Does anyone know if Aristo’s tie strip problems have anything to do with why the Fairplex Garden Railroad had to replace about 5,000 feet of tie strips after they had problems with them?
Bruce Chandler said:
R1? Hmmm....I have 5 LGB R1 Switches…and some R1 curves. So…there is a market out there?
Sheesh Bruce, now you tell me!
Just ordered some today at RRS, decided that we’re going to have a Switching Layout to take to shows.
Warren,
Quote - “As far as I’m aware there was only one batch of Aristo track that was no good. Someone muffed the plastics formula.”
Several years ago there was an issue with a release of Aristocraft track bed. Two reasons were put forth to explain the flaw. One was that the plastics formula was incorrect, not enough UV inhibitor added. Secondly, the track bed was shipped in the height of summer and the boxes containing the sleeper bases were subjected to higher than expected temeratures inside the shipping container. As far as I know the Polks have honoured their lifetime warranty on the track base by providing replacement pieces to those who report the problem.
I use the Aristo stainless steel rail and have two types of track base (American tie spacing). One is a hard, brittle base and the other is a rubbery base. I have not experienced the deterioration seen on the Aristo forum some years ago, but wonder at the different track base material used. I no longer frequent the Aristo forum so am unaware if the problem has resurfaced over the last couple of years.
Vic,
I agree that the Aristo wide-radius switch is not ‘small loco’ friendly. I always ensure that supplemental power is provided by a trailing car to overcome stalling on the frog. While the switches did not endear themselves to me, originally, I have learned to live with them and after extensively reworking them, I now have no problem and would recommend them (in the modified form). Out of the box, they are merely a toy. Approximately 30 minutes work, per switch, will make them acceptable for reliable operation.
If you need tie strip for code 332; try MEW or “Railcraft” tie strip. I’ve been using it for years…works fine for me with brass, or Aluminium.
…it also has a North American look to it.
Tim, I’m aware of both of those tie theories and believe the incident that did occur was a combination of both of the above. Oh, and the container theory…was first thrown out by some guy that has a red loco in his sig line…
Guilty as charged! 
If LGB ends up not making track I will sell the house and go back to HO!
Why would you do that ?..There are lots of alternatives. I’ve been using Aristo because I can obtain it far less expensively than anything LGB was trying to sell me, and we operate on it without problems. And there are many other manufacturers.
This is not an LGB bash; it’s just a fact…
All I need to know what is LGBoA going to carry?
William Pugh said:William,
All I need to know what is LGBoA going to carry?
That’s what many of us are waiting for “What are they going to carry from the Ex-LGB line?” 
Fred,
Yep and it’s not just the track. LGB indicated at the Nürnberg Fair that they were going to produce some of the RhB engines that Kiss started to produce.
Kiss had a pre-order deadline of May31st for all those fine engines and they got so many orders that they’ll produce all the different flavours i.e. from the original as delivered from the factory to the latest rebuilt incarnation in both the BoBo and the BoBoBo versions. One each in green '70s livery for our layout.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:William Pugh said:William,
All I need to know what is LGBoA going to carry?That’s what many of us are waiting for “What are they going to carry from the Ex-LGB line?”
Mr. Mueller. Really the switchs is what I am hoping they keep. My plans have the spec.s just for them turn outs
Perhaps what’s needed is an up-to-date list of Code332 track components that could be subed for the LGB stuff. Plenty of stuff out there in a wide range.
Even better would be a comparison chart on how all the goodies fit into the geometry, like a scale template or some such.