I am not experienced. I am only building my 1st layout. But I am the kind of person who does his homework because I am risk averse and time sensitive. At age 65 this first layout will probably be my last. So taking risks with CRUCIAL components seems like crazytown to me. I sure don't want to spend time re-doing trackwork.
The track systems available now are pretty amazingly good. To take any kind of risk on a track system is a bad decision IMHO. If I could afford Ross sectional and Ross switches, I'd doggone sure be using it. After that, if I could afford Atlas O then I'd be using that. Budget being what it is, I am using a mix of GarGraves flexible and sections. Mostly GG switches, but I buy Ross when it feels like a must-have-Ross situation like yard throats or curved turnouts. I looked closely at Lionel tubular and I like it. I'd be running that EXCEPT that lionel's turnout geometry is so **** big that you can only get 65% of the layout in the same space that you could put a 100% GG layout. Lionel track work just required me to give up too much layout given my space constraints (16x17 feet).
My advice, worth every penny you are paying for it, is to take no risks with track choices. That's a decision that could haunt you like a family curse.
Don Merz
