I’m debating between these two systems for my next “layout”. What are your opinions?
Here’s the situation: I’m a college student who’s also in the Air Force. That said, the only time I have to play with my trains is while I’m home for break. Once I graduate, I’ll be moving every 2-3 years with the Air Force, so I am not in the best of situations to be into model trains.
Butttt, my love is too strong, and I can’t give them up; so this is my plan. I want to buy some modular track (i.e. from one of the companies listed in the subject line), a couple engines, and a few nice cars. I have the engines, and am purchasing cars as I find them. I’m also going to pick up a DCC system, but that’s a whole other topic. I want to be able to run my trains in circles, do some switching, and run in circles again. I’m looking at maybe 3-4 sidings and a run-around/passing track.
My problem is deciding which system to go with. Right now, I have an oval of track with a couple switches from Bachmann. I was set on them, because I have found a website that sells the product for 50% of retail (www.ridgeroadstation.com), making it a cheap choice. However, I’m quite disappointed in the quality of the turnouts. The switch points (right term?) are quite flimsy and cause frequent derailments. Also, has anyone noticed that all of the #5 and #6 turnouts require you to cut a piece to fit on the end? What’s the deal with this?!
My layout needs to be portable, and a track system like this is the only way to go. I can pack it up to go with me, and set it up quickly to play when I get the time. Because of my lack of trust of the Bachmann switches to hold up, I am thinking about switching to Kato Unitrack before I buy any more track.
Comparisons: (Best company wins)
Quality: Kato
Price: Bac
Based on my rather poor experience with Bachmann E-Z track (I built a simple test loop to install decoders and test things before starting my actual layout), I would say, go with the Unitrack. Even with extra feeders, I had power loss problems using brand new EZ-Track in a simple 4x8 oval - no turnouts, just a simple oval. I could see if I had built amny layout with it, taken them apart, and reused the track - the joiners WILL work loose, but this was brand new from the package track
Well, I guess the best way to go about it is to buy some Kato Unitrack and see how that works. I like the Bachmann stuff, but I can tell after only one use that the turnouts just won’t hold up.
I’m just echoing the previous replies but your best choice is to go with the Kato Unitrack. While I have little experience with the Kato stuff, I had a large amount of the Bachmann track. It was nice for the first couple months but then the connectors started to break and the rails began to separate from the ties, which was a huge problem in curves. Also, all the track had steel (I think) rails, not nickel silver. The rails quickly became VERY dirty and I would have to clean them every time I ran a train. I don’t know if Bachmann still uses this material, but it was a pain in the neck to deal with.
Chase, IMHO, the only reasons something sells at 50% of MSRP is 1) it is drastically overpriced or 2) it is not selling. Of course, it could be the combination of the two. I first believed that Kato Unitrack was overpriced until I experienced the quality of the product. It is nearly indestructible and certainly can be assembled/disassembled many times without difficulty. I have found that several sources provide reasonable pricing and my favorite has been First Hobby, which has a website. Availability is normally in stock for near-immediate shipment. Again, IMHO, E-Z Track is below Atlas on the food chain. Whatever you decide, it is your railroad, so have fun and have a goodun.
Personally, I like the Bachmann track. Many people however favor the Kato track. I have to admit that the Uni-track is a better product than the EZ track, but when it came down to buying the Kato NS track and getting most of the Bachmann stuff NS stuff free, you can guess which one I went with.
The Spectrum line is quite good…I would reccommend it to most beginners.
With that said - even the standard line is OK, after some tweaking… sure it’s not perfect, but its a reasonably priced line with some pretty decent stuff every so often. Even the Spectrum line is still cheaper than BLI and some of the other manufacturers/importers.
I have an HO layout aprox 10 X 6 with a 4 X 5 extension to make an L. I run 5 loops, 2 inside connected and 3 outer connected. If I use the switches I can seperate them. I use the Kato track. I like to freelance and change my set-up untill I get it the way I want it. The Kato track can be taken apart and reassembled many many times with no loss of tightness between track nor any loss of power. I can easily run 5 engines on one MRC power supply with little loss on the far end. I added a couple of soldered drops on the far end and connected them to the power supply and I get NO power loss at all. Overall the track is a very good electricial conductor. Being as you are going to set up and disassemble this track I would highly recomend it. I’m moving in 2 years and I’m going to do the same thing, rebuild somewhere else. Should be no problem!
Quality of the Kato track is at least 10x versus the Bachmann, maybe more. I used it for a temporary layout for 12 years, more tear-downs and re-assemblies than I count, and ZERO problems in terms of connections (I did have to do some tweaking with the turnouts). The connectors are the best on the market for both mechanical and electrical connection by a huge margin - and not just versus Bachmann. Kato is MADE for the situation you describe. And if 31" radius is not enough for you … well, what can I say?
BTW, another reputable mail order supplier with good discounts on Kato and good stock is Toy Train Heaven.
Also, Kato does now have one crossover track. They need more, also curved turnouts would be good, we had to wait 20 years for the one crossover track.
To save money, I just compared Bachmann with Atlas True Track and went with Atlas because I felt the overall appearance was better, and the joints definitely looked better.
The Atlas is working quite well for me, but, if I had to do it over I would absolutely go with Unitrack. Besides the superior quality, in HO the hidden turnout machines are a huge plus!