How do you like Super Snap track?

James - I haven't used Super Snap Track, but the trackage on my layout is K-line Shadow Rail, to which Super Snap Track can trace it's lineage!

It does run quiet. I looked at a lot of manufacture's track when I constructed my layout,  and I  liked the look, price, and the fact that it was tubular, which made it easy to work with my O & O-27 acessories, and could easily be custom cut.

I love the Supersnap track. This is my set up a couple of weeks back at a local train show. On the Green carpet running Thomas the Tank engine theme trains, on the left side loops of diameter; 120 x 2, 96, 80, (72 / 54 with pins not snap but same thing)  Use this track all the time for all my show setups for the kids displays. It is really quiet on the carpet very low noise even when running long trains fast. It goes together well when handled carefully, stays tight together no voltage drop or electrical problems to date after lots of use and really looks good but you do have to ballast it.

RMT has a bunch of the track listed as on sale now, good time to buy check out there website;

http://www.readymadetoys.com/susntruma520.html

Fastrak is on the cement floor in the front, the 4 Nascar loops very loud on the floor but even on the carpet it is very loud. At Christmas the Polar Express running slowly around the Christmas tree on Fastrack on carpet; Grandma said what is that noise is it raining?? No Grandma it's "Training"; the train is running!

At this display had the trains on Nascar track crawling to keep the noise down.

Also after the show the Fastrack had considerable dirt buildup on the rails that took a lot of work to scrub off. Supersnap hardly and dirt build up and easy to clean off.

The tabs after lots of use come loose on the Fastrack and does not always stay tight together, at shows I use it at occasionally have to go and push sections back together that come loose. The metal connecting pins between track sections some seem loose and had to add a few extra power leads to the large loop of track to keep train running.

I normally have the Supersnap loops run the full length of the carpet (only part way as show in this particular display)  and only have 2 power leads to each of the 120/96/80/72 loops with no electrical drop problems the whole weekend that I run none stop for 2 days at most shows.

The Fastrack seems the joints are not always perfectly aligned as the rails do not line up straight get grub/dirt build up at these locations and trains bump going over some joints. Supersnap no problem. If a locking tab gets damaged can insert a track pin and keep it tight and working OK.

If you are building a permanent layout you might not have the problems I have with lots of setup take down;  if track is together and screwed down and does not move but I use it only for short term setups, occasional home carpet railway and perfer to avoid the Fastrack where I can and stick to the Supersnap for most, have one loop of Atlas, some 2 rail and o-27 that work well.

My home layout main layout has mostly Gargraves, some Atlas. Ceiling loops mostly Supersnap. One small loop of Fastrack on Carpet.

0-72 Supersnap switches work well.  

I used super snap and other K-line tubular and think it is the best tubular made. RMT has it and I would recommend buying the pins and using them also for better joints. In addition Just trains has some old stock large diameter curves in larger diameters at good prices. Outer 4 rails are O 120,inner most is O 96. Trolley line is O 31.  Here are some pics of it screwed down to Quietbrace. Mates well with Ross tinplate switches.

Dale H

Wow , great info guys.....I hope the price on the switches is reasonable, that might be a deal breaker if they are as expensive as Fastrack. Will have to wait and see....looks like a neat product. Thanks James

Dale,

How do you like the Ross tinplate switches? I've got about 30 SuperSnap switches in 072 and 031 curves and am pretty happy with them. One seemed to have a defective motor and on another the anti-derailing doesn't work on the curve entrance. They seem smoother than the Lionel tubular switches but still having some shorting problems. Thought I might gradually, within financial constraints, substitute some Ross switches but haven't been able to get much feedback from those who use them.

Ed

If you get the right track connecting pins can use Ross or Gargraves switches they wil mate up.

If you line it up right, and level and screw down track you can with jumpers and a bit of work match up to most any switch on the market. Have a mix on my layout with the Supersnap and Gargraves, Ross, Scaletrax and Atlas track/switches mated up to the various track sections.

Ed

I have these hooked up and they work electrically with the DZ 1000 switch machines. They throw reliably using a relay but I have not run a lot of cars over them yet.. My layout is automated, a display type so I needed reliable switches where cars do not derail. On this loop 2 trains (a total of 4 trains on the loop) in each direction will alternate on a passing siding without operator attention. My automation electronics works well but it is only as good as the quality of the switches.   Before this purchase I hesitated to have turnouts on automated routes, ( I had bad experiences with Gargraves turnouts), however Steve at York assured me of their quality and they look well made. Hopefully I will get the quality and reliability I paid for as these are a bit pricey but not really a lot more than other brands plus they are USA made. I am almost finished wiring the layout (I have 4 other automated routes running 12 other trains, 3 per loop and a trolley route with soft stop and start utilizing  100 + relays) and will give them a good test and report back. In initial observation and testing I see no problems at all with the switches.

Dale H

With Snap switches it seems both outside rails are isolated.  Seems as if that would help with signaling and trackside item wiring.

Thanks Dale. I guess I could use the regular Ross switches and shim them up a little. There would certainly be more options as far as switches go but the footprint would be different. My friend is going to bring up one of his regular Ross switches next week and we're going to do a little experimenting. Your automated layout sounds awesome!

Ed

I bought some Snap Track from RMT a few months ago and really like it. Its a great mix between realism and traditional tubular. It is also super quiet compared to my regular tubular.  I have no experience with the switches but if they are as good as the track I know I'll be one happy camper.

Also, I use the shorter 5 1/2" track as my "connector" track between the SuperSnap and the regualr tubular.  Its more cost effective to use the 5 1/2 vice by "connector" track.