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Flex track and Scale wheels....

StrummerStrummerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
I'd like to go with a brand of flex track, when the time comes to start building.

I know that the "scale" type of flex tracks out there (Tomalco,etc.) will be compatible with the scale wheels I'm planning on using:does anyone out there have an opinion as to the compatibility of those size wheels with Gargraves track?

It's my understanding that Gargraves is a good alternative to AF track, but will I experience trouble with the smaller flanges of the scale-size wheelsets on this type of track?

I guess what I'm asking is: Is there a brand of track available that will accommodate both the scale wheels, and the somewhat larger flanges on the drivers of the American Flyer steam engines? (I'm currently working on reducing the flanges of both the pilot and trailing trucks). I'm hoping I can run scale rolling stock with Flyer engines.....

Thanks

Mark in Oregon
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RT Rusty TraqueOGR Forum Member
Either S-helper's S-trax or American Models flextrack will handle scale wheels.

However, if you're thinking of running both scale wheeled and deep flanged stuff, the problem will be switches.

AM switches don't really like scale flanged through the divering route because of the different flangeway requirements of the wheels.

SHS redesigned their switches after the first production run, but Don Thompson indicated the redesign may accomodate scale wheels, but redesign was to make things better for Flyer/Hirail operation.

Rusty
U up148OGR Forum Member
A word of caution. I don't have a layout (yet) and picked up some 3ft sections of flex track to test run my locos. I got both SHS and Shinohara. The SHS is a taller rail than the Shinohara so I figured it would handle just about any type wheel and flange I ran up against, but when I test ran some brass engines on it I had issues.

Obviously, the SHS locos ran with no issues, but the flanges on either my OMI F units or my River Raisin Models E units (can't remember which) hit the spike heads on the SHS track. It sounded like a zipper runner the loco ran back and forth and I thought I had a loco problem at first. But, when I ran this same loco on Shinohara track there was no problem. So, I'm assuming shinohara track uses shorter spikes. I was still surprised that the SHS had this issue.

So, before I buy any quantity of track I'll make sure I test drive it 1st.

Butch
D DanDOGR Forum Member
A suggestion: Tom's Turnouts and Trackwork has website that might answer some of your needs for switches that use S Helper flextrack and will run scale and high rail reliably. This is what I am about to lay on my redisigned RR--S Helper flextrack and Tom's Turnouts. As soon as the flextrack is back in stock (trouble in China), he will be back to turning out turnouts. Dan D.
RT Rusty TraqueOGR Forum Member
quote:
Originally posted by up148:
A word of caution. I don't have a layout (yet) and picked up some 3ft sections of flex track to test run my locos. I got both SHS and Shinohara. The SHS is a taller rail than the Shinohara so I figured it would handle just about any type wheel and flange I ran up against, but when I test ran some brass engines on it I had issues.

Obviously, the SHS locos ran with no issues, but the flanges on either my OMI F units or my River Raisin Models E units (can't remember which) hit the spike heads on the SHS track. It sounded like a zipper runner the loco ran back and forth and I thought I had a loco problem at first. But, when I ran this same loco on Shinohara track there was no problem. So, I'm assuming shinohara track uses shorter spikes. I was still surprised that the SHS had this issue.

So, before I buy any quantity of track I'll make sure I test drive it 1st.

Butch


Butch, are you sure you didn't miss a wheel off or something somewhere? SHS track is a larger code than 100. (115 or so if I remember correctly, AM is 125.) Scale flanges should clear with the greatest of ease.

I've had no trouble with scale wheels on SHS track (switches excluded) and the deep flanged stuff (AM, SHS, Flyonel, old Flyer) runs OK, too. Granted it's S-trax, but I don't think it's any different from their flex.

Rusty
SgaugianSgaugianOGR Forum Member
Some hi-rail flanges rumble on certain sections of S-Trax -- the uncouplers and third-rail sections. The engines that do it the most are those of the LTI AF era such as Geeps and some rolling stock. Otherwise I'm glad I built my layout with it and S-Helper will gladly make you custom lengths if you need them.
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