Cost of Track System (Added Fastrak and MTH)

Well I would go scaletrax for all visible track, but looking at the options your considered, go gargraves track and ross switches. I would not buy gargraves switches....ross is worth the price over gargrave switches no matter what!

Actually the Lionel version is based on tubular track, not FasTrack.
If it was done in FasTrack I imagine it would come in at least as costly as Atlas, if not more.

Rod

Track costs will escalate over time until you have reached completion.

And that is before scenery.

I have a few Ross Switch designs waiting to be submitted to Ross for the work to do when I am ready to build and already have exceeded several hundred dollars.

It would be interesting to see how FasTrack relates to the other track systems.

When I built my layout I went with FasTrack simply because it was the best looking track available... and with a little work, like painting the sides of the rail and a black wash over the roadbed, it becomes even more beautiful.

Gentlemen,
I was especially interested in seeing the FasTrack cost, I do wish it would have been part of the comparison.
PCRR/Dave

I'm kinda surprised that the Lionel tubular track cost is higher than the Gargraves cost!?!

 

Paul

I updated the costs to include Fastrak.  I've shown the original price (if given), the manufacturer's list price, and the street using well known discount sellers.  I could not match the exact Fastrak pieces (O54) so I used slightly more costly O60 curves.

 

Street prices are not that different, and Gargraves is still the cheapest with the others be about equal.

 

Jan

 

I m not sure about that .....  I bought some Atlas O for my Elevated trolley this year and I have a ton of Fastrack ...  They are two totally different animals.  Fastrack can be used on Floors, great for modular-traveling groups, it has many advantages in that is can adapt to many different environments, so I think to price them head to head may be a reason they omitted it.  Also if I were building a permanent layout I'd look at Atlas O over Fastrack.  The sound is an issue with the Fastrack.  Next year I want to go with an L Girder system and see if that helps at all with the sound issues.

TMack.....I use Fastrack on a 3/4" plywood base. Before laying the track, I covered the whole "Table" with hardwood floor underlay material, as I was also a little apprehensive about the reported noise levels associated with Fastrack.

 

The stuff is a very dense which appears to be more of a rubber than a foam, and easily small based structures will stand on there own. In my opinion, this set-up makes the noise level of the fastrack completely within what I consider an acceptable level. I really haven't had the opportunity to visit a layout of similar size to mine that uses a different track system in order to compare, but I'm happy with how mine turned out.

 

REV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Jan

thanks for sharing this. A lot of people have been wanting to know...

 

@TMack -- you are right, that they are two totally different animals. The advantages you give a really good ones.  I sort of kept with Fastrack, as that is what I had.  I live in a small apartment, so I have to tear down after running trains. When i looked at the atlas, I didn't think the tabs would hold up to being pulled apart too often (the plastic tabs at the end of the ties).  I was also worried about  lint and other debris getting into the gears. I may be wrong, but you sort of confirmed what I was imaging as an outcome.

 

Now with both MTH track systems.

 

The MTH track systems are now as cheap or cheaper than Gargraves.  One thing is that they have non-rusting rails.  Track is one of the high profit areas for dealers.  Many dealers will give additional discounts for large orders.

 

Jan