Tubular Track Availability

Soooo...... if not being manufactured, where have they been sitting?

Menards is importing O-31 profile tube track in various curves.  They are making 36" curves too.

There's always an ad in OGR for reconditioned O-gauge 3 rail track. There must be enough out there to circle the earth and moon several hundred times. www.TinMan3Rail.com 

I never have any problem finding tubular track. Like Bruce mentions there is enough tubular track sitting around to go to the moon and to Mars and beyond!!

Currently there are at least 3 companies who make tubular track besides Lionel; RMT, Menard's and Williams by Bachmann. 

In fact Western Depot still has the K-Line (before Lionel)switches in stock in tubular. Most local hobby shops probably have a supply of tubular track as well.

All this hype from Lionel and others is to just jack up the price of tubular track.

Lee Fritz

phillyreading posted:

...Currently there are at least 3 companies who make tubular track besides Lionel; RMT, Menard's and Williams by Bachmann...

Don't forget O-Line Reproductions!

It's been my impression, mostly from reading what others have posted on this subject over the last several years, that there is so much brand new lionel tubular track sitting in wear houses that there is no need to produce any for the foreseeable future.  If it all sells out, I'm sure Lionel will fire up the machinery and make some more if there is a demand, however with others coming onto the market in tubular, that demand may not rise.  

I also think it is probably in every manufacturer's interest to keep the rumor alive that tubular is scarce because it is not being made.  It lets them sell more of other track systems, most of which probably cost less to manufacture, and definitely cost more to purchase.  

JGL

Thanks for your various responses, guys..  I just posted what I did, because there was quite a discussion on here by Dealers and the like, not too long ago !

One of the topics I forgot to mention was Lionel FASTRAK !!!!!!   One of the old-time Lionel service center guys in my area DOES NOT LIKE IT !   He says you can have a nightmare of electrical continuity problems if those little metal tabs underneath, are NOT pinched down tight enough.

What he does is take a low wattage soldering iron and solder a little strap underneath across critical points to give you a solid electrical connection.  Make sure it's low wattage or you will melt the plastic !

KRK

One of the topics I forgot to mention was Lionel FASTRAK !!!!!!   One of the old-time Lionel service center guys in my area DOES NOT LIKE IT !   He says you can have a nightmare of electrical continuity problems if those little metal tabs underneath, are NOT pinched down tight enough.

I can get that it's not everyone's cup of pumpkin latte usually because of the sound.  I have had it as my Christmas track of choice since 2004 and have yet to have a single problem.  It gets set up at home and at a school for the kids to see.  So that's set up and take down twice a year for 11 years thus far.  I have switches, uncoupler, and accessory activator.  Electrical continuity problems?  Really?  Not here.

Being a huge tubular track fan, I do not think it will be hard to find in our grandchildrens life time.  I keep buying it whenever I see large lots of it.  My tubular track has been down from 1982 to the present and is the same as the day I started putting it down.  

Guys/Gals today are very lucky with many track systems to choose from.   When I started my layout, it was tubular track or Gargraves.  I made my choice being a toy train guy.  If presented with all the choices available today, I would do it again.