I saw pictures of a standard gauge layout where the ties were set back from the ends of the rails. This made for equal spacing of the ties throughout the whole layout instead of being grouped at the ends of the track. I went to the USA track website and I don't see this as an option. The pictures were shown to me by a fellow at York and I should have asked then but I assumed it was readily available since the track looked new. Any ideas where this came from ?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
SORRY, but tie spacing is really a moot point when dealing with tinplate tubular track, which is basically toy train track, and is not meant to be scale in any way. If you desire a more realistic looking SG track, you should consider Gargraves.
Do you mean something like this? (Outer Loop - far left)
If so, that is MTH Standard Gauge tubular track with extra ties from the factory. I only used it at the front of the layout and the curves (it may be standard on the curves). The back of the layout has the regular tie spacing.
NWL
The track that I saw had the ties set back from the end of the rails about an inch so the spacing between every tie was about two inches. The track that you show has the ties at the end of the rails so every track joint has two ties almost touching. This is a tinplate layout so I don't think that Gargraves would look right. Thanks for the suggestions though, I am thinking this might have been a custom run by USA
I believe Bob Nelson does this on his SGMA modules. The track is USA track and if they did it for Bob they can do it for you.
What I think the OP is saying is that there is not that double tie look where 2 tracks join together.
USA track also makes a super tie track where there a lot of extra ties.
Thanks Jim, that’s what I was looking for.
Jim C. is right (as always). We (USA Track LLC) made the track with the ties offset from the ends, which eliminates the "double tie" appearance where track sections are joined. Bob Nelson has this track on his SGMA modules, and suggested it as a standard for the group, but the idea did not catch on.
Personally, I prefer the appearance of our "Super Standard" track. On these sections an additional tie is placed between each of the ties of a standard section, essentially doubling the number of ties, and creating an interesting "tinplate realism".
Kirk Lindvig, USA Track LLC
Looks good!
SGMA1 posted:Jim C. is right (as always). We (USA Track LLC) made the track with the ties offset from the ends, which eliminates the "double tie" appearance where track sections are joined. Bob Nelson has this track on his SGMA modules, and suggested it as a standard for the group, but the idea did not catch on.
Personally, I prefer the appearance of our "Super Standard" track. On these sections an additional tie is placed between each of the ties of a standard section, essentially doubling the number of ties, and creating an interesting "tinplate realism".
Kirk Lindvig, USA Track LLC
Kirk,
As you know, I built my modules years ago before your "Super Standard" track was available. Had it been available, I likely would have used it.
My memory is fading but as I recall in the beginning when I and the other SGMA members were building the club's initial modules, I didn't like the "double tie" look either and when I ordered track from you I asked you for USA track with "extra ties" that were offset on the ends to eliminate the "double tie" appearance. You agreed to make it and that's the track that I installed on my modules.
At that time, Standard Gauge Ross turnouts had not been developed and the SGMA Standard was to install "new" MTH Standard Gauge switches on the two inside mainlines but leave the outside mainline switchless. This latter rule was to ensure that there was at least one mainline that wouldn't cause SGMA member's trains to derail. However, even on the inside mainlines MTH switches proved to be problematic for some members trains and there was strong desire among members to be able to install switches on all three mainlines that weren't problematic. Hence, your desire (and other SGMA member's), for Ross to develop a new SG turnout that wouldn't cause derailments on any mainline. In fact, the new SG Ross turnouts worked so well that SGMA member's approved a change to the club's Standards to allow their installation in SGMA's outside mainline. However, their tie spacing was quite different from the tie spacing on your USA track. No doubt this difference was part of the reason you to develop your Super Standard track, which looks GREAT when used with Ross switches.
Bob Nelson
There is still a preference among some of us for the more basic tinplate look with fewer ties than the USA Super Track. I personally like the toy-like look of the regular SG tinplate track. It is a "whatever floats you boat" issue so to speak, so it is ALL GOOD! ☺
NO doubt the USA Track is a good looking and quality product, whatever tie spacing is selected! ☺
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
