Opinions Wanted on MTH Scale Trax

I'm using in in my layout construction.

 

Pros:

• Lower rail profile.
• Lower tie profile.
• Center "rail" is very thin and less obtrusive than a full-sized rail.
• Flex track is easy to work with.
• Easy to solder to.
• Electrically, it seems about the same as any other track, subject to one of the cons below.

Cons:

• Very limited availability. Turnouts, especially, are difficult to find even on eBay. This means it can get expensive.
• Limited curve sizes --- O-31, O-54, O-72, O-80. Any other curve diameter requires the use of flex track.
• Tie spacing appears to be more consistent with commuter light rail w/concrete ties rather than freight/passenger mainline with wood ties. Interestingly enough, that isn't as noticeable when the track is ballasted, which seems counter-intuitive.
• Odd connection system. While the track joints are nearly invisible, they don't connect in a more conventional manner, using contact springs instead of pins or slide-on joiners.

I accumulated my track over the course of a few years, grabbing it when it becomes available.

Curious to read any opinions you may get,  here is an online brochure on the Scaletrax line:   http://mthtrains.com/sites/default/files/scaletrax/ScaleTrax_2009_Brochure.pdf

 

I have the Atlas O (C21?) 21st Century nickel silver 3 rail track,  guessing you mean the same..........  I like the Atlas O track fine,   I would guess that the MTH would be similar.  Both are good looking fairly realistic looking track.

 

From Matt's comments one pro to Atlas would be the larger radius fixed curves available.  I am running 0-91 on my pike.

 

Mark

 

 

Our whole layout is 100% Atlas solid nickel silver, 21st century system. Had I known more about the MTH Scale Trax product line at the time the layout was being planned/drawn out, I would definitely have chose the MTH product. I have modified all the Atlas turnouts to accept 2-Rail SCALE wheel trucks, and I understand the 2-Rail SCALE equipment will also operate successfully on the MTH Scale Trax.  Too late now, as the layout is finished.

Not sure if this will help or hinder you, but have you seen this recent thread?

 

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...-of-scaletrax?page=1

Evening Everyone,

I just wanted to thank you all for your comments and opinions.  If MTH would put a little more effort into their track lines like they do with some of their train lines it would be great.  Matt, you make some very good points to help me in my decision and then along came Rocky Mountaineer with a link to another topic which i had not seen yet which makes me think twice about the MTH track.  Mark and Hot Water seem to like and use the Atlas track to good advantage.

 

Guess I'll hold off a little longer and see what MTH decides to do with their line of track.

 

Thanks again guys, your responses are very much appreciated.

Since you are looking at scale track, have you considered Ross track? They have the best switches on the market. The variety they offer is second to none. You won't find a better selection of track configurations anywhere. You should check them out.

as posted above "Since you are looking at scale track, have you considered Ross track?"

Ross and Gargraves can hardly be considered 'scale track' with the greatly oversized components better scaled for G gauge. Admittedly, no 3 rail system can be considered 'scale' either but for the purposes of our discussion, MTH and Atlas both attempt to make realistic track that looks good on a 'scale' layout.

Good luck finding Scaletrax at this point

I am about to start ordering and I am going with Gargraves and Ross because it is available. I wanted Scaletrax because of the videos I have from Rich but if the manufacturer will not supply it you have to move on. I realize that my choices are not scale but I am ready to build and run trains. I had handlaid 2R at one point but I want 3R now so I can have DCS or Legacy (one or the other, not both) and sound. I know my choice involves a 3rd rail but quite frankly I don't care. They are after all toy trains, model trains or whatever you want to call them so why get all hot and bothered over a third rail. I am 65 now and I want to get something built will I am still on this side of the grass.

Malcolm

The performance of the MTH 15” Operating Track Section 45-1035 is especially impressive.  I use that Operating Track Section with my Gargraves track.

I have used ScaleTrax on my layout (see it on Photo Album Detailing multi scale layout) I have 0-80 curves and #6 switches and they run great, I have a couple of O-45 switches for sidings and they also work great. I like the Scale Trax and I also run RealTrax on my portable layout. I am building a Time Saver Layout with ScaleTrax.