Someone told me that that Lionel is phasing out tubular track and that is why hobby shops don’t stock as much anymore. Is there any truth to this, or is it just a rumor? I’m not sure if they said only 0-27, or both 0-27 and O. I collect 0-27 so am concern although there is always ebay.
Thanks!
When I first started with toy trains I wanted to do the same thing as scale model rairoading IE high rail and somehow Gargraves seemed too intimidating. It was tubular or Gargraves there was no other. And tubular looked extremely unrealistic to me.
This rumor has been around before, several years ago. It was wrong then, and until I see some kind of official announcement from Lionel, I’m taking it for granted that it’s wrong now.
Stores are stocking less of it because most buyers today have switched to newer track systems. There is no doubt however that many a basement or closet has at least one box of it.
S.J.
Well, S Gauge tubular track is gone from the Lionel Catalog (although Lionel never made turnouts with tubular track and have promised to make Fast Track turnouts).
It will be interesting to see if they can actually get both scale wheels and traditional Flyer wheels to negotiate the Fast Track turnouts without derailments. (okay, so that’s off topic, but I still think it is interesting)
I have been very pleased with Gargraves track over the last 25 years, so that is always an option if tubular track really disappears from the O gauge world.
Little Tommy
Since fastrack has come out that rumor has surfaced at least once a year. the fact is theres probably so much of it out there thou it would take years for it to become a scrace item. You have to look at it this way the following companies have offered it one way or another. Lionel,Marx,K-Line, Williams by Bachmann, and theres a few others I’m sure so don’t worry about running out of it. even the old still on a card with shrink wrap does command a high price I’ve seen some on ebay try and I’ve seen a couple get it from someone that really didn’t know or really wanted it for what ever reason because it was befor 1969 but I’ve also seen it sell flr less than $10 on the original card and wrapping it just depends but to say its ending wouldn’t really do much to the industry as there is so much out there.
That rumor’s been out there for a while, as mentioned above. I think it’s highly unlikely to happen.
By the way, love your avatar. Go RU!!!
I am lacking the “insider” knowledge to know if tube track has been discontinued. I am, however, prepared to say that it is alive and well on my little 4x10 garage setup. I have Lionel New York and Lionel China track, along with 5132/33 O-31 remote turnouts that, given a little care, should last dam near forever.
I got into the O 3-rail hobby when I bought a Polar Express set back in '08. The FasTrack that came with the set was so noisy as to be intolerable. So I got some tube track for around the tree that year, so much quieter that I haven’t ever glanced back. My sons, whom I’ve never been able to persuade to get into trains, even made note of the sonic improvement.
Your pays your money and you takes your choice. If FasTrack wasn’t so dang noisy I would consider it the toy train track of the new millennium, beats MTH RealTrax with a stick appearance wise IMO and allegedly also with regard to connectivity. But for me this marvelous (?) millennium’s track still is good ol’ tube track. Lucky there’s plenty of it out there, discontinued or not.
Pete
From what I have seen, and I run only tubular track, it is a favorite ploy by hobby shops to scare people into buying the MUCH more expensive Fastrack system.
Roger
Now you have mentioned it I have heard that yes lionel not putting it in sets anymore there going to be discountinueing that soon ( I think I first heard that back around 2003) about 10 years ago lol
Anything beats MTH RealTrax. [B)]
One thing I did with my MTH RealTrax was to ballast it with the rubber ballast sold in gallon jugs. This ballasting system seems to knock down the noise.
Pardon my impertinence but why does everyone want to knock down the noise? Several years ago, when I was nearing age 70, I found that my hands and eyes were no longer able to handle HO scale. I have switched to O gauge toy trains and am having a great time.
One of the major appeals to me is the noise. The rumbling and rattling reminds me of my Uncle Elmer’s layout of years ago, and also the noises of the prototype. Each modeler has different tastes, and I am not criticizing, but it would be pleasing to occasionally read of someone who gloats about the fact that his whole house rattles when he runs his trains.
If Lionel is doing away with tubular track, then Williams will take up the slack and sell tubular track. WBB lists tubular track on their website. I don’t see tubular track totally disappearing, just who sells it may be a factor. I grew up with tubular track and will continue to use regardless of what anybody says! Have tried Fastrack and hate it, the Lion pooped a turd with Fastrack in my opinion, worst track system I have ever tried to use!
God bless Williams!
This question is asked at EVERY York train meet and the answer has always been an emphatic “NO”
As for the ‘much more expensive FasTrack’… I’ll do this again…
When you factor in that Tubular is non-ballasted, if you want a ‘more realistic’ rail system then it is NOT much more expensive when it comes to the cost of the track, additional lockons, additional wire for drops, foam subroadbed to bring the track up to ballast height, the cost of ballast, and the cost of your time to install it all… in many cases FasTrack is less expensive. Also the newer remote and LCS equiped switches are more reliable than many other rail systems.
How do I know?
Well - I have modeled using Tubular, FasTrack, and Atlas Nickel Silver. The conductivity issues with Tubular was enough for me to scrap every piece of it I owned. I then went with FasTrack and the noise complaints are really overblown. First if you are screwing the track directly onto plywood you are creating a drum effect - and quite honestly ANY track system is noisy when you do this. If you secure the track to soundstop, homasote, ceiling tiles, or rigid foam (not to the plywood) the noise is deadened quite effectively. Atlas I wish I had never invested in because the switches are a bear to wire, are not command equiped, and a VERY delicate.
RMT still makes tubular track along with Gargraves and Ross Custom switches. RMT sells 031 & 072 switches and Ross sells tubular compatible switches. Bachmann sells 031 tubular track as well, but no switches.
When I changed over from a tubular to a fastrack layout I covered the table with flat indoor outdoor carpet and screwed the track into it. I didn’t notice any increase in noise when running trains on the fastrack. Perhaps the carpet deadened any noise from the track.
Perhaps your carpet deadened the noise from the track. I won’t ever use Fastrack again as it is too much hassle to work with!! Too costly when a small fitter piece is needed and don’t stay together that well for me. I might be one of the last people to change over to Fastrack but I know a decent track system when I use one and Fastrack is a DUD and don’t work for me.
I think Lionel is planning to phase out production of track in the US. The tooling was always heavy and the demand high so it made sense for many years to make track in the US. But with everything moving to NC they may be finally planning to ship the equipment to China for good.
Over 15 years ago, yes. FasTrack has been built in Asia for over 10 years now…