Say what you will about EZ track but it works. I put track on my new cookie cut 8x12 bench and it works better than expected. 4 levels with too steep of inclines. 95% black cheap trak with a few gray pcs. Had to use a little flex & atlas turnouts to make passing sidings. I was carefull to "bend" the plywood especially where there are turnouts to make sure turnout section is flat and any inclines start right after.

I'm impresssed with the Bachmann track. I gave up on this sport when I was a kid because I could never get the track to stay together.

Not familiar with this skewed method. Are you just using the skewer as a "poker" to manually jab at the coupling? Or is it more complicated.

Thanks for opinions. I just want to clarify. R Hand atlas 851 $20. L Hand atlas 850 $16.50. I only pointed out that they are same item. $3-6 difference on a $20 item is significant.

About $13-14 at most online sites. I didn't argue with the guy OR say that its way cheaper online. I bought the items & I'll go back when I need something same day.

Our state is just driving me to buy more & more online. Why would I pay 9% tax on top of already higher prices. If I beleive the pictures then the place in NY looks like a nice family run business even if I never see them in person.

Whow - How steep is that grade in the background! Or is that just the photo angle? I thought I had some steep grades. Looks cool.

I try to buy some stuff at local shops but the prices are crazy. Had to pay $4 more to turn Right instead of Left (turnouts) because of price changes and the way shelves stocked. Asked if I could maybe pay a little less since buying over $100. Of coarse not.

Its hard to justify when I can pay WAY less online + no sales tax (9%)

Is it the same elsewhere? Should I feel bad about buying online?

I guess I kind of get the same feeling as I would at H Depot. If the prices are high and they don't exactly offer great service then why shouldn't I buy from some strangers in NY who charge reasonable and ship order correctly and on time.

Just curious what others think.

I thought I could simply grab some roadbed at local shop but its too thin (3/16?). Is there a certain type that works best for Atlas "Patches" between  E Z track and where do you buy it online?

ALSO - I know this will be sacrelage but has anyone ever tried screws (maybe tiny sq. drives) to anchor track? I'm not that concerned with how it looks just can't see pounding nails in bouncy plywood.

Those are awesome and I will need a bunch of 18"R curved ones. I was thinking of ways to cut in half lengthwise the $5 Atlas plate girder bridges. I am trying for absolute min. "headroom" like 2-3/4". Would you mind describing how you built those a little? Does the balsa wood support it or is there some styrene glued in? Thanks!

Joe - Thanks for illustrating with words what I was trying to think of! Spiral effect - of coarse.

I almost hastily glued a long straight section and at last 2nd decided I should wait 'til I wasn't as tired and try to understand what was going on.

Its so obvious now. Just take any half circle - the more you bring one end out of level with the other they get closer together. Duh...........

Thanks again. AND thanks other guy about track shimming - makes good sense.

I just started attaching risers on a 8x 12 layout (ez track). I had this 3 level layout working on my floor and the grades were held at each track joint with piers, toy blocks, drinking cups etc. Anyway - I transfered all the track onto plywood and carefully traced to cut out 3" wide cookie cuts. (I also traced the actual pcs. of track so it would be easy to put back together)
Now that I am putting it back together it doesn't allways line up. Does tilting the plywood change the distances enough so it doesn't line up? Its not alot but with only 1/2" "play" on either side even a 1" difference puts the track off the plywood.

Is it just me? Is it slight variations in the EZ trk pcs? Does tracing it on the flat change a whole bunch in a 3" elevation over 8-10'? I guess I will be getting proficient at making 1" & 2" Atlas "corrections. No big deal I just wonder what I did wrong if anything. 

1 More?. I ran my 1 st level at top speed and it was amazing how well it worked even with a few really crappy joints and stuff. It seems like it might not be that hard to "tweak" the roadbed ply so that curves are "banked". Is that something you would normally do? Would you bend the plywood OR would you shim the ez trk pcs. Whats easiest/best? All my curves are 22' & 18' radius.

Thanks anyone for suggestions.

Joe - That's over the top help! Thanks! If I need MORE help do you charge per situation or number of EZ track sections involved? Other?

Thanks everyone. Still have questions though.
1. What about providing power from Bach. BLACK w/Red dial transformer #6607? (maybe should stick with Bach. for this reason?)
2. Do Atlas part#'s denote code 100 some obvious way? Not allways apparent on all online hobby sites & SO Many items. What does "Custom Line" mean? What is diff. about a "Mark 3" turnout ? Even on Atlas web site the text doesn't match product picture. Text: MarkIV / Pkg. says Mark 3 and then in tiny Nos. tells you a #4,5, or 6.

So ATLAS 850 or 851 is closest match then correct?

Sorry - even after reading 20 posts about this I am confused as to wich Atlas turnout would "directly replace" the Std. Remote E-Z track turnout #44461 or 44462. Also - is the Std E-Z turnout considered a #4?
I'd like to buy 2 Atlas turnouts so I can compare B4 buying a bunch of one or the other. Black, Gray or NO roadbed - doesn't bother me to mix black & gray.
BONUS stupid question!? - Most of the time trains can blow thru a turnout even if its not in the right direction. Assuming run trains in 1 direction only do any of you loosen the mechanism so that the Loco can bash the moving turnout part in the direction it wants to go? Yes - I'm a major cheapsakate.
Thanks.

How about Atlas plate girder 9" # atl885 (cheapest) Or Atlas Warren Truss 9" # atl883 (cheapest)? Considering elevated areas are held up with plastic drinking cup piers rite now just about anything will look good to me. Thanks.

What is easiest bridge to use since Bach. doesn't make one? Read an old post about modifying an Atlas by prying & proding but then several folks made it sound like you could just connect it w/o modification?
I need above track types since I am going for absolute minimum clearance (3").
Ever tried cutting away edges Bach. roadbed? Would only loose 1/4" but might be good enough for hidden areas.
How could they NOT make money on a 9" bridge section?