What kind of track to use on your model railroad
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- čas přidán 7. 10. 2015
- This video is not as much a review, but a showcase of what kinds of track are out there on the market for HO scale. I made this video to kind of show that although Atlas track is the old standby, there are many other brands of track available; it may benefit your track plan to think about including some of these different tracks.
Thank you for not wasting my time with a bunch of B.s. a d getting straight to the point keep making videos dude thank you again.
Great video young fella im retired and getting back to my
childhood things. Great VIDEO thank you.
I love watching these videos and not get Bored of it.
Thanks for the video! Your 4-legged producer wasn't fond of it at the end but it sure helped me get a little real-world clarity on which track I should use and I greatly appreciate your insight. I'm wary of people with lots of subscribers so I enjoy watching smaller channels that have no incentive to shill out a product or name brand. Even though I'm building my first layout in N-scale I'm still considering just running flex rail for most of the setup and using cork roadbed for the base and manually ballasting the rails. Stuff that snaps together seems like a bit of a temporary setup but the Kato rails get my pick so far for snap-together rails after checking them out at my local hobby shop.
i went with atlas snap track but i have tried kato unitrack and liked it
I went with KATO unitrack
Bro, love your videos! So amazing! Minecraft trains rule!
Excellent! Thanks for posting. I now know that Bachmann EZ track is scale 100, that's important!
As regards points or switches as they are called in America, the greatest problem is ballasting these points, the other problem is electrical rail connectivity. KATO points, that are ready ballasted and have inbuilt motors and are high quality have none of these problems. Equally good in N scale and OO/HO scale. In the case of HO KATO track is easily combined with any code 83 track Just remove the Kato joiner and replace it with a fishplate. The same with KATO N scale track and code 80 track. Just run roadbed strips under track that does not already have roadbed attached. I have built several layouts and have discovered that using Kato points and track has spared me many problems. A little extra ballasting will make Kato track as realistic as any other track.
People will hate me but I really like the Bachman ez track. It’s already raised up on a bed so that’s perfect the track holds together pretty good and you can still nail it down if you like with the supplied holes they give you for nailing. Plus Buchman just has everything turnouts switches short track long track multiple radius of turn track steel or nickel silver. Lots look at it as beginner track but you can still make a great layout with it. Plus the turns come in 15” 18” 22” and 32” radius turns.
LOL. Doubt anyone cares all that much. I just picked up a bunch of EZ track. I have TONS of old Atlas track and that would be the best way to go, but worried about easy of use. I know it all need restoration to be trouble free. I'm thinking of using EZ and Atlas. Will make some main lines with EZ track so I can at least get a reliable layout going. As I learn and move on, I can add sections of old school atlas. I am new to all this, but I see how much fun EZ track is. I through some track on my desk and can test out new locos. No taping track down, no nothing. It's just sitting there and works. This KATO stuff? SOOOO expensive. TO me, it's all about the turnouts! They need to just work! I am so spoiled. I have ENDLESS N scale and HO scale Atlas brass track and nickel track. Endless turnouts. All the various track. So, thinking of spending hundreds more on turnouts for ez track or Kato is a tough call!
Can you Ballast the EZ track or not enough room between ties? I think EZ track could look better with some weathering powder and some TLC. Honestly, I don't think KATO looks any better and people just love that stuff. ;)
PS: I'm still trying to understand if EZ track (older turnouts) will work with DCC ? I'm feeling like the old Atlas points/turnouts will NOT work with DCC. IF that is the case, I might end up just selling all my n and ho atlas stuff. OMG, that will be a lot of work! Maybe, it will pay for the new stuff though. I must have hundreds of dollars of stuff in each scale. Some brand new old stock too.
This answered a lot of questions I had about using different brands of snap track together. Kato track is questionable for me because the ties are spaced a lot farther apart than most of the others - looks less realistic. Good to know the Atlas code 65 True-Track rails remove with the ties - that wasn't clear in the Atlas literature. Thanks for the demo.
You forgot to mention that Kato track can come in super-elevated (banking) curves as well as with an option for concrete or wood sleepers. If the Kato joiners break, you can simply replace them
10:59 The TO # is the distance from the the frog the two inner diverging rails are at 1 foot apart..I.E. If they are 1 foot apart at 6 feet out it's a # 6 TO.. IF two inner rails are 1 foot apart at 12 feet out from frog it's a # 12 TO.....et al...
I believe Atlas sectional track has finer more realistic ties is because it doesn't need to withstand outward forces flex track causes when flexed... I.E. flex needs thicker (less real) spike simulation...which is ironic !! I am planning a small el shelfie switching and I'm considering going back to Atlas sectional track for this reason, even though I've bunches of flex left over from last large layout !!
thank you for sharing details
Very interesting video and very good information about track. Iam building my CSX Pere Marquette Subdivision from Watervliet, Michigan to Saint Joseph, Michigan and iam using Atlas code 100 flex track and Bachmann Dcc ez track switches. I have been testing the switches for weeks no problem with stalls or derailment problems. Happy Railroading #keepheronthetracks
+anthony williams Thanks Anthony! Im really becoming a fan of the bachmann track myself. That sounds like an interesting layout, I'll have to check it out.
+Joels Train I have been testing in all types of weather for weeks here in Michigan. I have tested #6#4 ez dcc switches and they work like a champ. I glued down ( wood glue max indoor outdoor)everything and solder all joints leaving nothing to chance. I file the point of the switch and not 1 derailment after testing for hours. Very happy. Amazon has the best prices.
The number of the frog in a straight turnout refers to the ratio of divergence. With a number 7 frog for instance, one would have to travel 7 feet to diverge one foot.
Great video!! Thanks for the info!!
hi everyone ,if anyone else trying to find out model railroad buildings ho scale try Corbandy HO Scale Crusher (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my buddy got excellent results with it.
Eric = creepy pervert geezer confirmed 😆 BWWWAAAHAHAHA
I'm starting a very modest layout and got some Bachmann EZ Track based on what I learned in this video. There is a lot of stuff available for HO and it snaps together easily. Overall I'm quite pleased with it. Thanks for making this video.
chris319 Bachman is a very good choice! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Joel-
Hi Joel - Here is a taste of my very small layout. I am modeling the short distance between the San Jose station and CP Alameda, tracks 4 and 5 only (track 1 is the easternmost track). As I say it's very small but I like it. www.transit.wiki/Map:Caltrain/track_diagram
Peco appears to be the best
Have fun with your model railroad.
I use kato unitrax and its really good. Its easy to assemble and has realistic roadbed as well
A number 6 turnout means the angle is 1:6. Same for others. If you want to calculate the angle in degrees, the angle for a number 6 turnout = arctan(1/6) = 9.46 degrees. Real railroads use much longer turnouts, and the general rule of thumb for allowable speeds (diverging) is twice the turnout number. Most mainlines are number 20s, allowing a maximum of 40 mph. If you use number 6 turnouts, then you can't go faster that 12 mph!!
You covered a few different types of track and turnouts but you forgot PECO they make great turnouts also thanks again for a great video getting to the point
Dwight Bernheimer yes I made this video quite some time ago. I hadn't got any Peco turnouts yet but They are now what I use on 90% of my track work. Maybe I should make a new video on this since I still think that track is a much under covered topic on CZcams. If I did it again I would also include the difference between atlas, M.E., Peco, and walthers flex track. Also I would cover HOn3 track just to show the difference!
-Joel
Joels Train thanks never expected you to get back to me really enjoyed the video the kid was cute in the background thanks for having a sense of humor. Almost 80 years old been in the hobby for a while. We're I'm living in Arizona don't really have any room so on30 is the way to go thanks again and I'll be looking for more videos when you got time
Dwight Bernheimer thanks for commenting! I actually was inspired to get back into the hobby by a guy in Arizona (Chuck Baker) I hope you are having fun with your Layout regardless of how small it may be!
-Joel
TILLIG PILZ makes the best track yet and they have a very big selection
Hi, I am very interested in your show, so I am planning to build up a staging area in my layout HO Scale size 8X4 feet by using the DCC System to run my train . Thank you and have nice happy new year 2022.
Ok so I hope you can answer question what kind of track can connect to tyco track?, thanks
person hey man first let me say thanks for watching and commenting! For this video I tried to cover just what was commercially available. Taco track if I am doing my research right was similar to Atlas and Life-Like snap track. It was brass and had code 100 rail. That means that the rail is 100 thousands of an inch high or just 1/10 of an inch. Most code 100 track will connect together as long as the rail joiners are fresh and new. However I would strongly advise against using Tyco, Lifelike or Atlas brass track. The reason is that brass corrodes very fast and HO scale trains are very sensitive to dirt and corrosion on the track. If you use brass track you will eventually end up spending more time cleaning you track, loco wheels and car wheels as well as looking for "dead spots" in your track. Brass track(and steel track too) is a headache I wouldn't wish on anyone.
I Use "Atlas" Code 100 Track Exclusively. The Rails Are Slightly Higher Than Code 83. I Run Older Locomotives & Rolling Stock. The Reason I Use Code 100 Rail Is That The Flanges On My Locomotives & Rolling Stock Are Slightly Larger. If I Use Them On Code 83 Track, They Will Have A Tendency To Derail. It All Depends On Your Particular Situation... As To What You Are Running On Your Track.
In general, what is your opinion of Atlas True Track? I'm considering it.
Also, how high quality are their turnouts?
KingMe102 I wouldn't really recommend Atlas True track. It's basically just Atlas's cheapest line of turnout in a plastic roadbed that doesn't mate well with flex track or any other kind of track. Also the only turnout options are: 18" radius diverging right and left; 22" radius diverging right and left. There are no options for a number 4, 5, 6 or 8 turnout. If you want the most quality turnouts go with Peco, either streamline (code83) or set track (code 100).
If you really want a plastic roadbed track go with Bachman because of the quality and how well it meshes with other brands of track. But as far as insurance against derailments I would say that the Peco Streamline brand is the best investment your money can buy and it's easy to use. If you want it to work well with DCC and be plug n play make sure you get the INSULFROG version. The ELECTROFROG is better but requires that you solder all your track together and then cut gaps to isolate the frogs
Joels Train Thanks for the advice. I was considering using all Atlas because there is a pre-designed layout set called the "Great Atlantic Trunk" which I like. If I buy it if would include only track but it would come with all the prices for the specific track plan.
By the way I'm having a DC layout.
KingMe102 Atlas track is ok if you already have a track plan Atlas has code83 #4 and #6 turnouts just not in their true track line. Also you could use Anyrail6 to custom design a layout and it will tell you what track to buy. That's how I made my current layout if you want a copy of the track plan I can email it to you along with other anyrail6 track plans I have done
KingMe102 even though I have DCC and sound I still run my locos silent most of the time for some reason I just like it that way better
Nice video! (And don't you DARE lock that kid in a room, no matter what one poster suggested!) You mentioned that you weren't sure what was meant by the number designation of a turnout, ie: 4,6,8, etc. At the risk of over simplifying it, it basically refers to the distance in inches, in a straight line, that it takes the diverging leg to get 1 inch away from the straight leg. A #4 turnout would have its diverging leg 1 inch away from the straight leg in a distance of 4 inches, a #6 would be 1 inch away in 6 inches, and so on. The larger the number the shallower the angle. A small wheelbase switcher would have no problems getting through a #4 turnout. Try getting a 4-12-2 UP 9000 class steamer through there...... As Scooby would say "Rotsa ruck, Raggy!" :D
So the larger the number, the shallower the angle, and the less trouble a long wheelbase locomotive will have getting through the turnout.
flyboy 2610 Thanks I never knew that
I knew the larger numbers were a shallower angle, but I didn't know the distance thing, that will help a lot when planning sidings and yards
you forgot hand spiked on wood ties
The Parsons Ridge RR Ho Is Dc And Don’t Have Any problems with It.
Bachman code 100
After my experience with Atlas O track, especially the switches, I'll never buy Atlas again.
I've been investigating diy railroad layouts and discovered a great website at Jareks hobby club (google it if you are interested)
I use the cheapest you have to bury the track
find out about train set ho try Corbandy HO Scale Crusher (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some decent things about it and my friend got amazing success with it.
Lots of information on track and turnouts but I would have locked that kid that you could hear in the background in a room somewhere lol thank you for getting to the point because most guys talk 20 minutes without getting to the point great video send the kid out to Walmart to go shopping next time you make your next video LOL thank you
Sounds pretty rude to me !!
umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm umm
Great video young fella im retired and getting back to my
childhood things. Great VIDEO thank you.
Rolling Stones Shattered thank you Sir for watching and commenting have lots of fun with the trains!
Joel