Hartland Click and Go track

[LFOCD]

Hello, I am brand new to G but been in N for 50 years. I have a question about Hartland Click and Go track, specifically Hartland Locomotive Works 08114 Click N Go .What radius are the curves and has anybody used it outside? It seems so much cheaper than LGB brass track and I have plans for a large layout. Thank you. I know they have gone out of business, unfortunately, but some shops still have some and it is 8 pieces for 27.00 so it is tempting but probably very tight. thank you for your help

 

[FatherMcD]

There is some discussion of this track on another forum: Large Scale Central - Advanced Forum Detail Topic - Hartland Click n' Go track?

 

[Gizzy]

Welcome to the forum!

I've never seen HLW track. If it is brass and has sleepers that are UVA/UVB stable, then it should be fine.

But if it is steel track, I wouldn't want to use it outdoors....

 

[PhilP]

If this is the track which uses thin metal, folded into the profile of a rail, then it will rot to dust in a fairly short-time..

If not, then please ignore the above comment..


Oh! Welcome to the Forum!

PhilP.

 

[LFOCD]

There is some discussion of this track on another forum: Large Scale Central - Advanced Forum Detail Topic - Hartland Click n' Go track?

Thank you Father McD, that other thread helped answer my questions. It appears to be very tight radius and while it probably would work for me as I am using radiowire the curves might just be too tight. Thank you too for the lead to the other forum, one can never stop learning from them.

 

[LFOCD]

If this is the track which uses thin metal, folded into the profile of a rail, then it will rot to dust in a fairly short-time..

If not, then please ignore the above comment..


Oh! Welcome to the Forum!

PhilP.

Hi PhilP, thank you for taking time to answer. That's part of the problem with the track, no information on line but I am learning about it all the same. Thank you for welcoming me as well.

 

[LFOCD]

Welcome to the forum!

I've never seen HLW track. If it is brass and has sleepers that are UVA/UVB stable, then it should be fine.

But if it is steel track, I wouldn't want to use it outdoors....

Thank you Gozzy, too. Much appreciated. I have learned today that it is probably steel, which for me, since I am doing battey and radio wire control wpuldnt really matter but we will see.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

If you do a bit more research, you will see that it is referenced by suppliers as an "indoor only" track. Read down on this page, it is referenced.

Garden Railroad Track Order Form

It's cheap for a reason, not really tough enough to weather outdoors.

Greg

 

[Gizzy]

Thank you Gozzy, too. Much appreciated. I have learned today that it is probably steel, which for me, since I am doing battey and radio wire control wpuldnt really matter but we will see.

As mentioned by PhilP, steel track will rust. That would also explain why it is so cheap!

Track power or no, I would still advocate the use of brass rail and sun-stable ties.

Maybe an expensive investment to start with, but it will pay dividends later.

I have brass LGB track that is over 20 years old, possibly even older....

 

[LFOCD]

If you do a bit more research, you will see that it is referenced by suppliers as an "indoor only" track. Read down on this page, it is referenced.

Garden Railroad Track Order Form

It's cheap for a reason, not really tough enough to weather outdoors.

Greg

Thank you so much Greg. I had come across that page earlier but now I see it has lots of very good information that I must have missed. Much appreciated.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

I know it's your money, not mine, but track is the last thing in the world you want to go cheap on, especially with a large layout. It will be a large investment, but it is the foundation of your layout. Also if you spend money and it turns out crap, then your layout will always be crap, no matter how nice your rolling stock.

Plan for expansion, build in phases, buy used track for half price, use clamps if you run track power.

Greg

 

[Paul M]

Welcome to the forum. Cheap track is probably a waste of time, unless of course it's expensive track scrounged cheaply! A chap (Igor) is making his own track and is showing us how elsewhere on the forum, if that's any use

 

[dunnyrail]

Track is one of those things that we do agonise over as it tends to be quite expensive. But I have used a lot of second hand track on this line and earlier ones. I just recently bought 5 Peco G points second hand for around £80 UK Sterling from this forum, great value and are already doing service on my line.

Good to think big and your options for dead rail with radio wire are sound. But start modest and build on that as you gain experience and amass cash for your line. It does not have to all be built in a day, after all Rome was not! You could get a small amount of it to get you started then look for good quality second hand and move the Hartland steel track to an old closed branch and let it rust away. Would make a nice talking point as you have plans for a big layout.