Your Preferred 2-Rail Track

My 2-Rail buddy swears by hand laid track & turnouts.

Atlas(?) Micro Engineering (?)

"Realistic as possible"...P:48 and "roll your own"...

Mark in (windy today) Oregon

I used Micro Engineering flex, Atlas curved sections, and Signature Switch turnouts, all code 148.  I used the Atlas curved sections in the main ends of my layout and anywhere else I could to readily give me a constant curve instead of worrying about any kinks if I was to use ME flex.  I tried making turnouts, dismal failure and Signature Switch makes some mighty fine ones.

Here's more or less what my layout looks like:

@Strummer posted:

Atlas(?) Micro Engineering (?)

"Realistic as possible"...P:48 and "roll your own"...

Mark in (windy today) Oregon

P:48...While this is the most realistic I don't have the time (or patience) to lay my own track. Tried it once in HO and it took forever. So, I guess I'll have to compromise on the realistic goals a bit.

I get that.  🙂

FWIW: I found ME flex track to be a little "stouter" than Atlas'...

Mark in Oregon

@HudsonORailRoader posted:

P:48...While this is the most realistic I don't have the time (or patience) to lay my own track. Tried it once in HO and it took forever. So, I guess I'll have to compromise on the realistic goals a bit.

There is P:48 flex track, albeit only in code 125.

Jay

I used "Old" atlas roco track from the 80s-90s and handlaid my yard.     I am not familiar with modern Atlas.    However, there is a big diference between the Atlas flex I used and ME flex track.    The ME appears to be non-tempered.    It bends very easily, and it holds the bend, including any kinks your bending put in.   I found it harder to get a smooth curve with it.    On the other hand the Atlas appears to be a tempered material and is "springy".     If you bend a piece, it wants to spring back to straight.     When you bend it to a curve, it self smooths itself to the curve as you tack it down.     So it is easier to make smooth curves with the atlas - - but (there always is a but), the tempered rail is very hard to keep curved at the joints.     It is easy to get a kink at the joint.    On the other hand, the softer ME is very easy to get a smooth joint.     One way to work atlas is to solder the rail joiners at the joints on curvers before tacking it down but after you cut it to length, the inner rail has to be shortened.

So both types/brands have their advantages and disadvantages.      i think handlaid is least expensive, and most flexible.     Flextrack is next in flexibility and obviously more expensive.      But you can do any radius curve you like.    I think sectional track provides the least flexibility and costs the most.    However, sectional probably goes down the fastest provided you don't have to cut and fit anything.

Here's a shot that has all 3 of the brands of track I mentioned:

My roadbed is 3/8" thick anti-fatigue mat I picked up at Lowes.  Sorry for the in progress photo, I wanted to make sure my track plan worked before I put down any scenery...that was 3+ years ago now and all I've done is some basic paint and ground cover LOL!!!

I like code 125 for main line and code 100 for yards, so Micro Engineering is my choice.

From the December 2021 Model Railroader:

Rusty

...😢😢😢...

Mark in Oregon

Handlaid......

I used Atlas Flex track and Atlas Switches.   Both Code 148.   The first was an excellent idea, the second not so much.  I would now go with Signature Switch Company or O Scale Turnouts.   The latter has solid (not hinged points) which would look better.

So, how fast, or how slow, is it to hand lay O-scale track?

@prrjim posted:

I used "Old" atlas roco track from the 80s-90s and handlaid my yard.     I am not familiar with modern Atlas.    However, there is a big diference between the Atlas flex I used and ME flex track.    The ME appears to be non-tempered.    It bends very easily, and it holds the bend, including any kinks your bending put in.   I found it harder to get a smooth curve with it.    On the other hand the Atlas appears to be a tempered material and is "springy".     If you bend a piece, it wants to spring back to straight.     When you bend it to a curve, it self smooths itself to the curve as you tack it down.     So it is easier to make smooth curves with the atlas - - but (there always is a but), the tempered rail is very hard to keep curved at the joints.     It is easy to get a kink at the joint.    On the other hand, the softer ME is very easy to get a smooth joint.     One way to work atlas is to solder the rail joiners at the joints on curvers before tacking it down but after you cut it to length, the inner rail has to be shortened.

So both types/brands have their advantages and disadvantages.      i think handlaid is least expensive, and most flexible.     Flextrack is next in flexibility and obviously more expensive.      But you can do any radius curve you like.    I think sectional track provides the least flexibility and costs the most.    However, sectional probably goes down the fastest provided you don't have to cut and fit anything.

Great explanation of the pros and cons. Thanks.

Modern Atlas Track is very easy to bend, so you have no worries about kinks.  You can easily slip the rails through the tie "plates."  This enables you to stagger the rail joints e.g. the joint on the outside rail is halfway between the joints on the inside rail.  This makes for very smooth, kink free curves.  It is also stiff enough that you can get natural easements going into a curve.  Do not solder the rail joints before bending, as this prevents the rails from sliding through the tie plates

Atlas track is soft (it is made from nickel plated brass) so can be cut with flush cut pliers, a Dremel cutoff wheel, and even a razor saw.  It is very easy to dress the cut ends with a few strokes of a file. I solder feeders to the web that can not be seen, or if both sides can be seen, to the underside of the rail.

It looks realistic enough for my purposes:

@Hot Water posted:

My 2-Rail buddy swears by hand laid track & turnouts.

And I agree with him.

I've been dabbling with 2-rail track and between the Atlas and Micro-Engineering, the Atlas track is easier to work with. Further, it has UV-treated ties for outdoor use. It's pricey, though. I have most of a box of Atlas and a bunch of MTH ScaleTrax n my garage right now -- the jury is out as to what's going on my layout. Place your bets now.

Here is a step-by-step YouTube video that is the first of about a dozen follow-on videos on handlaying O scale track.   Handlaid track is not hard but it is quite tedious and time consuming.  Proto 48 is even more tedious due to the tighter tolerances in the gauge.   It can be really rewarding and makes some great looking track and turnouts (as this video series shows).  However, as far as cost, I don't see that much of a cost benefit between handlaid track vs. flex track or premade turnouts depending on the amount of detail you add, e.g. separate tie plates, rail braces, etc.  Handlaying does give you greater flexibility in being able to build a custom turnout to fit a specific space requirement or track arrangement.

https://youtu.be/MYJl-a0TWqA

Scott