Best replacement for Aristocraft track

[DavidH]

I'm a new member on this forum, and would like some advide on track manufacturers. I know there are lots of threads on this and lots of opinions.
I got some Aristocraft track (Brass european) and a few years ago to experiment, and now I'm looking to get on and build an outdoor layout.
Started looking for more Aristocraft track and found they don't exist anymore. Ahhhhhh......
I like the rail joiners with the screw fishplates, so what's the best track to get now to match the Aristocraft? Has Lewis Polk started again under another name? Is USA Trains track the same?
Any help appreciated.
David

 

[PhilP]

LGB, Aristocraft (there is still some new out there), Piko and Trainline all produce track of the same (near enough) profile, to use together..

Have a look at EvilBay, for those selling 'job-lots' of secondhand track..

Beware of buying points (especially) on eBay.. Many seem to sell for more than they can be bought new! And that is before you add the postage!!

If you are joining Aristocraft to Aristocraft, use the fishplates and screws provided. - Look for blobs of red wax under the sleepers of s/h track.. You may be lucky with spare screws.

If you are joining to another make.. Then track clamps (Massoth are readily available) will do the job for you. - You can remove the Aristocraft fishplates and screws for spares.

 

[dunnyrail]

I would certainly not look to get rid of Track you already have to replace by something else. Expensive operation. I am happily using LGB, Aristo, Train Line and Peco on my line. My indoor Shed uses all of those except Aristo but that is only because I did not have any Aristo other than 4ft curves which were to be used outside when I laid out my Shed. To be honest when Ballasted and Weathered it is pretty difficult even on the indoor section to notice the difference.
JonD

 

[beavercreek]

As has been said Aristo is code 332 rail so practically any manufacturer code 332 track will hook up okay.

If I knew 11 years back what I know now, I would have gone down the stainless steel instead of brass route. I do not run electric trains every day or even every week (sometimes not for weeks) so the cleaning off the tarnishing of brass track is a real pain in the back as not areas of my layout are easy to get at. Although the LGB loco track cleaner is okay on mild tarnishing, it can't really hack it when attacking many week-old virgin tarnish.
Stainless does not tarnish and so If you are building an outside line and you are prepared to spend a little more, stainless is the way to go... oh, and you can find it!!!
Of course tree sap, bird guano, slug slime etc still needs manual cleaning no matter what metal rail you have.

I also run battery and live steam so track tarnishing or cleanliness is not so much of a factor for them (although cruddy track will eventually gum up the loco wheel tread and flanges)

 

[trammayo]

I think the Bachmann brass track will marry up to the Aristo track as it uses the same type of rail joiners and, as has been said, there's plenty of Aristocraft track (on ebay and elsewhere).

 

[chris m01]

Totally agree with PhilP.

 

[Gizzy]

I have mostly LGB track, but I do have some Aristo too. This joins up with the LGB as well as the small amount of Piko and Train-line I have on my layout....

 

[maxi-model]

Most brass code 332 rail makes are "plug in" compatible - Aristocraft/Bachmann/Accucraft/LGB/Piko/Trainline/USAT. There are even some providers of specialist track sections like wooden sleepered double slips, Garden Railway Specialists for example, who use LGB code 332 rail. Yes, there are some differences in sleeper spacing and colouring between the makes and how quickly they tarnish. Once you get them down in the garden you'll never notice. The only exception for direct fit I can think of is Tenmille and even that has an adapter available to make it compatible with the others
.
The big advantage of going with this rail profile, apart from its robustness, is the vast array of track components and geometries available off the self to allow you to develop your layout operationally in just about any way you wish. Don't get hung up on one make, get yourself a load of track clamps and don't forget to add a dab of graphite paste to all the bits where they join up. Get out there and enjoy. Max

 

[stockers]

There still seems to be a bit of Aristo track around new and at good prices. Try Garden Railway Specialists - I got a 14 foot diameter circle (2 actually) from them of stainless track for 80 quid at the Peterborough show. It was actually the closer USA sleeper spacing but that hardly shows in the garden. Can you tell the difference - yes just, but only because I told you.

 

[DavidH]

Looks like I just need to get some rail clamps and stop worrying about fishplates.
Wasn’t thinking of getting rid of any track just adding more.
What radius points do you recommend for the main line.

 

[Hutch]

Looks like I just need to get some rail clamps and stop worrying about fishplates.
Wasn’t thinking of getting rid of any track just adding more.
What radius points do you recommend for the main line.

Absolutely yes on the rail clamps, probably the largest radius points that you think look good.

 

[stockers]

LGB R3 (8ft dia) is good unless you want to run really big stuff. The R1s (4 ft dia) do look a bit cramped but work OK if your space is tight. I think the nearest Aristo to an R3 was their No6.

For what it's worth, I tend to rely on fishplates. I only replace with clamps at a known problem.

 

[Rhinochugger]

LGB R3 (8ft dia) is good unless you want to run really big stuff. The R1s (4 ft dia) do look a bit cramped but work OK if your space is tight. I think the nearest Aristo to an R3 was their No6.

For what it's worth, I tend to rely on fishplates. I only replace with clamps at a known problem.

No, the Aristo #6 is a big monster - bigger than LGB R5

Aristo made a 10 ft diameter turnout which is pretty good

USAT #6 in the foreground, then Aristo #6 on the left



Aristo 10ft in the foreground (well, most of one )



Ah, here we go, a whole Aristo 10 ft turnout

 

[Rhinochugger]

There's some Aristo track for sale in the 'Sales' area of the forum

 

[Gizzy]

There's some Aristo track for sale in the 'Sales' area of the forum

See here David....

https://www.gscalecentral.net/threa...oints-and-aristo-craft-train-engineer.309924/

 

[Sean.]

Have you looked @ USA's track ?
http://charlesro-com.3dcartstores.com/usatrains_trackandswitches.html

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Sean makes a good point, the "fishplates" on USAT and Aristo track are identical as well as the socket head cap screws.

The brass "color" is a bit different as well as the ties seem closer to black than the Aristo, but none of this is obvious when ballasted. Certainly the USAT track is much closer to the Aristo than LGB.

Greg

 

[funandtrains]

USA Trains track and the new Bachmann brass track is made by the same factory in China with same rail and joiners, only the sleeper designs differ however both have become hard to find in the UK. I have a mixture of Aristo USAT, LGB, Piko, Trainline45 and Accucraft. I just swap the joiners for rail clamps when the joiners are different.