Menards Tubular (Man) Layout

There's plenty of used and dependable postwar #022 switches out there, and they can be had for very few $. Check the forum buy/sell page. Good luck with the layout!

Menards has fast track to tubular track adapters. I have 2 of these for my future layout plans. Use both IMHO.

I have my Dads prewar American Flyer and Uncles postwar Lionel track. I have fast track too. Thoughts are: Main runs in fast track and your freight yard in tubular. You are only limited by your imagination.

Ken

Tubular track with Ross Tinplate switches work great for me:

My layout was built over the past two years with one major consideration in mind...cost.

Being on a leave of absence from airline flying, I reluctantly wasn't able to go out and buy Atlas, Ross, or any other really high end product.  It was Menards track that came to the rescue.  Now three cases of 30" straights, two cases of 10" straights, four cases of O36, two cases of O54, and one case of O42, and a half dozen 072 curves later, I'm extremely satisfied with their product.  Yes, occasionally there's a loose pin...but it's nothing a pair of dykes or track pliers won't rectify... and loose pins is something I've found when having to purchase the occasional Lionel or Bachman piece of O31 too.  

O22 & O72 switches were also accumulated because of cost.  They're virtually bulletproof, and after a sympathetic cleaning & possibly re-soldering the grounds for the non derailing function, they've been faultless.  Thorough step by step overhaul/cleaning procedures for them are found all over the interwebs.  I now have over three dozen O22's, and most were purchased in the $5-$15 range...I do have a few perfect NOS ones that were @$25.  The O72's cost more, $25-$100 a pair, but I needed a few for larger locomotives.    Many times on auction sites O22's are sold as lots of 6/8/12/20 etc.  The older ones (before it had a 6- number on it) seem to be the best built.  

Good luck!

Tom

I was also faced with the same decision a couple years ago when starting a new layout. I had some FasTrack that I use around the Christmas tree, but wasn’t really fond of the appearance or cost.

I went with Menards track and refurbished O22 switches and RCS/UCS tracks. I have been quite happy with it, and will do the same on my next layout.

I did add wooden ties and ballast.

Stangtrain and Ross,

Very impressive track work. I plan on using tubular and I was wondering where you got the ties.

Thank you

Jay

I built my 5 rail track with Menards tubular track and didn’t have any issues with it. I prefer bullet type rounded ends on the usual track pins. Menards track pins are not as rounded at the ends but was not an issue or deal breaker for me.  

I have fastrack because I stumbled along a decent sized used lot for free. I honestly am not a big fan of the look and prefer tubular from a strictly visual standpoint, but the switch reliability has been great and it's so simple to assemble. I dont even have mine screwed down and it stays out just due to the sheer size of the footprint.

Menards tubular is basicly a clone of the Lionel stuff made for decades. So Lionel O gauge turnouts or any made for use with O gauge tubular track will work from places like K Line, Ross ect.   Hopefully one day Menards will have their own but till then, I use Lionel 022 switches.  AD

Jay, I used a table saw to cut strips of leftover wood to 5/8”x1/4”, then a miter saw to cut the strips to 2 1/4” long ties. Spray painted black.

@Chris Lonero posted:

I built my 5 rail track with Menards tubular track and didn’t have any issues.  I prefer bullet type rounded ends on the usual track pins.  Menards track pins are not as rounded at the ends but was not a deal breaker for me.  

I love Menards tubular also!  I have been using it for a good 5 years or so.

My last layout had MTH Realtrax.  It seemed to work well, but I think my postwar engines didn’t like it all too much in the way of electrical conductivity.  On the new layout I’m building I’ve decided to go with old school tubular.  My older motive power seems to like it a lot better... less e-unit dropping out and more consistent speeds.  The modern stuff also runs on it just fine. It’s also more convenient when hooking up postwar accessories when it comes to lock-ons and aligning them with the track; sawmill, ice loaders, barrel loaders, livestock corrals, etc.  

Just be sure your track joints are even and smooth.  I find it’s better on the traction tires.

I have O42 and O31 curves from Menards and I’m happy with them.  They seem to be of better quality than recent Lionel tubular.

As far as switches, Lionel 022 and 042 (manual) switches will work just fine.  They’re not as “smooth” as Fastrack switches, but they’re reliable.  I haven’t tried the Ross tinplate ones but I’ve heard a lot of good things about them.

Thanks Ross

I'm planning on a new layout and I'm going to use Menards tubular track because of it traditional look and cost. Nothing against the fine track systems of Lionel, Ross, and others but I'm on a very limited budget and Menards seems to be the way to go.

I have bought several pairs of O22 switches that have been rewired and completely overhauled to Be better than new.

Dave

Tubular for me! Postwar or modern, my trains love it - an I love the old school looks!

I just made my first purchase of Menards  tubular track. I have used Lionel track for years, but the cost point and it's look sold me on trying  it. Plus the mail in rebate helped.

Good luck with your layout.

Everyone stay safe and healthy.

I didn't think Menards had mail in rebates, only in store.  Is that new?

I would like to add my vote for tubular track. I use it on my layout with extra ties and ballast. Works great.

I would go with the tubular. I have lots of Fastrack that came with sets, but I rarely use it other then for storing trains on shelfs. It is extremely loud with no way to keep the noise down of cars rolling over it, it is so loud that you can not hear the engine sounds even set up on deep pile carpet. The rails are hollow over a hard plastic base and it is like a speaker amplification chamber that makes the sound of the wheels rolling over the track much louder.  Any type of track but especially the tubular track laid over a sound deadening material will keep the track noise down. We do occasionally set up the Fastrack for quick set ups for the grand kids but the track always comes apart in multiple locations as the trains run and thus there are constant electrical connection problems. Also the price very expensive, Menards is good quality rugged and cheap. And as mentioned used switches or new of several types are easy to find and cheap.

@Train Nut posted:

I didn't think Menards had mail in rebates, only in store.  Is that new?

It's always been mail-in as far as I know.  Kind of a pain.  The rebate is a Menards store credit, not cash.

The rebates are mail in. But I recently discovered that you can take your rebates into the store and have them do a ship to store order for free, if what you want is not in stock. They will allow you to use your rebates to pay for a ship to store order in person. Of course you have to be close enough to a local Menards and don't mind making multiple trips. I did this with a recent purchase of a 6 pack of the new tank cars. Hope this helps..

Jeff

Well, I did it!  I bought enough track from Menards for a simple O54 oval on a 6x12 layout.  I really like it.  There's something  nostalgic about the look and sound that brings out the kid in me.  It's definitely not as loud as the Fastrack.  Now I need to start looking for turnouts and getting more track.  It has me excited about my layout again!  Thanks everyone for the input and suggestions.

Tubular for me as well...it lends a vintage quality.  My layout is complete but I needed more track for some shelving.  Thank you Menards.

@dmestan posted:

It's always been mail-in as far as I know.  Kind of a pain.  The rebate is a Menards store credit, not cash.

Ok.  Taking it to the next step.  I believe you have to use the credit in a physical store, not online purchases shipped to your home.  So Frank being in Massachusetts how did you pull this off?

Fendermain,

Love your display and your layout. Well done sir.

Fendermain,

Amen to the previous comment. I think you and I are on the same page.

Thank you tncentrr and Don Winslow.  Don, same page for sure....your layout and photos are top notch.  Vintage vibe is where it’s at for me.

Right now, I  am remodeling my basement for another nice "O" Gauge Layout.  At the North End of my new layout is an out of commission Cistern that has not been used in 20 years.  I would like to cut a doorway from the Cistern to the layout and this would give me a nice room to store my empty train boxes and also possibly running storage tracks into it to store ready made freight and passenger trains.  The biggest problem is to cut open a poured concrete wall to access the room.  I will talk to someone who knows how to cut the wall.

At first, I thought of using all of my Fastrack that I have been accumulating since the early 2000s.  But, I have so much tubular Lionel Track and switches, I thought I would integrate both track systems together.  Menards sells a 10 inch tubular transition track for $4.99 that mates with Fastrack.  Lionels Fastrack Transition Track sells for $10 each.  I will use the Tubular Track for sidings, hidden track and yard storage.  I will use Homosote Boards 4 feet x 8 feet on top of plywood to quiet the Fastrack Noise.  Homosote Boards sell for $29.99 each at Menards.  The prices on Plywood vary by grade.   Also Menards has a tremendously huge lumber yard and you can find and build anything you need to remodel a house or build a model railroad.  There tools, paints, even food are in there stores and you can usually get rebates on everything they sell!

Sincerely      railbear601       

Menards should distribute “super snap” track and turnouts and offer it as their high end track; fully compatible with their low end old school tubular.

Nothing beats tubular track. I used it for years and loved it.

MerCrewser,

I think RMT either is or was marketing the super snap track now.

RMT did license the Shadow Rail Super Snap Track. They still have some in supply but not near as much as before. They didn't offer quite the same selection as K-Line had either.

I wish Bachmann or Menards should take it over and offer the full line and expand it as well.

Re: tubular to Fastrack transition pieces.

Cut a piece of Fastrack in half.  The three rails are 'U' shapes wrapped over a plastic ridge.  Drill out the plastic in all three rails (IIRC its a 3/32" bit).  Now you can mate the track with tubular.

You get two Fastrack transition pieces for the price of a single straight and a bit of work.  Plus, you can adjust the length of the transition piece to fit your layout.  Custom  length Fastrack can be created by joining two of these cut pieces together with pins.

@Fendermain posted:

Thank you tncentrr and Don Winslow.  Don, same page for sure....your layout and photos are top notch.  Vintage vibe is where it’s at for me.

Fendermain, your layout looks great!  You definitely captured vintage the vibe.

@dmestan posted:

Fendermain, your layout looks great!  You definitely captured vintage the vibe.

Thank you sir.  Vibe on!!

Menards, should make rubber roadbed for their tubular track.

Tracker John,

What did you use to cut the Fastrack with? A fine toothed hacksaw or a miter saw with a Fine tooth blade in it?

@jim sutter posted:

Menards, should make rubber roadbed for their tubular track.

If they made it in gray with black ties, I’d gladly buy some.