Jon Henshey posted:I spent a lot of time debating the very same thing and finally decided on Scale Trax, because of its low profile and nearly invisible center rail. When it is laid and ballasted, nothing looks better (IMHO). Take a look at pictures of ballasted rail system and you will most likely agree.
That being said, there are many time when I wish I hadn't gone with Scale Trax. Right now I am working on a Christmas layout for this year and want to use my Scale Trax. Being a Christmas layout it needs to be smaller, but I don't like to use O-31. I really want O-42, which is a perfect middle ground radius for smoother operation, but still relatively compact. There are no O-42 curves or switches in Scale Trax. Sure there is flex track, but that is not easy to lay down on a layout that you are going to take apart in a month to put away for the rest of the year.
Furthermore, for me, Scale Trax switches have been problematic with shorting when certain locomotives (usually larger ones) have wheels that get close to or touch the frog, which is supposed to be isolated. This a problem I have come to find that many Scale Trax users experience and fix by widening the air gap between the moveable switch points and the frog. It is correctable, but requires modification I wish I didn't have to do.
I did take a hard look at Atlas, when debating this and the reason I didn't go with it was the center rail is just too "substantial." Being the center rail, we usually want it to be "invisible." The Atlas center rail is darkend, but being such a heavy T rail, is still pretty prominent and noticeable. As stated by other on the forum, I also didn't like their huge switch machines.
I built a club layout when I was stationed up in Alaska, with Ross Custom Switches and Gargraves track. I must say that nothing even comes close to this combination, when considering smoothness of operation, reliability, and switch configuration choices. But, this combination has its drawbacks as well, mainly cost.
Sorry this is so long, but there is a lot to consider and in the end, it boils down to what is important to you; realistic look, not having to fiddle with it to get it to work smoothly and reliably or cost and variety of switch selection.
I still love the look of Scale Trax (check out Rich Batista's layout), but MTH has done a poor job of committing to the system. They produced a certain selection of pieces and that's it. They have not continued to grow it by adding other pieces.
Good luck in your decision.
Jon
Please see my response
