Mixed Track??

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Question for the Guru’s here…

I am building my first train set. I have Atlas True-Track that came with the set, but it isn’t enough for my design. I am balking at the $114 worth of track to finish my layout. I know railroading isn’t cheap, but I just don’t have that right now.

My son is getting a Bachmann set with EZ-Track in it for Christmas from his grandma.

  1. Is there a way to be creative with a file and some super glue to join the two sets?

  2. Is there a way to go from Atlas True-Track to snap track by adding roadbed?

Any other advice/solutions appreciated!!

Jim

2

  1. Possibly, but likely to fail dramatically.

  2. Probably possible.

For $114 you can buy quite a bit of Atlas regular (no-roadbed-attached) track. I’d recommend keeping the True-Track as a backup for the kid’s trainset in case he loses some pieces and can’t make a loop, and make use of Atlas track. In the long run you’ll find the Atlas track and roadbed to be more flexible and realistic.

Besides, I assume you’ll want some switches on your layout and most train-set track does not include turnouts.

3

Jim:

You don’t mention how large a layout you have in mind but I’d suggest you look into using flex track on those portions of your layout which is in tunnels. Also most prototype yards have settled to the point that the track is at grade level…there is no ballasted roadbed above grade. Thus you might save considerably that way. Also you might go to your local hobby shop or model swap meet and get used but usable track at a discount.

Good luck,

Randy

4

on my first layout i mixed track…it was a disaster, then one day i went to a train show and talked to a ole experienced MRR guy. he showed me on his portable layout. TRACK makes the difference, he taught me to use one brand of track only. now on my second layout i used all ATLAS…and not a lick of problems.

5

Thanks! I will go grab some standard track… The track that is in True track… Is that snap-track? If I pull the track out of the bed, is that snap-track?

6

Atlas True-Track is their standard Code 83 track.

They have two lines, Code 100 and Code 83, the easy way to differentate is Atlas code 83 has brown ties, and Atlas code 100 has black ties.

And yes, they are snap-track. You may want to use flex-track with the Atlas Switches, you’ll save money, and gai the ability to vary curves and not have to have rigid straights.