Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

As mentioned in similar posts...it depends on one's goals:

Are you looking to stick to a postwar/traditional theme?  Tubular track is the choice.

Are you looking to be more sleek and modern but retain traditional aspects?  Lionel Fast-track.

More realism?  Ross, Gargraves, Atlas. 

Personally, after years of 027 profile track (with 042 radius curves and switches) on a traditional post-war style layout,  i have gone full on hi-rail with Gargraves track and Ross switches on the new layout and am very pleased.  The smooth tracking of engines and cars thru Ross switches is fantastic and the electrical continuity of both products is great as well.  Whatever your decision, use the largest radius curves you can fit regardless of the smaller rolling stock/engines you might have.  The visual improvement is well worth it. 

@Farmall-Joe posted:

As mentioned in similar posts...it depends on one's goals:

Are you looking to stick to a postwar/traditional theme?  Tubular track is the choice.

Are you looking to be more sleek and modern but retain traditional aspects?  Lionel Fast-track.

More realism?  Ross, Gargraves, Atlas.

Personally, after years of 027 profile track (with 042 radius curves and switches) on a traditional post-war style layout,  i have gone full on hi-rail with Gargraves track and Ross switches on the new layout and am very pleased.  The smooth tracking of engines and cars thru Ross switches is fantastic and the electrical continuity of both products is great as well.  Whatever your decision, use the largest radius curves you can fit regardless of the smaller rolling stock/engines you might have.  The visual improvement is well worth it.

The above is extremely good advice! 

George

After a lot of mental misery, I went with Gargraves Flex Track with wood ties, a few pre-formed curves, Ross Switches w/DZ2500 switch machines.

I believe wood ties helps reduce noise transfer from rails to table. Flex track allowed me to make custom curves/esses. Ross Switches w/DZ2500 switch machines so that I could use serial interface from Cab2/Base2 to control switches remotely.

I started expanding my childhood 027 set in like fashion using 027 tubular in 2019 and 2020. I made a quantum leap in 2021 and dumped about 1K into Fastrack. That decision to use Fastrack was based on my ability to run to my local guy and pick it off the shelf and my "get it done while she ain't looking" mentality at the time. I picked up a big new customer 5 miles from the train store and came home with something new almost every week.

That was back in my build-as-you-go days. Now that "I know what I know", I am planning a new layout to be under construction during the coming summer. I will dump the Fastrack (which worked fine) and go with the Gargraves/Ross in the interest of increased realism. At least that is my earnest desire! If you have the time and means, get the pretty stuff. You won't be sorry....IMO!

I should have specified a little more. I have a small number of postwar and other conventional engines.

I have some Lionel TMCC, some Legacy, and some MTH Proto 3.  I have the base and remote to run any of these, I love engines that can run slow around the track.  I like grades and sidings and remote unloading and loading of freight cars of various types (K-Line with remote is kind of a favorite). I also like the Brakeman cars (not the Walking Brakeman). I also like the MTH caboose that the signalman that goes if the transformer bell button is placed.

I have tried twice to get bendable Gargraves track layout working. I will tend to  stick to preformed curves if I go with Gargraves again, along with Ross Custom Switches.

I have used tubular track, Gargraves, and MTH in the past, and tried to mix them. The Gargraves "Uncouple/unload" tracks that I had did not work well for me.

In getting the new layout up, performance will trump appearance, but I like good appearance also.

I think I may have to figure out how to modify track to make my own specialized tracks.

Thanks for all suggestions.

Add Reply

Post
The Track Planning and Layout Design Forum is sponsored by

AN OGR FORUM CHARTER SPONSOR

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×