Flex Track Or Snap Track?

March 20, 2009

Royce wants to here from other model railroaders who have an opinion on flex track or snap track:

“I’m really enjoying your book and updates. I’ve never had a hobby before but have real life railroad experience. I dedicated a room 18′ X 20′ for my model train. I plan to create stops,
towns, siding and etc that match my life history with railroading. I have just built a 4″ wide table all around the edge of the room and I’m about to get started. I plan to spend the next 20 years working on this and want it very nice.

I’m really having a hard time deciding rather to do the snap together track or the other stuff that’s more bendable. I’ve read the Model Train Help ebook and feel that snap together might match my personality the most but when it’s done I don’t want some purist telling me I really
screwed up. I’m sure others in the hobby have an opinion on snap together track verses flexitrack? I would like to here their different views before I decide which way to go.”

Robert comments – Deciding between Flex Track and Snap Track really depends on your layout space and requirements such as whether you want the track to be permanent or temporary.

Flex track can provide a more realistic-looking railroad and, as the name implies, provides design flexibility as you are not limited to set track lengths. If you have a 4’x8′ layout (or larger)and want your layout to be permanent, then Flex Track may be your chosen option. Using Flex Track will mean less joints and fewer track related problems such as derailments, assuming you lay it carefully. Flextrack generally gives more flexibility with track curves, but take care to anchor Flex Track securely to ensure a smooth flow and good connection between sections of track.

If you are limited for space and want the track to be semi-permanent, then Snap Track may be your chosen option. Also, if you haven’t made a final decision on your layout design, then Snap Track provides options for changing your mind without too many headaches.

Others can add feedback using the green comments link below. I’m sure Royce would like to hear your thoughts and experience.

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Tony says:

March 21, 2009 at 3:36 am

Hi Royce, I use snap track for my displays. Its more expensive but its easy and always looks nice for display purposes.
How ever for what you are planning on doing, a huge layout, and if you are patient and follow thru with your “OBSESSION” as it will quickly become, I personally think you should use the flex track for many more reasons with a cork or similar road bed. You will quickly get use to using it and find you can be more versital in every application you will get into, and dont forget it is flexable and you can cut it to fit any situation you will encounter so you are not limited to the lenghts and limits of snap track. Not to mention price, even if you have it you will want to spend it on so much more with loco’s and cars and structures etc. Sounds like you are going to have a lot of room to play with so invest in a catalog, ex: “Walters” and or “Atlas” in the scale you are going to model in and read the ink and pictures off the pages to see what is available for your current and future endeavors in your quest for the ultimate rail road. Just a suggestion set aside a nice area for a complete turn table and round house yard with all the shops and towers. I built a 15 bay round house and a 130′ turn table with all the extra goodies from Walters. Have fun being a kid again.

March 21, 2009 at 3:40 am

Just one more point, make sure you solder all joints as necessary where insulator joints are not used.