What tracks should I use - grey or blue?

[bmassaer]

Hello,

So now I would like to set up a "board" with a city-layout and of course, some trains. The board will be about 75cm wide (just enough to make a U-turn) and 1m20 in length. I have three 4.5V trains and one 9V high speed train. I would like to build a bridge also. I'm still doubting what kind of tracks to use...

- The blue ones: I grew up with them, so there's a lot of nostalgia. But the don't seem to fix well on the white plates (right now I have them on an uneven wooden floor, though) so especially the faster trains derail on them. And they are not really realistic...

- The grey ones from the 12V trains: these are more realistic and have a better fix, as they can be nailed on the board. But they intend to break easily, and they are a bit more expensive - most important the switches are not cheap? Less nostalgia, but the faster trains run better on them.

- The new grey tracks from the 9V trains: too expensive, and too shiny. But the trains do not derail as much?

I know this is a very personal choice, but do you have any suggestions on what rails to use? Some photo's from people who use the blue tracks?

Thank you so much!

 

Bart 

[tmctiger]

Hi Bart,

it mainly dependends on where you want to go with your layout. If you'd like to reasamble a nostalgic layout, then go with the blue ones or the gray ones (I prefer the gray ones). If you'd like to build a more realistic layout stick to the 9V metal rails, since they best reasamble a real track.

But keep in mind that the points/switches of the 9V area need alot more space and 75cm x 120cm will not be enough to build a interesting layout. Therefore the old 12V gray area is maybe a better choice.

For my layout, I used the new PF tracks with modified switches:

 

BR,

Guenther

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I love the grey era because the color is more realistic and it double the sleeper.

In any case you can use the blue rails as sometimes I do

Edited January 16, 2018 by LEGO Train 12 Volts