I have several bags of Moondog rubber ties that are new old stock (Moondog went out of business in early 2000's).  As I understand it, these are a little thicker than the Lionel metal ties so they help deaden the noise and vibration some.  As you can imagine, these are difficult to find after all these years.

If you have an interest it purchasing these, please contact me using the email listed in my profile.

Good luck in your search,

Don

On EBAY search rubber track ties by 3r plastics. A bag of 25 is $5.00.

20 years ago at a train show I saw a bag of homemade brown wooden ties that work nicely with O Gauge tubular track. I paid very little, if anything, for them. They might have been a throw in that I got for free because I bought a locomotive or train car.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

On EBAY search rubber track ties by 3r plastics. A bag of 25 is $5.00.

Brown railroad ties for Lionel O27 track by Three R Plastics

$14 + $11.10 shipping. Listed as "New" then when you read further it says that 85 are actually "used".

There are no other listings.  3-R does not make O Gauge ties anymore and barely produces 027 except occasionally.

John

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

20 years ago at a train show I saw a bag of homemade brown wooden ties that work nicely with O Gauge tubular track. I paid very little, if anything, for them. They might have been a throw in that I got for free because I bought a locomotive or train car.

How thick were they Arnold?

When I measure the space under my O Gauge tubular track, it is actually 5/16.  Maybe I should measure what they call 3/8 thick molding.  Maybe that is closer in actual measurement to what fits.

John

Do you have access to a table saw and a chop saw ?  If you do, I think you could probably make your own in less time than it would take to track down the proper size and color.  

Here are the Moondog rubber ties that Don mentioned. As discussed, they are slightly thicker than the depth of the "0" scale metal ties allowing a little cushion and providing a sound deadening effect.

The actual tie with the flip up at edge is 3/4” wide. I used balsa or bass wood 1/4 x 3/4 x 36” long then cut down to the length of the actual black tie. The 1/4” thick tie slides nicely under the already fastened track. Painted mine black. Looked great with ballast. Very inexpensive.

John, on my present layout I use the 3 R ties. On my current plans for an expansion, I’m going with Gargraves track, and Ross switches.

Here’s a photo with the 3 R ties:

@Craftech posted:

Have looked through as many past threads on this subject as I could find.

Seems easy for 027 Track - I have already done it.

But for O Gauge tubular - not easy to find something affordable and suitable.

1.  3R Plastics ties - only available in 027 and also rubber or plastic - I would prefer wood

2.  1/4 x 3/4 in. x 96 in. Solid Pine Screen Molding (which can be cut narrower on a table saw) is NOT 1/4".  That and lattice molding are actually 3/16 which is not thick enough.

3.  Kappler Scale Lumber makes O Gauge ties, but those are even thinner

4.  Northeast Scale Lumber sells bags of ties WITH NO THICKNESS specified.  I wrote to them and asked, but they never responded.

5.  Midwest Lumber 1/4 x 1/2 x 24 Basswood Strips # 4069.  This LOOKS like it is 1/4" in the photos, but is out of stock everywhere and those who claim to have it don't respond to email inquiries.

Any suggestions?

John

    

Howdy Craftech, try Mt. Albert Scale Lumber. The 12x12x16" or 24" long lumber is square .250". Here's the link to the website. Note: 12"x12" at O scale is .250"x.250".

https://www.handlaidtrack.com/stb-o-12x12-16

These guys have all kinds of scale lumber. I hope it's what you're looking for.

Scott

Kappler Mill and Lumber Co. 

@Artie-DL&W posted:

John, on my present layout I use the 3 R ties. On my current plans for an expansion, I’m going with Gargraves track, and Ross switches.

Here’s a photo with the 3 R ties:

Those are nice Artie, but isn't that 027 track?

John

@Keith k posted:

Do you have access to a table saw and a chop saw ?  If you do, I think you could probably make your own in less time than it would take to track down the proper size and color.  

Good point Keith.  It may come to that in terms of thickness issues.  As I said, 027 is easy, O gauge not so much.

John

I used 3/16" x 5/16" basswood strip, which just fits under my Lionel O gauge track.

Thanks Joe.  I don't plan on using ballast.  3/16 attached to the bottom of the track filled in with ballast would make up the 1/8" difference.  This is actually Menards track.

John

Yep, it’s 0-27. I didn’t realize you had 0 gauge. Sorry.

West Side Joe, until I saw the middle rail, I thought that was an actual headend photo. That’s very realistic!

I haven't tried it,  but I have always been intrigued by the suggestion to cut foam weather stripping like you would use around a door, and but it under the ties for noise deadening.   It might look good between the metal ties as well,  but I don't know if sparking would present a fire problem.

@jhz563 posted:

I haven't tried it,  but I have always been intrigued by the suggestion to cut foam weather stripping like you would use around a door, and but it under the ties for noise deadening.   It might look good between the metal ties as well,  but I don't know if sparking would present a fire problem.

Do you mean Foam? or rubber?

John

@Craftech posted:

Do you mean Foam? or rubber?

John

I have heard of foam.   The idea being you sticky side of the foam to the layout base and it raises the track slightly.  Then you don't need to nail or screw down the track since the foam weather stripping keeps it from sliding around.

I saw this suggested in tinplate times or somewhere similar but have not yet tried it myself.

@West Side Joe posted:

I used 3/16" x 5/16" basswood strip, which just fits under my Lionel O gauge track.

Wow - beautiful work Joe!

These track ties were a match to Atlas track (ties).  Worked well to build a turntable deck.   Kapplar lumber

@Mike CT posted:

These track ties were a match to Atlas track (ties).  Worked well to build a turntable deck.   Kapplar lumber

I'll take another look.  The thickness they specified seemed very thin.  Those look great.

Thanks,

John

@jhz563 posted:

I have heard of foam.   The idea being you sticky side of the foam to the layout base and it raises the track slightly.  Then you don't need to nail or screw down the track since the foam weather stripping keeps it from sliding around.

I saw this suggested in tinplate times or somewhere similar but have not yet tried it myself.

Not sure how it can raise the base when foam is so soft and compressible.  Unless you are referring to a different type of foam, maybe closed cell foam?

@Craftech posted:

I'll take another look.  The thickness they specified seemed very thin.  Those look great.

Thanks,

John

Kappler makes 2 different thickness of ties; there's a low profile and full profile.

Popsicle sticks.  You can buy them by the bag at Walmart.  Cut to size, dye them with RIT.  They look good, and they're cheap.

@Logan Matthews posted:

Popsicle sticks.  You can buy them by the bag at Walmart.  Cut to size, dye them with RIT.  They look good, and they're cheap.

RIT?

@jhz563 posted:

RIT?

RIT is a dye manufacture company for fabrics and assorted other products.

Rit is a fabric dye.

RIT is a fabric dye...but it works fine on wood.  Get it in most all stores that have a fabric department.  CHEAP.

I use the 1/4" x 1/2" Basswood Strips,  Bought at a local craft store. Been a while since I looked for 'em, so don't know if they are out of stock.   I had bought a bunch of the Screen Molding and cut a lot of ties, but decided they didn't look right.  They match the width of the metal Tie at the bottom, but too wide to match the top, which is what you see above the ballast.  So, I went with the 1/4" x 1/2"  Cut scrap pieces to fill in the open end of the metal tie.

My first try to see how it looked.

I cut the un-couple magnets out of O-27 Track, and splice them into my O Track

So, That's how I did it.

Steve

Those look nice Steve.   Midwest Products are out of stock right now so some of the vendors are breaking up the 12 packs and selling them apiece for an inflated price.

John

@Craftech posted:

Those look nice Steve.   Midwest Products are out of stock right now so some of the vendors are breaking up the 12 packs and selling them apiece for an inflated price.

John

Thanks,

The Local Craft Store carries Midwest Products,  I never saw "12 Packs"  The store has a set of shelves, with dividers with the different size wood products, but individual pieces.  So, would go and grab an assortment of pieces, depending on what project I was working on,  like cutting Track Ties, or need wood for scratchbuilding.  I have several cardboard tubes under my bench work with an assortment of basswood and some balsa.  Also, the flat 3" wide sheets.  So, when I get an idea for a project, I got some inventory to look through.

Steve

@Steve24944 posted:

Thanks,

The Local Craft Store carries Midwest Products,  I never saw "12 Packs"  The store has a set of shelves, with dividers with the different size wood products, but individual pieces.  So, would go and grab an assortment of pieces, depending on what project I was working on,  like cutting Track Ties, or need wood for scratchbuilding.  I have several cardboard tubes under my bench work with an assortment of basswood and some balsa.  Also, the flat 3" wide sheets.  So, when I get an idea for a project, I got some inventory to look through.

Steve

Thanks Steve.

I'll go check that out at my LHS.

John

The ones mentioned in DGjones Post above from Moondog Streets are perfect for what you want! I used them on my last Layout under the Lionel 3Rail Track.  If you can get them at a good price, go for it ! Just make sure he has enough to finish your Layout as the Co. is no longer in Business & you can’t get additional!

FREDSTRAINS

@Fredstrains posted:

The ones mentioned in DGjones Post above from Moondog Streets are perfect for what you want! I used them on my last Layout under the Lionel 3Rail Track.  If you can get them at a good price, go for it ! Just make sure he has enough to finish your Layout as the Co. is no longer in Business & you can’t get additional!

FREDSTRAINS

Thanks Fred,

I just bought a bunch of them from Don.

Regards,

John

Take apart older Kline super snap track to use the plastic ties. They fit right under the tubular rails and have woodgrain details. Both curve and straight ties are in the super snap tracks.

I use grey roll roofing material for my ballast and if you turn it over it's black. Cut your ties any size you need (cut from the back, score the roofing then snap it off)

One thickness is good for O27 and put two together for O Gauge. Depending on the thickness of the roofing you can just put the ties in place and screw down your track to hold the ties in place, If the roofing is a little thin put a dab of caulking adhesive on the ties.

If you can find a roll of damaged roofing , you can usually get it for a discount.