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Joining Flex and E Z Track Together
Louis has a question for experienced model railroaders and asks:
“Dear Fellow Train Modelers, I currently have two Bachmann N SCALE old west train sets. The track is Bachmann E Z track. I would like to join Flex track to my layout to make it appear more realistic. Questions, Kindly suggest the best manufacturers Flex track and code # I should use with the Bachmann e z track. Also,what should I use to mate the EZ and Flex track together. ex. cork? Thanks for any help you can render.”
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4 Responses to Joining Flex and E Z Track Together
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I agree completely. Criticism has no place in model railroading, and especially in younger people. They’re the future of our great hobby, and to turn them off with criticism is like shooting yourself in the foot. It’s fine, and even welcome, to have our mistakes discovered by others who know more. That’s the way to learn, and people who know are all too happy to share their knowledge. To have a mistake pointed out and a solution given is the name of the game. But when someone is critical, resentment is turned toward the criticizer and the lesson is lost. Criticism? No way!
Don’t EVER get upset if someone criticizes what you’re doing. It’s your layout and you can do whatever you want with it. It can look the way you want it to look and it really is nobody’s business what you choose to do. Just keep creating. If something doesn’t look right to YOU, then you can change it. But don’t change ANYTHING because someone says it’s not right. Your railroad is meant for you to have fun with it. So have fun and forget what someone tells you…..unless you are asking how something should look…..or be created…..or function, etc.
Response to adding EZ Track and Flextrack together:
Hey Louis,
As far as I know, Bachmann EZ Track is not compatible with other types of manufactured track. I know Kato N-Scale Unitrack can be mated to Atlas with an adaptor track, but I don’t know any for Bachmann. But there is a solution to this. You didn’t mention what size you have available for your trains, but you did say that you had 2 Old West sets. What you could do is have 2 separate trains, one of EZ and one of Flextrack. Run one set over the other with bridges and graduated piers to make it appear as though they’re one. But be careful, because there’s 2 types of EZ track. One is steel rail, identified by unrealistic black roadbed. The other is nickel silver EZ track with more realistic gray roadbed, and is much better track than steel. Best to you.
Hey Louis, actually Atlas track can be connected to the EZ Track without an adaptor. All EZ track is, is Bachmann track attached to the EZ raised roadbed. Since most track made for layouts in the U.S. are compatible (i.e. Atlas, Tyco, Bachmann) all you need to know is what code the Bachmann and other track you have. For HO scale, it is code 100 but I can connect code 83 to it using special transition rail joiners that are elevated on the end where the code 83 track goes. I imagine it would be the same for N scale ( Code 80 and 55 if I am not mistaken). One of the other responders says to not connect the black roadbed and grey roadbed together. I think all the N Scale EZ track is grey roadbed as I have never seen black roadbed for N Scale as they have both for HO. Anyway, the only thing you have to contend with after you are able to connect the track types, is height. This can be solved either using trestles to raise the non EZ track to the height of the EZ track, or use padding or cut a trench to lower the EZ track. It really depends on your overall layout and what looks best. I primarily do HO scale and actually started to convert all my non EZ track to more realistic Code 83 and have purchased both a set of transition joiners and an actual 9 inch track piece that gradually transitions between code 83 and 100. Perhaps they have a similar track for the N scale. Good Luck.