whatis the best track to use

Depends on what you want for your layout.  If you want:

-realistic looking track, at least for 3 rail, get MTH Scaletrack or Atlas O.  Availability of both is an issue, and some do not like their switches (newer Atlas ones seem better).

-sectional track with built in ballast get Lionel FastTrack. Easiest to hook up for command operation with TMCC. Curves are spaced at 6 inches center to center, good for smaller layouts using O-54 or tighter curves.

-reliable track get Ross Custom Switches (RCS or Ross) track/ switches and Gargraves flex track. Many will argue other systems are just as reliable, but RSC seems to have the fewest complaints.  RCS also has the largest selection of sectional track and switches.

-combo of reliability and realism get Atlas O track and RCS switches. Atlas and RCS mate well, better than Atlas and Gargraves.  Atlas/RCS combo is used by many on forum.

Of course this is just my assessment based on reading many posts over the years. Other will have very different views.

I mostly used RCS and Gargraves on my last layout and was very happy with that and am doing the same on my in-progress layout.  I will also use Atlas sectional curves for my double track mainline because I get nice smoothe curves with 4 1/2 inch center to center spacing.  RCS curves are spaced at only 4 inches.

Talk about pouring gasoline on a fire. This is one of the most opinionated subjects on the forum. Basically whatever floats your boat. On my layout I have stainless Gargraves with Ross switches. For "carpet central" layouts I use FasTrack. The club modular layout uses Atlas Track with Ross switches. Anyone that sold junk is out of business. And FWIW Lionel tinplate has never gone out of style. We use it on the club's 6x11 three module layout.

I have bought a few pieces of all the track.  Ross seems the hardest to get together and for some reason I can't get the switches to work. Wiring is just not one of my better talents.  It always confuses me. The fasttrack and switches are the easiest but they lack some of the realism.  I would probably consider Ross if I could figure out how to wire the switches.  The wooden ties look real nice.

For track gargreaves is pretty good.Their switchs can be tricky thou.I have some atlas o track.Although I don,t have any I would love to have some ross switchs.

First I had MTH Real Trax; IMO nice for carpet layouts. But for a serious layout my recommendation  is Atlas O, the most versatile and complete track system of all. I've seen many posts of how can I add this or that to many track systems except Atlas. From what I have seen, only Ross has done anything that Atlas hasn't, with their 3 way yard turnout.

Doug (laidoffsick) and I have used Gargraves track and RCS w TSWM on our entire layout. No trouble matching them up, and no electrical problems .

See laidoff's youtube videos of the Ohio & Southwestern RR 

Fuel for the fire.

You want simple? Make sure you choose turnouts with the switch motor integrated into the turnouts.

With that your looking at 3 wires per turnout and a fourth for dedicated power if you want to have quick firing points when\if you run a conventional engine. That fourth can be a bus wire.

( in command you already have a constant voltage at the track and can just use that if  wanted)

There's the sound factor too. "roadbed"track sounds have a "higher pitched white noise" IMO. Tubular seems lower. GG\Ross sound like smooth roller bearings. Atlas? Too new, but the old(very) was similar to GG\Ross.

K line track with plastic ties was the quietest. (Either Bachmann RMT or Atlas owns that now I think. Could be that's the Atlas sectional track?

Gasoline?  

Vintage Lionel Super O! I thought the K-line was new Super O done in black ties &with a tubular center rail vs copper when I first saw it

Like anything else in model RRs, it's really about personal preference. If you want to just go for a cheap loop till you make a decision Menards  has tubular that's worth a peek. Nice to have an extra loop for that you can use while building, and for the holidays too

If you get a definitive answer, let me know.

Thanks for all the help. I will look into Atlas O and their switches.  Ultamately for me I guess I will get what works the best that I can figure out how to wire.  May some of the new I pad apps will help. Thanks again for the time that it took for your imput.

Thanks for responding with your choice I see so many ask a question get bunch of answers then nothing. Just for what it's worth I use gar-graves with Ross switches also. The only thing you need to remember using these is that the legs as I call them also need a power drop to them as the middle rail doesn't have continue power through the switch. other wise they basically wire up the same as any switch except your doing the wiring your self to the controller not having a prewired controller.

After doing many layouts I am back to Gargraves track with Ross switches. Some of my MTH engines don't work with Gargraves switches, so I use Ross switches.

If it is not Gargraves track I use tubular track, the old reliable that never fails!! Also tubular track is much easier to cut and fit then any type of built-in roadbed track.

Atlas has some nice track but is very limited in supply.

I have tried Lionel's Fastrack and can say it looks good but is a night-mare to use, and super expensive. Good for display only!

MTH plastic roadbed track is another to stay away from, too many problems with the switches.

Lee Fritz

The Atlas track drought is over, as is the MTH Scale Trax switch shortage. I'm building a new layout with Atlas. I started buying track back in January and it was hard to come by. Now I can get anything I want in less than a week from my LHS.

flossman posted:

Thanks for all the help. I will look into Atlas O and their switches.  Ultamately for me I guess I will get what works the best that I can figure out how to wire.  May some of the new I pad apps will help. Thanks again for the time that it took for your imput.

IMO, you have just described the best way to pick a track system. Get what you like, what works best for you and something you are comfortable with. The track systems available today all have their own unique pros and cons, none are perfect, but they are all good systems and have all been around for a while. Take your time, look at them all and select the one that you like the best. There are many very knowledgeable folks here on the OGR forum that can help you with the wiring, any quirks with the track system and making everything work. If you have a local train store start supporting them and get acquainted. They can also help you with many things and it's nice to have a place you can physically go to for help when starting out.

I started out really liking Fastrack a few years ago and was just about ready to go with it when someone pointed out the noise level associated with it. I checked into it and ended up researching all the track systems I could find. I ended up with Atlas O (solid nickel-silver rails and very quiet) which I now really like a lot better than Fastrack. Since then I have read many ways of quieting the Fastrack (carpet, foam padding etc.) here on the forum and I still like it. I may try a small or temporary layout using Fastrack someday, just for the heck of it, but I'm sold on Atlas O for my permanent layout.

All you have to do is ask and someone here will help you get the wires straight. Like riding a bike, once you're rolling it's not that hard.

Till you want to do a wheelie anyhow

I chose Lionel FasTrack for my layout due to the ease of construction and operation in my hand (Cab1 remote). No wires required for auto switch operation. Just connect track together and you're done! Number your switches and program them in.

One major concern. FasTrack is loud when sitting directly on a hard surface. I placed thin carpet on my plywood as a sound buffer. 

30 year experience with Gargraves  Phantom rail and Ross Custom switches. Durable, reliable and fun to work with. Power the Ross switches with under table mounted Tortoise switch machines. All are readily available and American made. Use Midwest cork roadbed under the track. Nothing left to say.

Our whole layout is Atlas O solid nickel silver. That being said, if I had to do it over again, I would have selected MTH Scale Tracks.

However, the final contributing factor today is: what is available?  I suggest purchasing what you can buy!

Flossman,

   You said the magic word, simply.  IMO FasTrack with the Command Control switches are seriously simple, and the switches operate remotely from either the Legacy or TMCC remote controllers.  You can run as many as 99 FTCC Switches from track power, that is as simple as it gets and it works very very well.

PCRR/Dave

Some of our Christmas FasTrack layout with a few FTCC Switches.

Ross switches are the best made.  I would suggest you figure out how to wire them correctly.  They come with instructions.  Once you have one done, they are all the same.  If that is too much of a challenge for you, I think you have a long, hard road ahead of you.  You said you have bought both Legacy and DCS systems.  There is a bit of work ahead of you understanding how to wire these properly, especially together.  The easiest is Fastrack.  There is no switch wiring needed for these switches.  When you have the Legacy system hooked up, all you have to do is program the switch and it is ready to go.  I have built a few layouts with it and never noticed it being overly loud.  But I always use homasote as a platform base.  It may be loud on a hard floor, but I don't think that is your intention.  I'm surprised you said Ross track is hard to put together.  I don't get that one.  I am a Ross track fan.  It worked great for me, track and switches.  Top quality product.  Fastrack is the easiest to use with Legacy.  It's kind of cheesy looking, but other guys have done things to make the roadbed more realistic.  I don't have any experience with Atlas track and wouldn't use MTH judging from posts on the forum.

Old school tubular. I have used it for all 4 of my permanent layouts with no problem, and countless Carpet Centrals.

TM Terry posted:

I chose Lionel FasTrack for my layout due to the ease of construction and operation in my hand (Cab1 remote). No wires required for auto switch operation. Just connect track together and you're done! Number your switches and program them in.

One major concern. FasTrack is loud when sitting directly on a hard surface. I placed thin carpet on my plywood as a sound buffer. 

I thought that was the case on FT but not 100%. sure.

You could combine FT turnouts with other track and detail them accordingly to hide them better if FT as a whole isn't appealing.

For realistic look the Ross turnouts are the best IMO, but they require wire jumping under the turnout to obtain proper electrical continuity of the rails. Then you must buy, install, and wire motors and electrical switches for remote operation. I just don't have the patience or motivation to go that route. So.... FasTrack switches for me and in less than 1% the effort.

Well I have gotten the names of all track makers.  Just watched the oguagerr on the DCS system.  I just received a switch after a 6 month wait.  I will hook that up and see how it goes.  I noticed that a lot of you were not big fans of the MTH scaletrax.  What seems to be the biggest problem?  Many of you like the Ross track but I agree with TM Terry and that they are hard to wire to get them to function.  I have some of their track and could not get the switches to throw after consultation and wiring help by them. I bought my switch from them with the 2500 switch motor.  I do think their track looks the best and they have a lot of switch options and it is in stock. One of you commented that they did not have trouble putting the track together but they agreed that it was because they wanted a tight fit that would not come loose and I agree. I also have some command control switches that work well but they don't provide much realism.  I do appreciate everyone's time and answers.  It really has helped and I hope it helped some others as well

The OP jumped off a long time ago; seemed to be satisfied with the answers he received. But since others have piled on after the fact, I believe I can offer my opinions without hi-jacking this thread.

Best geometry, Atlas and Ross/Gargraves.

Best track metal, Atlas with nickel-silver.

Best switch technology, Lionel Fast Track, with wireless Legacy switch operation.

Best rail profile MTH Scale Trax, followed by Atlas.

Okay, I don't like MTH Scale Trax, because I don't like the tie spacing and there are many missing components to the product offering. I could not build the layout I have planned with MTH. I could with Ross and Gargraves, but I prefer Atlas nickel-silver rail.

Oman posted:

The OP jumped off a long time ago; seemed to be satisfied with the answers he received. But since others have piled on after the fact, I believe I can offer my opinions without hi-jacking this thread.

Best geometry, Atlas and Ross/Gargraves.

Best track metal, Atlas with nickel-silver.

Best switch technology, Lionel Fast Track, with wireless Legacy switch operation.

Best rail profile MTH Scale Trax, followed by Atlas.

 

Not a hijack imo. You gave your opinion on the best and why. That is exactly what the op asked for. (And for all we know the op is still right on top of things, but unable to comment yet or felt no need to.)

Scaletrax was a top contender when I was trying to decide on track type. For me it came down to wanting solid nickel silver rails (quiet and flat top rails), ease of use and a good selection of available switches, curves, etc. Scaletrax is nice, but their selection of track and switches is limited and I never quite understood fully how it all joins together and for some reason it's the only track type that my LHS does not stock. I decided I really liked the Atlas-O (better selection and my LHS stocks it) and that's what I went with. There is a pretty good book titled 'Trackwork for Toy Trains' by Peter Riddle that provides pretty good details on most of the track types available if you are interested.

I agree pretty much with Oman's list above. The Fastrack command control switches have to be the easiest, no wires, but you need the Lionel control system. Track noise can be overcome with carpet or some type of soft foam pad or something like that. For the looks, there have been some posts here of Fastrack layouts with the track ballasted and I thought they liked very nice. You couldn't really tell it was Fastrack at first look.

As for the Ross switches, try the DZ1000 switch machines. The DZ2500 is a special type of beats from what I have read here. Others here have had problems with them, but once they get them set up and going they seem to be pretty reliable after that. Also, I think they have a 'Ross Ready' switch (or something like that) that is already wired to properly power all the rails and things needed for proper operation. I am not positive about this as I don't use Ross, but if you like them, try the DZ1000 with the 'Ross Ready' (pre-wired) switches. Ross also has a great reputation for providing help and assistance to their customers and many times it's the owner that answers the phone and provides the assistance.

If you are thinking about DCS, get Barry's book 'The DCS Companion' (available from OGR) and follow the recommended track wiring for DCS. DCS will work properly and adding the Lionel control system will be a single wire hook up after the DCS is up and going.

Keep in mind with Rossready with DZ1000, if you want command control with a Cab1/2, you will meddle an ASC or SC controller box.  It worked great for me, but the OP seems wiring challenged.  With the DZ2500 switch machine all you need is a serial wire connection.   I haven't used the DZ2500 so can't comment on their reliability.

flossman posted:

I have purchased some MTH and Lionel engines.  I don't really have anything in the planning stages yet but thought it was about time to think of a layout instead of just looking at the engines.  I am a very beginning novice so would like advice on the track and turnouts that are easy to hook up.  I have both the DCS and legacy systems and would like the turnouts to work remotely without a lot of electrical issues. Keeping it a simple as possible.  Thanks

One way to keep things simple is to choose a track plan with fewer switches, while still providing operational variety. It's also sometimes possible to arrange a track plan so that most or all of the switches are up front and easily accessible, so they are convenient to operate with hand throws.