<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by tai_pan1:
If I were to lay track (I'm still undecided), what exactly goes under the track?... </font>
And if you don't lay track, will your trains run?
Sorry, I couldn't resist. One of the things that the roadbed, cork, homasote or otherwise simulates is the well maintained roadbed of the real thing. class 1 and 2 railroads do not lay track on the ground. So, for us, it is the roadbed as we know it.
What are your options? You can always use E-Z Track or one of the track and roadbed combinations, use cork, the tar-like roadbed, a foam roadbed, Tru-scale wood roadbed or the homasote roadbed. Yes, you can even make your own out of a material of your choice.
For my yards, I use a flat sheet of material and lay the track on it. For some sidings, I use smaller rail and cardstock to lower the track from mainline height. All that said, I still use cork for my main roadbed. It can be glued in place with a contact cement to avoid using nails if you wish and you can even glue the track to the roadbed.
IMO - there is nothing finer than to see the track standing tall any proud over the countryside that it is traveling through.
Noise? I've never really noticed any as long as there is something between the track and the sub-roadbed.
Roger
Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com
=== The Signal's yours. High Ball! ===