New Standard Gauge Track

tinguy,

It's all I use. Be sure you purchase the track with the extra ties. Granted it's not as good as the original Lionel, but close. There will be those who will disagree, however, you wanted to know from someone who uses the track.

tinguy;Are you talking about traditional standard gauge track or standard gauge realtrax with the plastic road bed?

If you are looking for traditional tubular Standard Gauge track, this is what you want.  Great track and great guy to work with...

http://www.standardgaugetrack.com/

Jeff Davis

Absolutely. I wouldn't use anything but USA Track. It is stronger than recent production Lionel/MTH track and much more solidly staked. You can get it in 57" curves, which are not available from LCT. USA Track will also cut custom length straight track for a slight additional charge. AND, it's made in USA and doesn't cost any more than the inferior Chinese track marketed by Lionel/MTH. Older MTH marked track is US made, but the latest Chinese stuff, which is stamped Lionel, is inferior. 

The new style track on a plastic base, like Fastrack or Realtrax, is something else. I don't much care for the concept; if I'm going to run tinplate I want to run it on traditional tubular tinplate track. I have no opinion on its quality because I haven't used it and don't intend to. 

I like traditional tubular track as well.  I've seen a lot of layouts with the plastic roadbed track, and it seems to work ok, but if you have any older track components, you have to make allowances and use some sort of transition piece. 

How do you transition to a bridge or switch with the plastic roadbed track?  You have to purchase those adapter pieces...and at $7 or $8 bucks a pop, it adds up quickly.

I've heard excellent things about USA Track.  My only regret is that I was told they don't produce larger radius (custom) curves at this time.  I designed the Standard Gauge portion of my new layout with very broad curves (O-89, O-96, O-113, O-120+).  So I'll likely be using Gargraves.

If USA Track made those larger curves, I might consider going with the traditional tubular look.  But since I'm hoping to have tinplate trains running within "hi-rail" scenery, the Gargraves should blend in quite nicely.

David

I thought I give it a try, I do have tubular track which I just love but I'm looking 

for the rubber roadbed that goes underneath, but it's hard to find. If I had more 

of that problem solved.

Tin 

I use the MTH tubular standard gauge track at shows. run trains on the floor.

have never had a trouble with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4itstzghgY

There is a difference between MTH tubular track that was marketed under the MTH name and current-production Lionel Corporation track, which is made in China. The older MTH track was made in USA, on the same tooling that is now owned by USA Track. I have recently built two Standard Gauge layouts, one with USA Track and one with the Lionel-marked imported track. If you have a piece of each in your hands, the difference is easy to see and feel. The imported track is made of lighter metal and the ties are not staked on firmly. It works, but the USA Track is much better made. I also have some older, modern era Standard Gauge track, some of which is marked MTH and some of which is just marked USA. This track is of similar quality to USA Track. MTH used to get its track under contract from a US manufacturer; when MTH switched to importing track from China (around the same time as the co-branding arrangement with Lionel), USA Track acquired the tooling from the previous contractor, whose name I don't recall. 

I believe that is true of the trains themselves as well.  Maybe that's not the case...but it sure does feel like it sometimes...

Tinguy , I think if you are refering to the MTH/LCT real trax. I use it and it works and goes together very well. Just make sure if you are taking it apart you follow the same method as the MTH realtrax. The only down side to this track is that MTH/LCT is not producing switches for it.  The switches I have bought but not put in use yet are the regular Standard Gauge switches. I have made the suggestion to Mike Wolf to make switches that go with the system but there must be a market for it.

I use the STD Gauge Realtrax on my somewhat plush carpeted floor at Christmas time.  For that, I wouldn't use anything else.

A few reasons I like Realtrax:

Realtrax stays together without pulling apart.

If you desire, traditional "O" track pins will fit inside the Realtrax rails for better connection.

It is more stable on the carpeted floor than traditional track.

Easy to assemble and place around back of tree where it is hard to reach.

I like the look of the light-colored roadbed on my white sheet giving the appearance of snow.

Grease/oil or rubber tire dust stays off the carpet (or sheet in my case).

IF I was to install a permanent layout, I would use the traditional extra-tie track and look into the USA track brand.

The million dollar question...WHAT KIND OF SWITCHES work best with this USA track???  Ron B.

Ross Custom Switches.

USA track is the same profile as traditional tubular track. Therefore all switches work well with it. Either MTH reproduction 42 or there own 72. Original Lionel and AF. Rydlin works also. Of all the Standard Gauge switches out there Ross is considered the Cadillac of them all. They make a 72 switch which is the same footprint as the MTH 72 switch. There other Standard Gauge switch is a #4 turnout, ideal for crossovers.

Ross are the only switches worth considering. The MTH 72" switches are full of engineering errors that make them unacceptable without major work. I installed three of these things on our museum layout before the Ross switches were available and I've got at least three hours per switch invested in getting them to work more or less right. For openers, you can't just plug the switch into your layout - at least one piece of track has to be ground down to fit the switch. Photo below. It gets worse from there. I'm told that the 42" switches, which are basically copies of the prewar Lionel product, are OK - but I don't have any use for 42" switches, so I cannot confirm or deny. It's a pity - the MTH switches are beautiful in appearance - but they just don't work out of the box. Buy Ross.

I have had nothing but trouble with the STD track on the market,  the center rail shorts out, Lionel never did stake the center rail, the new ones are,  had to replace the insulation with rubber/fiber gasket material .. the ends of center rail  ,,

For a floor layout on carpeting I would use MTH Real Trax and MTH tinplate switches.  The plastic base of the track and the metal base of the switches would help to keep carpeting clean.

For a permanent layout Ross switches (http://www.rossswitches.com/products/products.html) are really the only  choice, at least where reliable operation is important.  Operation thru them is flawless.  The Ross switches are made to work with USA Track LLC tinplate track (and original Lionel track). The Ross and USA Track rail size is larger than the rails of Gargraves Standard Gauge track and switches, which are 0-27 size.

USA Track LLC (www.StandardGaugeTrack.com) purchased all of the tooling to make Standard Gauge track from EBR Products in 2009.  (EBR supplied track to MTH until we took over the business.)  USA Track LLC is proud to manufacture traditional tubular tinplate Standard Gauge toy train track entirely in the USA.  We are dedicated to providing the best quality track you can buy, identical in construction to the track made by Lionel 100 years ago. Every component is made in the traditional fashion, including black oxide finished heavy gauge steel ties, tin plated steel rails, nickel plated steel track pins and robust fiber insulators.  Please compare our track to the flimsy track being imported from China by other companies and you will see the difference in quality.  USA Track products are less expensive, and USA Track LLC has the greatest selection of Standard Gauge track.

Contact us at StandardGaugeTrack@gmail.com

USA Track LLC Products

7" two tie 1/2 straight – Two for $6

7" three tie 1/2 straight – Two for $7

14" four tie straight – Two for $9

14" six tie straight – Two for $10

36" seven tie straight - $8

36" thirteen tie straight - $9

42" diameter three tie 1/2 curve – Two for $6 (16/circle)

42" diameter five tie curve – Two for $9 (8/circle)

57" diameter five tie curve – Two for $9 (12/circle)

72" diameter six tie curve – Two for $10 (16/circle)

84" diameter seven tie curve – Two for $11 (16/circle)

87" diameter seven tie curve – Two for $12 (16/circle)

Separate sale ties are $4/dozen, fiber insulators are $1/dozen, steel track pins are $2/dozen and plastic track pins are $4/dozen.

sgma1, i think i have bought from you, i was going to make 5 rail, i bought in pieces,  thanks,, i think the track i bought most likely was import, i guess a T S I ,,could be done, track scene invest..,,,,where did the track with the ends of center rail staked come from...case closed...

If you bought a kit to make 5 rail track from Standard Gauge track it would not have included a center rail.

jim c, it was not a kit, i just bought un made track, and ties..,,you use 0 ga track without center rail, but it is a pain. so it is still in the box...

Pretty sure you would have received 2 rails ties and insulators per track.

The product I am familiar with takes your O72 tubular track and adds Standard Gauge ties to the center rail. This of course would need a insulator. Then you add the Standard gauge rail which would be 2 separate lengths,longer for the outside of the curve and shorter for the inside. This is attached to the Standard gauge ties without insulators. Add track pins and you have 5 rail Standard Gauge/O gauge track.

jim don't know about that,, the train club, i belong to, uses 072 STD, then adds O ga.

i think someone is making,  ties for  5 rail. so you don't have to mess with the  0 ga ties.

The system STG Track sells is meant to make the process a little easier and cleaner.

The rails are custom cut to fit the radius of O72 track. I think they make it to the size of modern Lionel O72 track. There are numerous sizes of O72 track. Pre-war Lionel is different from modern Lionel and K-Line made another size. It all depends on how it is measured. To the center rail,outer rail,inner rail etc. The O72 center rail does not need to be removed and then the ties attached to the STG center rail.

I know you can not take a STG tie and put cuts in it to receive the O-gauge rails. It does not fit.

I would recommend giving the STG track product a try. Still, a little work to assemble but easier than what you have now.

thanks jim,  will check it out, gargraves makes 5 rail but some STD cars will not work, from what i hear.

no luck trying to find them,

see SGMA1 post for e-mail.

i bought my pieces from them,   don't think they had kit at time i bought my pieces. cause i needed to cut the rails.. why its in the box, to much work for right now,

i built a STD berk and i am still trying to get motor windings right,  i made a vert. super motor. so this is my down time, .. have things to build a simple winding machine, so i can try different ,turns, and ga. i should send my motor to the guy with the scope,, see what he sees.. the armature gets hot. i don't have STD ga wiring specs,  i think its 24 ga on field,  and maybe 26 on armaute, just guessing.

We have had customers fabricate five rail track all three ways:  Adding Standard Gauge ties and two outside rails to 0 gauge track, adding 0 gauge ties and two inside rails to Standard Gauge track, and using 0 and Standard Gauge ties with five new rails.  All methods work equally well, and are easy to do if you make an anvil to facilitate folding the tabs on the ties and have a Dremel cut off wheel attachment to trim the rails to length.  Cutting rails with a hack saw is slow and can be frustrating!

If I ever retire from my "real job" and have more time to make track, we may add five rail to the catalog.  In the  meantime I think most people will find it to be a easy and fun project.

Kirk  (StandardGaugeTrack@gmail.com)

i would buy it...and there are others,,of coarse needs to be affordable ..too..!

Question for all you Standard Gauge experts...

I just viewed a DVD featuring Tom Snyder's Standard Gauge Layout... and it mentions that his layout spanned two rooms with trains going through a wall to a portion of the railroad that has Standard Gauge track custom-produced to O-120 curves.  (Also mentions another area that has custom-made O-48 curves.)  Anybody know which company might have made these custom radii in traditional tinplate Standard Gauge 3-rail track?

I know Gargraves has sectional track in several broad radii.  But who would offer custom-made O-120 in tin-plate style???    Does USA Track do this type of custom-offering?

David

Is He Still Alive?

No... Tom Snyder passed away a few years back.  His layout has been moved to the NJ High-Railers building in Paterson, NJ.  But the DVD was produced back when the layout was in Tom's California home.

David

ok, johnny carsons side kick ed mc, had trains too,, wonder what happened to his trains?

Thanks SGMA1 for the info on track.

Tin 

I'm planning to purchase a couple pairs of standard gauge switches to expand my Christmas  layout.  Thanks for posting all of this info.

Norm

Thank you Bluecometk for the additional information on the tooling we currently use to manufacture Standard Gauge track.  Joe Rudley had passed some of this information on to me earlier, and it is nice to have it confirmed.  Do you know when the tooling was made?  It looks like late 1950's or early 1960's in style and design.

Kirk

SGMA1

  Sorry I don’t know the actual date the equipment was manufactured but Antique Trains opened in the early 70’s. Rich was an employee of Reynolds aluminum before his second career into trains. He may have purchased the equipment used from them and modified it to his needs. The tools /equipment may have been modified from other tooling of earlier vintage. If I where to offer a guess I would say that they were put into operation at Antique Trains in the mid to late 80’s but this is only a guess. I have had contact with some of the workers that worked for Rich at Antique Trains over the years but I am not sure they have knowledge of that side of the business. I will try to contact them and find out what I can. This may take a while.

I do remember that after the track business sale he still had a machine or two in the work shop that he used for I’m guessing supplying the store with track and lock-on’s.