Lionel T-Rail Layouts

T-rail and their switches are so hard to some by. I rather get atlas o for the realism. T- rail is good for the history but it's a lot of dedication toaquire and make a layout.

BTW- Is there a place where i can see Fritz's layout in t-rail? I only know of the Carlile and Finch layout from tm books and video.

It should be in Lionel Nation Part 3.

i put alot of effort into trying to build a layout out of it, but the cost of it and the rariety of it i eventually threw in the towel. i really wanted to build a layout out of it i do love the look of it.

I had a T-rail layout in the 1990's that was a replica or recreation of the Lionel factory showroom layout in 1938.  Wrote about it in Classic Toy Trains in November 1998.  It was a fun project, especially doing the research on the old layout.

But when I decided to go into HiRail, my intention was to use the T-Rail track for most of the layout.  Trains run on this track extremely well.  But the problem with it is that there is no flexibility to the track at all.  The curves are 72" in diameter; not 71" not 73".  So if you need to  "fudge" a curve to make it fit into a track plan, it just won't happen. 

So I ended up selling all my T-Rail track, over 400 sections plus 17 switches.  But the value of it had increased so much that I actually made a good deal of profit on the sale of it; enough to really design a complex layout inGargraves track and Ross switches, plus pay for some of my new digiital locomotive purchases that I never regretted selling off the old "collector's track" and starting over.

Paul Fischer

Wow, any pics of that layout?

I wanted to do a T Rail layout as well. When I looked at track prices, straights were running almost 15 per section. Curves were around 10. T Rail switches were at least 150 each. Add in the limitation that there is only 072 curves and only 072 switches, it leads to a limited layout. I had acquired a few sections of T Rail to test out. I liked it and it's performance. Something about that solid rail vintage track appealed to me. But cost and availability prevented me from doing it.  I ended up with Ross track and switches. My wallet is happy and the layout was easier to design since Ross has so many options.

.

I love the look of T Rail track. If I ever hit the lottery, I will do a layout with it.

In a TM Video a few years back there was a great segment on

T-Rail Track and Switches.  The layout was built by a Father &

Son who worked for a short line railroad, railroad guy's to the

core.

I am sorry that I traded this Video to a friend for a PW 1947 Lionel

Caboose.  I am hopeing someone on the Forum knows about this

Video.  Allan has a good collection of TM Video's and may have this

great T-Rail Layout in stock.  I agree with Forum members above,

great looking O Gauge Track.

Many thanks,

Billy C 

Wasn't Roadside America in PA originally built with T-Rail track?

The video was Toy Train Revue #8, and the layout was done by Chuck Roehm and his son Chuck Jr. There is one tape on the bay now. Tom McComas said that T-Rail straight sections go for more money than curve track, and the T-Rail switches command between $100 and $200 per pair.

count me as well. love the look, but the price kills any thought of it.

Mikado 4501,  Many thanks for your reply.  I knew this T-Rail

Track was expensive, but not too the point you list in your Post.

I am not surprised at the cost, the best looking track in O Gauge

I have ever seen.  The gentleman above is right on hitting

the lottery, if I did win the lottery there is no doubt I would seek out

T-Rail Track & Switches. 

Billy C

One issue I had with the few sections I managed to acquire, was deteriorating metal ties as if the metal was impure when the ties were manufactured. Remember, this metallurgy is close to 75 years old now..... I had some with ties-ends missing.

TM Books and Videos also has the Magic of Lionel Boxed set. The Chuck Roehm layout is on part 3.

Bill

Wouldn't it be intriguing if Lionel re-issued the T-rail track with R/L 072 switches,

appropriate crossover, a bumper, a lockon and just enough of what it takes

to build a layout? 

High-end of necessity, for sure, but I'm thinking that there would be enough

takers, maybe? Or maybe not - but talk about maximum classy, flash-from-the-past value.

Just a thought. 

Roadside America was initially a display of structures made by Laurence Gieringer. He set it up in 1903 in his parents' home, then in the Rainbow Fire Company and Carsonia Park near Reading, PA. Before World War II he moved to an old dance hall near Shartlesville. World War II brought a ban on gasoline and tires. A slogan asked, "Is this journey really necessary?" His wife, Dora, noticed that 14 buses a day stopped to gas up. Many passengers wanted to eat. She provided meals and charged no admission to see "the model village." After the war, when more and more visitors came, the owner of the dance hall raised the rent from $50 a month to $275 and demanded a 30% commission. Mr. Geringer drained a swamp west of Shartlesville and built a big new building for "Roadside America," as his brother, Paul, suggested. He used GarGraves track for flexibility. It opened in 1953. This is the sole survivor of the great Lionel postwar layouts.

Some of the early displays may have used some T-rail track. But, as fisch330 posted, only certain track plans would do.

Great track, though.

There are four layouts right here in Rochester NY that pre-date the Roadside America opening.

Are they the PAL layouts?

Bill

Yes, they are.  They are open to the public.