used and doctored up to fit the look. Frank 53 had a great HR layout using Lionel tubular. Adding ties, paint and ballast allowed it to fit seamlessly with his great surrounding scenery. A few here have very good looking examples of weathered Fastrack. 

Hi Paul, good question. I think Hi Rail has broad interpretations. Here's one High rail (also called "hi-rail" and "hirail") is a phrase used in model railroading in North America, mostly in O scale and S scale, to describe a "compromise" form of modelling that strives for realism while accepting the compromises in scale associated with toy train equipment. I myself thinking outside the box that everything is sectional, even real railroads to an extent. Three rail tries to emulate realism with compromises. To me even hand laying track is still sectional. Two rail  would be the closest to the real thing.  So with that said O two rail, S gauge, HO, N and On3 narrow gauge would have more of the look of the real thing...................Paul

I thought model railroading was to have fun? Not be judged by someone for looking "somewhat contrived" Don't sweat the small stuff life's way to short.

I love sectional track.  My layout is a toy train layout with scale trains.

Sectional track and hand-laid track are very different. Hand-laid track is certainly not "sectional" within the context of this discussion. What is the point of conflating the terms?

Back in November, 2000, an article in another model train publication defined "hi-railing" as "a term used to denote toy train operators who combine scale and non-scale trains with a conscious effort to achieve greater realism."  One of the earlier hi-rail layouts I followed was that of Joe Lesser, whose JL/ATSF layout was covered by a number of publications. He used a large amount of sectional, tubular trackage, but made sure everything was ballasted and weathered, thereby approaching the ideal of "greater realism". He also wrote a fine book about his layout, "Realistic Railroading with Toy Trains", which is still an excellent read.

Gargraves makes sectional track......So I'd vote yes.......

I love toy train layouts.  I love scale layouts.  I enjoy all of them.  Although I run a toy train operation, my layout is complete with all the Legacy, DCS, and WiFi.  I know how to do high end scale work but have always leaned towards the toy train part of the hobby.  Whatever floats your boat.

ANY track you use: paint it, paint it, paint it.

Real, shiny "chrome" track is found nowhere in nature. I see "hi-rail" layouts that are impressive...until you look at that shiny track. It's not invisible. It's obvious. All that hard, excellent work - better than I can do - and then there's the Silver Streak all over the place.

Even the Atlas/MTH Scaletrax nickel-silver needs paint, but it is less offensive.

I painted mine (GarGraves, including switches) before I installed it - camo brown. Removed the paint from the rail tops with a fine sanding "sponge" (no, this does not harm anything).

Old-style tubular can be rendered far less toy-like with the use of paint; I wish that they made the 0-27 profile (low) in wide curves/switches - those who like tubular would have a product that wasn't so gigantically high, but could handle large equipment and be robust for modular use.  Probably a tiny market, though.

To my mind with the lower 027 track yes, with the way too much out of scale 0) track, No.