Well, the metallurgy could definitely have an effect on that. Depending on if the wheels are cast, forged, or machined. The nickel content would probably have a lot to do with it in regards to the rails.
For my carpeted portion of the layout on the floor which is for my kids, I will stick with realtrax, however when I do my other parts I am debating between scaletrax and atlas.
Wouldn't any track with a nickel content do that to some extent? Have to look at my wheels, but I don't run that much and I swap out trains quite often so I may not see it.
Jerry
Very interesting observation (sharp flanges due to wear) with Realtrax. I have been running Fastrack for years now, and the wear pattern is on the wheel/tire, not the flanges. Curve diameter could be a factor - my tightest curve is O-48. I suppose that O-31 could wear more on the flanges. Interesting - thanks.
Never even considered realtrax wearing the wheels out, that's not good! 
Hello guys and gals......
the track rails aren't the problem its the flanges as they are softer and of the same metal as used to make die-cast bodies on steam locomotives so they will wear out. The flanges are part of the driver wheel set which is made of zinc and cast in a die. The drivers are die cast and so is the flanges but with a nickel plated soft steel tires on it. This is not a problem on modern diesels.
The woman who loves the S.F. 5011
The diecasting and materials are probably the main issue then. I would bet the issue is aggravated due to real trax having a more realistic and sharper profile. The sharper curves could also aggravate.
Personally I took out all of my O31 curves and and keeping the minimum O54.
I also agree with the prior statement about MTH RealTrax looking chunky. That is just my personal opinion though. I realize others prefer RealTrax because the rails have a more realistic profile to them. Again, personal choice. When I began construction of my new layout in 2009/2010 I went with Lionel's Fastrack System. I just liked the way Fastrack looked as far as tie spacing, rail height, etc. I also like the fact that Fastrack works well with Lionel Magne-traction. I bought the Lionel NKP Berkshire set when it came out and that set included Fastrack. That was my first experience with Fastrack and I was quite pleased with it. My first layout was on a standard sheet of plywood and had two ovals of Gargraves Track on it. After the "fun" of custom bending my own curves with Gargraves Track I decided to use Fastrack's new track system on my new layout.
Cobrabob.
I have seen the flanges paper thin, almost no flanges at all. This was on a MTH steam starter set engine. Now that was running on realtrax that had the solid rails. I have not used any of the realtrax hollow rail. I don't know of any differences between the solid and hollow rails.
We have been using Realtrax on our modual layout for over 12 years. We take it apart and put it together about 4 times a year.
We have broken maybe 2 tabs in all that time and maybe resoldered about 5 joints.
We get together in early fall ,bar-b-que and go over all the track before train show season begins
We have no major problems and the trains run great.
Some of you people worry me with your complaints about this track and are in need of adult supervision.
If its that bad donate it to us so we can expand. We don't need any curves just straights.
We have mostly the old solid rail type but we do use some hollow rail.
We have found that when your running big locomotives it's good to use the MTH track clips underneath the curve tracks to maintain a tight fit.
Is it the perfect track system ? No . Is there one ? I don't think so.
Other modual groups in this area use Fastrack and have there problems too.
Check out the High Plains 3 Railer video on youtube and see it for yourself.
We have no major problems and the trains run great.
Some of you people worry me with your complaints about this track and are in need of adult supervision.
Amen !!! I'm glad somebody finally said it....
Dave
Greetings. Yup, these discussions won't really help you pick. Most folks, I think (there are exceptions) pick a type and stick with it. Maybe they don't like the first one, but I bet the list of folks that can compare and contrast, more than 2 or 3 types, from extensive personal experience is short. The good news, is if a brand was REALLY terrible, you'd get a consensus. Eventually if you follow my rail line LOTUS (looks OK to us) and pick one you like, based on look, price and available sections and turnouts YOU want, you probably won't go wrong. Your ahead of the game, if you haven't invested a on on track, before you do some thinking. Enjoy!
Dave;
For a decent look at ScaleTrax, see http://www.toytrainsontracks.com
They have clips there from the videos they sell. He uses ScaleTrax on the layout.
The only problem I see with ScaleTrax is the limites types of turnouts available.
I have some ScaleTrax waiting for my new benchwork. Since they do not offer a Wye I bought a pair of Ross Wye's. Ross offers every switch I've ever seen.
I am happy to report the rail in Ross switches are a close match to ScaleTrax rails. The Ross rails are slightly taller and the ties are quite a bit thicker.
Put 5mm roadbed (Woodland Scenic) under the ScaleTrax and 2mm cork sheet (Amazon) under the Ross switch. They come out perfectly level at the rail tops.
It's a match made in O gauge heaven.
As to the Fastrack VS Realtrax debate, I've been using Realtrax for years, with no issues for some time now. My layout is not screwed down and occasionally I give it a shove somewhere to re-center it on the layout benchwork. Since the layout is not well leveled it tends to slowly creep left and forward as I run the trains.
I have also built a Christmas layout with Realtrax several times now using the same track each year. No problems with coming apart except where the kids kept kicking it this year. About 6 to 8 track clips fixed it up solid, not even all the curve pieces needed them. And they come 24 to a pack for MSRP $7.95 so that is not really a valid complaint. That's less than the cost of a piece of Fastrack.
Dave, I think you'll discover that whatever track you eventually go with that there will always be a couple cars or locomotives that don't play nice with some part of it be it a certain type of switch or a crossing or a combination of either one and it's particular location. I've been pretty lucky so far with mine, I actually have a set of Realtrax O72 switches in a tunnel and they've never given me a problem(knock wood), but I did have a set of O31's that nothing would go thru so I took them out and reconfigured the track plan in that area. I later traced that issue to a hump in the layout where the switches sat, I sat a big steel ball bearing on the track and it rolled to the left of a certain point and to the right on the other side of that point. But since nothing would go thru them I concluded the switches were the issue. The same switches are currently on my dads layout and work fine. But rest assured no matter what type you eventually go with if you do have a problem someone here on the forum has seen it before and probably has a fix for it.
Jerry
Fastrack is great for lots of people. I like it for running on the floor. It stays together, but the noise is a bit loud for my liking. My biggest complaint about Fastrack is the shape of the rail. Lionel could have done better than the U shaped rail profile.
Never even considered realtrax wearing the wheels out, that's not good!
Man, I would like to think that I would live long enough, and find enough time and opportunity to run my trains enough, to wear the wheels out on my engines running them against the rails !
I really wish in years to come, that it happens! Can't think of much better thing to do than wear them out running, vs. sitting on the shelf.
Makes for a good, sane excuse to buy another engine!
Greg
What I'd like to see was a track that used the tubular track on a base similar to Realtrax or Fastrack that way we'd have the ballasted look with the tried and true (and nostalgic look) of tinplate. That would also eliminate the issue of sharpened flanges and with a couple steel straps connecting the outer rails Magnatraction would be back in business! But the reality is we probably won't see a new type of track for a very long time.
Jerry
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