Unitrack or True Track

I'm considering getting one or the other for my son so he can start a layout on a door. What are your opinions on each, what are the advantages of one over the other, and what about selection? He doesn't have low profile wheels so would that play a factor in one or the other?

With the turnouts for each, if the turnout is lined for the main, is the siding still powered?
Thanks for your input.

 

I know I will get comments on my opinion here, but I would prefer Unitrak, simply because it is an older product and farther along with availability and selection. I am speaking from my observation at hobby shops down here because to me, I would prefer to buy my track locally, because of the time required to obtain products via online or mail order. There is always something more it seems you may need when laying track.

But I have a friend who operates the Bachmann track system as well exclusively, and it has some unique characteristics. It is a sturdy plastic base with snap track and flex track pressed into it, and is to me, as reliable, a little less expensive than Kato's Unitrak, and more available down here. It retains its integrity just as much as Unitrak.

As for the Atlas track, down here it seems to be pretty rare, and I have never seen it, so I cannot pass judgement or express an opinion about it, but Atlas is the oldest track provider now, (if not, one of the oldest) and the product has been around awhile, so I would conject that it is probably as good.

You would be judging for yourself, based on price, availability, looks, as it seems all track systems perform to expectations. I will say that my all Unitrak layout is the answer to my physical problems as I just don't have the physicality at my age to get up and tend to uncouples or derails at the remote areas on my layout, like I did on my old flex track layout.

It is also very flexible in that you can change your layout trackplan to suit you until you make a final decision, and wiring it is a snap.

No doubt you will have turnouts on your layout, and again, my experience is that both the Kato and Bachmann switches both are reliable and sturdy. Again, no opinion on Atlas switches.

Good luck in your selection.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

 

I like the Kato system, It works very well and I have never had a problem with it. The turnouts are power routing type, but can be modified so both main and siding are powered all the time.
Atlas system.Looks great! More scale sized appearance,Watch out for Pizza cutter flanges though,they won't work with this track. If I were to start over, I just might go with this system,although there isn't as many track peices as there is with the Kato system....
I 'm sure either system will work well

 

Actually, Atlas's True-Track is C65 and IS compatible with pizza cutters. It is only their code 55 track that has issues with large flange wheels.

 

I don't know how old your son is. My daughters are 8 and the Unitrack works well for them. It's about as bullet-proof as anything in N scale, and it's pretty solid in the reliability department.

Atlas True-Track is a promising product. Atlas needs to get way more variety of pieces to market quickly, in my opinion, if it ever hopes to be a viable competitor to Unitrack.

 

I'd go with Unitrack, it was designed for the Japanese market where temporary layouts are set up on the living room floor after dinner and packed up again at bed time so it is well suited for any punishment kids can give it. One advantage it has over similar Bachmann and Atlas track is the Unijoiner is a separate piece, if one gets damaged you replace it, on Bachmann and Atlas track if you break off a joiner you throw the piece of track away. It's actually cheaper than other track when you consider how long it lasts, I've seen Unitrack from the original 1980 production for sale second hand in Japanese hobby shops.

I don't know what the availability of Atlas True-Track track is like in the US but I've yet to see it in a hobby shop in Australia, track is something where the entire range has to be always available. If you need a length of track or a turnout to finish your layout it's no use being told there will be another run in a couple of years.

 

If I had to choose between the two, I would choose Unitrack for the availability and ease of use.

As for your question about power to the sidings, at least for Kato Unitrack, the turnout is power routing so a train on a siding is electrically isolated if the turnout is lined against it. Works great in the V1 (old K2) passing siding set.

Andy
Tetsu Uma

 

This is true. You can make Kato #4 turnouts not power routing pretty easily but they come from the factory as power routing.

 

I would also recommend Unitrack over Tru-Track for a few reasons.

First, there is a lot more variety in Unitrack. Atlas plans to offer different track sections, but as of now the selection is limited. Kato offers many different curve radii and various lengths of straight, #4 & #6 switches plus a double crossover, and various bridges and other accessories.

Second, Unitrack is a lot more durable than TruTrack. Unitrack will take rough handling while Tru-Track won't.

Third, Unitrack is ultra reliable while Tru-Track is less so, particularly the switches.

Tru-Track wins the beauty contest. The tie spacing is correct for US railroads and the smaller rail looks fabulous.

I use Unitrack on my home layout and we have a small Tru-Track layout (that will be an HOn30 layout) at the club. Tru-Track is OK, maybe even good, while Unitrack is great.

This is my OPINION based on experience. I hope it helps.

 

True Track Advantages

I like true track because it looks great and some of the pieces, like the terminal with signal shed and bumpers are really cool. The tie spacing and light colored ballast really look much better, IMHO, than unitrack. At this point, there's enough variety to do a cool door sized layout. I have never had a problem with any size of wheels. It works with pizza cutters, no problem.

The rerailers work perfectly with newer atlas rolling stock, but are tricky with MT, Intermountain and Athearn cars. Everything works OK on the rerailers, but Atlas cars seem to fit perfectly in the grooves.

Also, if you're going to build a semi-permanent layout on a door, then it should be fine. However, I've built dozens of temporary layouts on the carpet with my son, and True Track doesn't really hold up well in that situation. The joints seem to go loose over repeated connecting and unconnecting. It's definitely not bullet-proof.

 

You're right Mark I was thinking of the code 55 track...Mike

 

Track is the number one area of N scale where you do NOT want to cut corners. Go with the UniTrack. It is ultrareliable and holds its value so you can sell it later on if/when interests change.

 

As many others have pointed out, unitrack is virtually bullet proof and is very solid on a HCD which is what my layout is on. I am also using Peco 36" straight lengths, as well as a Tomix finetrack Y turnout using unitrack joiner tracks. If the Tomix finetrack was available in Australia, I might have chosen that route because it does have more options. If you go with Kato unitrack you will be satisfied with the product and its quality. And by using a HCD you can extend the length and width of the door with pine strips.

 

I'm somewhat biased towards Kato Unitrack... because I have it and don't have any major complaints. It is very sturdy and very well supported by Kato (meaning lots of track segments and optional parts). Atlas has a very nice looking track with True-Track. I do like the appearance of True-Track over the appearance of Unitrack. While there's a possiblity Atlas' new track system could eventually overtake Unitrack, It will require Atlas to do a great deal more with track segments and optional parts. They are far behind the curve with availability of track segments to convince a person to change from Unitrack to their product. If you are beginning in the hobby and are willing to 'gamble' that Atlas will eventually supply as much OR more than Kato Unitrack provides... now is the time to make that choice. Once you decide on a track systme, it becomes an expensive proposition to switch-over.

 

Jose,
You pretty much said it all. But the deal maker for me was their "flex track", which is a totally unique design. When I built my layout, I had two passing sidings, and when I pieced the straights and slight curves to make them parallel, I realized that one, there were only so many different straights which may or may not make the match, and two, cutting a straight was a chancy undertaking.

Then a friend suggested "flextrak" which is an expandable length of straight track that you use to make up those length inconsistencies. That made the deal selector for me.

Second one was I used some used Unitrak on my layout because it is expensive and the used stuff was very inexpensive but had a few broken joiners. Spare joiners are quite available and an easy swap out. Last but not least, the switches practically guarantee easy use -- no glitches, no stutters, and derails.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman