Menards 0 gage track

Menard's track is reasonably easy to assemble and take apart.  Some of the tolerances on the holes where you insert the pins are sloppy but that's easy to fix with a pair of pliers.

Menards track, called tubular, is a type of track that has been made for over 100 years by various manufactures including Lionel, Marx, American Flyer, K-Line, etc.  With care this type of track can be set up and taken down hundreds of times.  Some manufactures made clips to hold tack sections together on the floor (ie Lionel)  Lots of home brew stuff.  Precise set up helps good high speed running.

This track has lost favor in recent years due its old school toy like appearance compared to Gargraves, Ross or Atlas.  Reportedly Menards operates well, but I have not personally tried.  Menards has fewer ties per section than tradition (Mostly an aesthetic issue).

Many people who have Holiday only layouts get dedicated boxes or a trunk to hold the entire layout.  Being careful not to scratch rolling stock against track.

Bill

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I use Menards tubular track for my annual Christmas train platform.  Like Lionel tubular track, some of the track connections pins loosen up from year to year and have to be tightened with a pair of pliers.  Save your hands by wearing a pair of leather gardening gloves while handling the track.

Since a holiday layout often needs to fit a specific space, cutting pieces of track is usually a fact of life, so tubular track is a great option.

Clean used and NOS O-gauge tubular track is readily available - since it's fallen out of favor, NOS is cheap and used is almost being given away.  I recently bought a banker's box of usable "clean enough" track for $5.  If O27 works for you, there was a recent post on the forum where it was being given away for the cost of shipping. 

Some tips for cutting tubular track...  1) plan your cuts so that the area without a tie is close to another full section - the tie at the end of the full section adds stability;  2) take a tie from a junk piece of track (or from the offcut) and add it to the end of the cut piece - only adds a couple of minutes to the process;  3) loosen the ties on the modified piece and move them so that they provide even support.

One way to save time is to mount the track on a piece of plywood and store it against the wall between holiday seasons - build it once and reuse it. 

I use Menards tubular for my Christmas trains.  Great product.  Easy to set up and take down year after year.  Some pieces don’t fit snug and will pull apart during operation.  East problem to solve by using a rubber band around the end ties to hold pieces together.  Some use small zip ties for the same purpose

To all who replied- thanks so much for your responses.   My holiday layout is 5.5'x7.5'. The foundation is on 4" thick solid core Styrofoam divided into 3 equal sections.  Got idea back around 1999 in a Classic Toy Train holiday issue.  First layout iteration I used Gargraves track and Ross switches(2pr).   Problem was my tinplate repros(MTH) derailed on the switches curved sections. Then tried Lionel 031 high tech switches mated to Gargraves track.   Worked o.k. but track was difficult to keep from moving.   Pins/track nails don't hold well in Styrofoam.   I'm convinced to go with Menards 031 track.  Plus,  it should be compatible with my Lionel switches. If I'm still kicking holiday 2025 hope to have layout up and working.  Will send pics.

Regards,

Bill

@BILL HUDSON posted:

To all who replied- thanks so much for your responses.   My holiday layout is 5.5'x7.5'. The foundation is on 4" thick solid core Styrofoam divided into 3 equal sections.  Got idea back around 1999 in a Classic Toy Train holiday issue.  First layout iteration I used Gargraves track and Ross switches(2pr).   Problem was my tinplate repros(MTH) derailed on the switches curved sections. Then tried Lionel 031 high tech switches mated to Gargraves track.   Worked o.k. but track was difficult to keep from moving.   Pins/track nails don't hold well in Styrofoam.   I'm convinced to go with Menards 031 track.  Plus,  it should be compatible with my Lionel switches. If I'm still kicking holiday 2025 hope to have layout up and working.  Will send pics.

Regards,

Bill

If you want to use Fastrack (or MTH equivalent) on foam board, it can be held in place with Loctite PowerGrab adhesive.  (I'm assuming that you meant insulating foam board, as styrofoam is way too flimsy for a train layout.)

@BILL HUDSON posted:

To all who replied- thanks so much for your responses.   My holiday layout is 5.5'x7.5'. The foundation is on 4" thick solid core Styrofoam divided into 3 equal sections.  Got idea back around 1999 in a Classic Toy Train holiday issue.  First layout iteration I used Gargraves track and Ross switches(2pr).   Problem was my tinplate repros(MTH) derailed on the switches curved sections. Then tried Lionel 031 high tech switches mated to Gargraves track.   Worked o.k. but track was difficult to keep from moving.   Pins/track nails don't hold well in Styrofoam.   I'm convinced to go with Menards 031 track.  Plus,  it should be compatible with my Lionel switches. If I'm still kicking holiday 2025 hope to have layout up and working.  Will send pics.

Regards,

Bill

The Menards Track should be perfect for you Bill.   Plus it's inexpensive with lots of curve options.

John