Track Selection Question

Hi Jason....

We get this question quite often.  You will get a lot of opinions on which track is best but it really boils down to what you are looking for in a track system.  You may want to do an advanced search here on the forum since you will find plenty of past threads dealing with the questions you have...

All the Best,

Alan

I like FasTrack, but only if you use a material to deaden the sound. I used rather thin indoor/outdoor carpet. The Command Control turnouts are great.

Like Alan stated, you will find folks have varying opinions on track.  

My advice would be to order a loop of track (or enough to make a loop as some brands are flex - Gargraves) of the top 3 or 4 selling types and decide for yourself.  

-Greg

I'm thinking if you are going to run the loop 4" from the ceiling that the track will not be very visible, so you can just use your O27 track and it will perform fine.  

If you need or want wider curves you can use your O27 straight track and use Gargraves curves with some Gargraves/O27 track mating pins.  

Or for uniformity, and you want the wider curves, use all Gargraves track. It's wooden ties will make the trains quieter than the O27 track.

My preference in your situation would be to get rid of the theater, office, gym, play room, etc. and make it one huge train room!  

Good luck with your project!

I have used all the different track systems and I am biased because I have a preference. I will ask some questions because I would need to know more before suggesting anything.

1) You said you had a ton of O-27 and, perhaps, trains for O as well. Have you considered command control for trains up that high?

2) if you love the trains and have a large basement, why not build a small layout? Why only have trains 8 feet up? Kids will not see them very well.

3) won't you tire of trains running around that track after the first thousand revolutions?

4) Check out large scale if you must go eight feet up. You'll only have one train up there anyway.

5) Fastrack is like a drum. It is hollow inside and trains running in it magnify the sound. Fastrack on oak will be deafening. If you use a sound deadener, you might as well consider other choices. That is lots of work for trains kids won't be able to play with.

my .02

Personally, I like the idea of going with G scale instead of O for your situation. You will find it smoother and much quieter than O and it will be more visible. G is frequently for ceiling layouts.

If you are totally committed to O, I would go with a solid rail style of track. Atlas or MTH Scaletrax would give you the best results.

Atlas O, would be my recommendation. If your motive power will handle the tighter curves, the 027 would be your cheapest option. Last time I looked, Lionel was still offering 027 PROFILE track in 054 curves, and K Line offered 027 profile, in 072 curves, but that is getting very hard to find.

 Fastrack and RealTrax would add to sound issue, and would not be my choice for that use.

Doug

If you have 027 track already then use that. Gargraves is another good choice for track however Gargraves switches and some MTH engines don't play well together. Ross Custom switches are best in my opinion.

I have used Fastrack and got rid of it very quickly after trying it. Fastrack gets dirty fast, very noisy, and is very difficult to do anything but the Lionel track plans with. Did I mention Fastrack is SUPER expensive for a medium layout? Plus I keep seeing posts on here about problems with Fastrack switches.

Before doing anything check out comments on the forum on here and other sites about the track you want to use. See how many positive and negative postings there are for each system & switches.

Lee Fritz

As has been stated already, since it is up near the ceiling it will not be visible so looks don't matter. If cost is a factor then use up your 027 and mate it with Gargraves/Ross where needed such as in wider radius curves. Whatever you use, put it on a cork roadbed to reduce the noise.

I must agree with scrapiron, if you are set on running at the ceiling, G scale is the best choice (by far).

I set up a rather expansive loop or two of track "around" the Christmas tree every year which often goes into the dining room as well.  I used Atlas 0-72, 0-81 and 0-90 last year.  In prior years it was conventional Lionel tinplate, then on to FasTrack.  All of these "experiments" were laid directly on oak hardwood floors circa 1950.  The tinplate was loud, the FasTrack was deafening while the Atlas has proved to be virtually noise-free by comparison.

The EX-wife used to complain about my "December railroad empire"... (read into THAT anything you'd like ).  Christmas decorations MUST include trains because kids of ALL ages love them!  BTW, I go overboard with computer controlled outside lighting at Christmas.  NOW envision "my little loop" around the Christmas tree... 

I also have some large G scale trains and they are extremely quiet while operation.  They look GREAT when suspended just below the ceiling.  My suggestion would be for you to buy a small circle or oval of Atlas O gauge and test the noise level on a hard surface - your wife's kitchen floor come to mind  

Once you've made a decision on which manufacturer's O gauge track to suspend; make the suspended roadbed underlayment (read: plywood) wide enough to accommodate G scale track...  Your man-cave guests will appreciate not having to stand on the bar stools to admire YOUR new railroad empire!

Just my 2 cents worth.

Best, Dave

Thank you all very much for your insights.  I think what I will do is order some different kinds and see what sounds the best.  I certainly plan on building a layout down on ground level once the kids get a little older.  I am going with O because it's sentimental, and I am will be using it for the ground layout once the kids can be trusted with anything more delicate than a rock.  Right now at 5, 5 and 4 (we're not terribly bright when it comes to kid timing) the higher, the better for longevity.  Plus, the RR is going to be built into my bar, passing through shelves and cabinets on it's way by, which I think will be really cool.  The bar is going to be burnt pine and reclaimed corrugated roofing, so it will be sort of country/industrial.  I plan to trestle cross them over one another on the 2 long straights, so each will get a fly-by in the front for 1/2 of the circuit.

One more question - because of the length of the runs, I planned on running a red and black bus wire for each track around the bed, then running jumpers every 6 feet or so.  This was based on the advice of my local train store owner based on the distance, and using a traditional transformer.  Opinions welcome.

Anyway, the pressure is on me now.  I'll post progress pics if anyone is interested.

Cheers - Jason

GarGraves flex and pre-formed curves. Least expensive, looks good......the flex used as straights will keep number of track joints down and thus voltage drop.  Laid on cork roadbed not too noisy either. Good luck!!!

Depends on the number of track section joinings as to how many jumper wires are needed. I try to use a jumper or booster wire every 4 sections of track, but that is with 027 track. 

With Gargraves I use a jumper every 3 or 4 sections of long track. Also keep the rails tight where the track pins go in and that helps with electrical contact too.

Lee Fritz

challenger3980 posted:

Atlas O, would be my recommendation. If your motive power will handle the tighter curves, the 027 would be your cheapest option. Last time I looked, Lionel was still offering 027 PROFILE track in 054 curves, and K Line offered 027 profile, in 072 curves, but that is getting very hard to find.

 Fastrack and RealTrax would add to sound issue, and would not be my choice for that use.

Doug

Menards carry track up to 096.  $3.55 a section currently.  But as I read it, its little taller than 027 but same sorta style.   Super cheap and more selection than 027.  Menards O gauge track

OK I am pretty fixated on the Gargraves track at this point - pretty inexpensive and seems like the wood ties would cut down on noise coupled with a sound dampening base.  Plus you can buy easily in bulk and I am going to need bulk.  What is the difference between the tin and stainless tracks in your opinions?  Also, is there a graduated trestle system for that to the best of your knowledge?

But good God that Menards track is cheap - anyone know if it's any good?

I am really sorry to pepper you all with questions - but sincerely appreciate all of the input.  I know the newb to any situation can be bothersome, so I really appreciate your patience.

PS bought NIB ABBA Williams F3 Super Chief locos that came today.  My...lovely...wife didn't put it in the closet before the kids got home and the 4YO caught site of it, so I spent the evening building an oval on the dining room table.  The kid won't sleep for at least 6 weeks.  I wish anything got me that excited anymore.

I use O tubular track and have bought the Menard's track.  The Menards has a slightly coarser finish but works just fine, and it looks just like my Lionel O tubular once it's weathered.   I asked them if they were going to continue making this track, and was promised it would be available for many years.  So I did my layout expansion with their track and am very happy with it.

O gauge well hidden 12' off the floor? Ever seen the G scale trains at a Wagman's grocery store.  They are high off the floor and if there was no sound they would not be noticed.

I would suggest to review your RR priorities and consider how to bring the trains down into the room for a more involved hobby.  Loops have a finite interest span.  Neck straining loops hard to be involved with IMO would have an even shorter interest life span.

Think of Mike Wolf's marketing slogan, "Trains that do more" .  In today's world, trains that do more more stand to be more interest competitive for all involved. 

If a dismissive spouse thinks it is great to run the trains high up the wall take that as a hint, that person possibly feels that few would be bothered or involved with them and they are out of the way.  I tend to think of trains high up on the wall as the no longer popular wall paper borders, a passive interest item.

There are some OGR advertisers who specialize in providing layout planning services.  This could be a  sound foundational effort preempting future regrets.  All opinion.

As mentioned previously, I think you may have "visibility" issues using O scale with a wooden base mounted 8' up, especially from more than 5-7 feet away.

With such a large area available, I would re-consider using G scale with an open track and mounted on clear lexan or a similar see-through product. It can be expensive, but makes a great looking and highly visible wall-mounted layout.

You could try O scale with the lexan too, but if you use solid track, it will be noisy.   

Looking forward to the North Shore Model Railroading Club's show this weekend in Wakefield, MA.