Does anyone run 3RS on tubular track?

Do you consider Gargraves and Ross "tubular track"?

According to the "experts" that defined 3RS when this whole thing got started 3RS has nothing to do with track. Just trains. Running 3R trains on "realistic" track through realistic scenery has been done for decades. That is referred to as "Hi-rail".

Personally, I disagree. I don't know why you would stop at just the trains and not include the rest of the layout, but that is what the self-appointed "experts" decided.

I say, if you like it and it makes you happy, go for it. Do a google search for "Hi-rail layout or Hirail" and you should find photos of scenically detailed layouts using tubular track. 

Hot Water.

GG's & Ross are tubular by design, yes. But I was thinking Lionel Tubular Track without saying so!

Lionel 0-72 min. radii and turnouts.

Rick.

jonnyspeed.

I have a pile of almost new Lionel 0-72 curves, straights and turnouts.....

I do have some Atlas O 0-54 but that is a push with body mounted couplers

I could sell and buy etc....but I thought I would see what has or hasn't been done.

Rick.

I am no expert on 3RS by any stretch  but my 2 cents is that you can easily change rolling stock, motive power and structures as you develop your layout.  Changing track is a much hard thing to do.  

I really think you should decide what look you want upfront and make that investment and install it so you have a solid base to work from.

Again just my 2 cents.

Best suggestion I have seen in a LONG TIME! 

Yes, I know what the "3RS sticky" says, but do you REALLY wan't to go to all that effort to up-grade everything to fixed pilots and body mounted Kadee couplers, and then operate on a tinplate layout without scenery?

Just my opinion, but that sure doesn't sound logical to me.

I was thinking Lionel Tubular Track

I have a pile of almost new Lionel 0-72 curves, straights and turnouts.....

Rick

Lionel O-72 switches perform poorly with three rail wheels.  If you are even considering running RP-25 wheels on 3 rail track you need to use a T Rail profile track system.  Old Lionel tubular track won't cut it, even before you consider the appearance.

There are 3 track systems that lend themselves to building scale model railroads with 3 rails.  They are Atlas, MTH ScaleTrax and Ross/Gargraves.  All have a good appearance, T shaped rail profile and offer numbered switches.  The availability of numbered switches is a very important issue.  They not only allow closer track spacing for yards, sidings or double track main lines, they reduce or eliminate the reverse curve problem that comes when using tinplate switches.  Reverse curves cause havoc with body mounted couplers.

If you want to run 3RS trains you have to design a layout for 3RS equipment.  That means going with a track system with numbered switches.  I would suggest selling the Lionel tubular track and putting the funds into one of the three 3RS friendly track systems.

I agree with Hot Water. Why would you want to run scale appearing trains on shiny silver track without scenery, ballast etc. kind of a huge waste in my opinion but whatever

I may be the lone disenting opinion, but I disagree.

While I haven't done any kadee conversions, it still is all about the trains, and running the most prototypical ones that I can afford or find.

While I appreciate the highly detailed layouts, it isn't for me as I just don't have the hundreds (or more likely, thousands) of hours it takes to get a layout to this point. 

Maybe post retirement, I'll have a highly detailed layout, but for now it's about getting track down and enjoying my trains.

Jim

MAYBE BECAUSE SOME OF US LIKE ME CANT AFFORD SCENERY BALLAST AND LIVES IN A SMALL APPARTMENTS!!..I'm RUNNING LIONEL 072 tubular track..11x18 carpet layouts!!!..ITS BETTER THEN NOTHING AND BETTER THEN LEAVING THE TRAIN AS A SHELVE QUEEN!!..I HAVE 2 3rd RAILS SCALE PRR STEAMERS..S1 Duplex and S2 turbine..

Rick,

I used to run MTH scale wheeled steam and cars with NWSL 172 profile wheels over Ross Custom #6 swithces and track.  I was actually surprised at how well it worked, the only thing was the rolling stock tended to dip down as they went through the flangway on the frog.  I also tried NWSL 145 and even the 115 profile wheels, but those would tend to either pick the points or if they made it to the frog, would pick the flangeway and derail.

Now if you are going to yell at everyone, i.e. use of all capital letters, then not many folks will be willing to help, or even respond to, you.

well it doesnt help when somebody said its a waste running them on tubular track..Your adding fuel to my fire...i'd been in a very very depressed mood lately..wondering if id made a mistake going into O scale..thinking id shouldve keeped My HO BLI PRR Q2..running big trains you need very big room to run them or it doesnt look wright....like id went over my friend place to look at his layout..looks good ,but to me need a larger layout in order to look wright..im sorry if id got upset...but you got to under stand my situation..id took my track down and put both trains on top of my tv intertainment center for now...This is telling you how serious this is on me.

Just a thought, you may need an entirely new and different hobby.

maybe?.taking a break from it...R/C.boat racing season is here..but maybe when I get the EOB with rail sounds put in my S1 ,I might feel better..been watching alot of youtube lately on o scale and alittle disapointed ..in the sound systems..I got a youtube video of my Q2 and just breaks my heart seeing it....wife been pleading with me to at least keep both PRR steamers,like the S1 that number 37 out of 75 made..And said she'll help me get BLI PRR port holes T1 duplex..maybe because I think you have more sounds in DCC in Ho then you do in O scale..??Even been trying to find a sound system that has the same whistle for O gage.. wanted to Get a O gage Q2,then put that same sound system in it,then I would proubley feel alot better....heres the video..you can here me and the wife  you need alot of room to run scale ogage trains..

I've run 2 rail O rolling stock on Lionel tubular track when operating with a local Tin Plate Trackers modular group.  Runs fine as long as you don't have turnouts!  3R wheel flanges and cars with scale couplers operate fine on traditional tubular track.  My only challenge has been the few close couplered passenger cars that really like O-80 curves a bit better.