As some of you may have gathered by now from my other recent postings I am considering building a small - 12X16 foot or so - modular layout in 3-rail O gauge to take to train shows. Initially, I was thinking of going with Lionel Fastrack because it's readily available and because it comes in most Lionel packaged kits. I still may go this route. The feedback on Fastrack switches is very positive.
But I'm also casting my track search eyeball further afield for a "better" looking track. I fully realize that "better" is in the eye of the beholder. IMHO MTH Scaletrax looks quite nice. It doesn't have as many options as some other systems but that's OK for my purposes. The other club I'm actively involved with is an HO scale club modelling Europe. We use Märklin "C" track - 3-rail AC also - that is just about bullet proof so I am used to and really only want a fairly bullet proof system. I can hear y'all saying, "Gargraves Track with Ross switches and be done with it." But let's assume, at least for now, that I want to go with Scaletrax.
When I do I-net searches on "reliability of MTH Scaletrax switches", I get lots of hits but the data is almost always 5 to 10 years old and almost always negative. One would hope that MTH has upped their game since then.
On another issue, does the thin center blade of Scaletrax wear a groove in the current pickup rollers?
So, does anyone have experience with MTH Scaletrax switches or track purchased in the last 3 years or so? Good, bad, a crap shoot, what?
As always your advice is appreciated and solicited,
Dan
