Track usage for O gauge Christmas layout

Your Scaletrax should work fine, but the looks will be different than with the Realtrax you have.  I would probably go with Fastrack as it would have the built in ballast and the capability of putting together easily with good connectivity.  If you go with Fastrack, just pick it up as one circle and hang on a nail in the basement for next Christmas.  Realize, too, Fastrack can rust, so maybe a thin coat of oil on the track would help till you remove the oil before next Christmas.  Enjoy!!

I have a supply of scaletrax at home that I haven't tried yet.

Frank,

 

I use scaletrax on my permanent layout.  It's ok on a hard surface and better if secured.  If this is a Christmas layout going on the carpet... YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE SCALETRAX.

 

Your Realtrax would work better on the floor.  But the best product for the floor is Lionel FasTrack.  The kids have walked and stepped on it and it stays connected and in shape.  It is also easy to tear down and put away or reconfigure from year to year.

 

Hope that helps you decide.

Ron

 

It's not that bad. I have been working with a lot of it restoring a large layout. I believe I discovered  the connection method.

 

Hold two pieces, one in each hand at about a 70° angle to one another with the rail ends touching. Then fold down the opposite ends simultaneously and it connects nicely. The last couple of pieces will be b*&^%. Just get the best angle that you can.

 

Trying to connect them laterally just doesn't get it.  120ft. down and another hundred to go.

 

FasTrack is my favorite. I was stuck with what was there.

For a layout on a platform, I love tubular, but for a carpet, Fastrack is the best.

I had a carpet layout at one point for about a year where fastrack was right next to realtrax (the old solid rail stuff). Well, the realtrax kept opening up in several places, so it was retired when I got the new layout (the fastrack was used for Christmas every year). Well, last Christmas I went to use the realtrax for a layout on the floor at school, and it stayed together so poorly that I ended up having to tape it together with super strong tape underneath, and then I just had to throw it out after Christmas. It was shot.

My Christmas tree layout is in a 3/4" plywood board. I used 34" and 42" O-27 profile tubular track, so it would look good with the prewar trains I am running.

Yup, I agree with the others, Fastrack is best on the carpet.  We sometimes open the set and swap out one type of track for the other if the customer requests it.

 

One thing about the Realtrax, its good on hardwood floors especially when used with the track pads 40-1046.

 

Has anyone tried inserting Lionel traditional tubular track pins in the Realtrax Rails?

I had similar problems and fixed it by using track pins to keep track aligned. I like fastrack better but have so much Realtrax from starter sets that I had to do something with it.

 

Bob

I've used realtrax before and it was fine.   No problems.   Used to have a huge carpet layout.
Recently purchased 2 rtr o-gauge tinplate sets that came with the hollow rail track.

I have no issue putting it together or taking it apart, but several sections don't lay flat,  and I'm having derailing issues where the tracks are not exactly lining up.

Also,  a decent amount of the older solid rail stuff has an issue where the end tabs easily break off.   Not sure if it's because of its age or that it has been put together and taken apart too many times. I'm not an animal and forcing it too hard.

I just purchased 2 loops of fasttrack from a fellow forumite,  so I'll see how that goes.   I really just want to use it for a Christmas layout.   The layout will be on a board,  not a carpet.

Frank,

    You now see why I only have an inner oval of old solid RealTrax with no switches, maybe some day I will transition into some FT CC switches but not this Christmas.  In reality most all my RealTrax is now in storage, I should probably sell it.  I am big into FasTrack and just bought a new Rockwell X2 saw to make custom pieces for my Fastrack layouts.  I use very little RealTrax any more.

PCRR/Dave 

When I switched from a 1980s lionel set on a small tubular 027 figure 8, to an MTH set on Realtrax in 2008, I also got hooked on ebay, the track layout software and trains. I over bought realtrax, so now I am not going to switch it out. Over the years, I tried their switches. They are now in storage until I get a permanent layout where I can tune em and lock em down. They are NOT carpetworthy.

 

That said, even the hollow runs fine once you have it set up. I do use their under the track clips.

 

My advice would be to set up the real trax this year. bend or file the problem transitions and buy when you have a better idea on your plans going forward. I think you are right not buying more realtrax. I am probably one of the few people that thinks it looks better then fast track, and I don't like the idea that fasttrack rusts, but I can't recommend realtrax, if you want turnouts.

 

I haven't had a track related derailment since Thanksgiving weekend. Running whenever home. All realtrax. Mostly solid, but my o545 and 072 curve are mostly hollow. The dog and I regularly step on the track.

 

Also, I don't think you can pin realtrax, because of the way you have to assemble/ disassemble it.

 

 

Frank. I noticed we live about 10 minutes apart. I just sent you an email

Marty,  thanks for the offer, but I just received the fasttrack I purchased from a fellow forumite on saturday.

 

I used to live in Old Bridge (with a Matawan mailing address) about 8 years ago.  I would walk my dog everywhere (including the train station.)  I also dropped my kid's college fund at the Hobby Shop.  I was only into O-scale (non-tinplate) back then.  I had accumulated a little over 50 engines.  I have since whittled that down to 3.  I also got into tinplate (Standard Gauge mostly).  The Hobby Shop used to carry quite a bit of it, but it seems clear they are getting away from it (unfortunately, smart business decision IMHO ).

 

Here is a picture of my carpet layout at the house I lived at in Old Bridge.

 

Frank. Nice layout. The Hobby Shop is where I bought my first MTH RTR set. With 2 in college and one in HS, we have much in common! Merry Christmas, I hope this years layout is enjoyed.