Let's try that again

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Which HO track/turnouts are the best/most reliable? Price is not a factor.

  • Total voters
    30
  • Poll closed .
I use a mix of Atlas and Shinohara and the performance meets my needs. I built the former D&J Railroad using code 100 track, so it would be an immense expenditure to replace it all with code 83. I don't use the motors with my turnouts except for the cross overs on the mainlines. I use the Caboose ground throws or the slide switches.
 


If I'd known 4 years ago what I know now, I'd have gotten the Fastracks jigs for #6 and #8 turnouts. Unfortunately now my t/o's have already been laid...Atlas, plus a few Walthers Shinohara curved.
 
For long-lasting, durable turnouts, I use the Tyco brand, complete with brass rail. All you have to do is clean them more frequently. I also have a couple of steel rail turnouts (I have no idea who they're made by) that are pretty good too.
 
After fighting Atlas turnouts mine are headed for storage and I'm buying the Fast Tracks jig for my Free-mo efforts.
 


The Walthers/Sinohara are great if you want out of the box and on to the layout convenience, but nothing beats building you own with the Fast-Tracks system. The Fast-Tracks switches are the smoothest running I've even used, and if you need more then 20 or so, you'll even save some money in the long run.
 
I use mostly Walthers Shinohara, but to do all over again....FastTracks. Not only did Walthers drastically raise the price, but they never seem to order enough to make them easily available.
 
what is this fast track that you guys speak of? I was thinking its the EZ track junk but I can tell from some members that have posted pics of their layouts its not some cheep christmas tree type of track

????
 
I hand build my own using jigs from Fast Trac. There is only one person to blam if the switch does not work.
I also like the fact that to build one cost me about $15 each and if I need one now I can have one built in about an hour.
 
thanks for the link Rex.

intresting... yea the price seams kinda hi. I would like to see one of these in person before I went out and spend the $$$ on something that is not at my track laying skill level.
 
Trent, I've seen the jigs and they are well made from what appears to be a CNC machine. They come with a video that explains the process well. The required skill level doesn't seem to be too high, with everything pretty much setup for you. I am not a handlaid track type either, but with the price of turnouts skyrocketing, this method certainly has become appealing.
 
Like a cnc lathe? Hmmm i have one sitting in my garge all it needs is a belt put on and it should work. I have no clue how to use it but my brothers a machinist and makes modle planes. MAybe with some convincing and some measurments.....
 
Mike, if you go to their site and enlarge one of the photos, you can get an idea of how they are made. I would guess that the dimensions are fed into a CNC and the rail layout groves are cut into the metal plate from those.
 


I used to use Atlas Code 83 turnouts on my old layouts, they worked okay except for the #4's which often were not reliable at all for me

For all my modules, i will be using Central Valley Flexible #8 and #9 turnouts, ive heard some GREAT stuff about them so im going to give em a shot :D
 
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