Woodland Scenics Track Bed

[John]

With the price of cork going up - and availability scarce -- thoughts on the Woodland Scenics track bed?

[C855B]

We had a knock-down drag-out lively discussion about the WS foam stuff quite a while back. Consensus IIRC was "nope". I think @davefoxx was the resident dispenser of wisdom about it.

[davefoxx]

If I recall correctly, it was @Dave V, who lamented the use of WS roadbed on the Juniata Division.  I think the issue was its soft density caused problems with ballast and/or track alignment.  He eventually replaced a section of track and roadbed with Kato Unitrack, but I don’t remember if that was related to this issue.

DFF

[MVW]

If I recall correctly, it was @Dave V, who lamented the use of WS roadbed on the Juniata Division.  I think the issue was its soft density caused problems with ballast and/or track alignment.  He eventually replaced a section of track and roadbed with Kato Unitrack, but I don’t remember if that was related to this issue.

DFF

That's my recollection, as well.

I've used the foam trackbed for about 10 years. He's right about the "sponginess," but that has caused me no problems. I'll continue using it.

Just my 2 cents.

Jim

[Scottl]

I used WS foam on my last few layouts with no issues.  If you press down on the ballasted track it will compress, but that was essentially abusing the track- normal usage would not impose forces like that.

I was contemplating using one strip of HO foam roadbed as I found the N scale a bit wide.  The lack of a bevel on one side is a minor issue that ballast cures.  I think too that HO is a little taller so mixing HO and N allows some variation in track height if you want it.

Having said that, in a yard, I'll use underlayment sheet cork.

[Dave V]

If I recall correctly, it was @Dave V, who lamented the use of WS roadbed on the Juniata Division.  I think the issue was its soft density caused problems with ballast and/or track alignment.  He eventually replaced a section of track and roadbed with Kato Unitrack, but I don’t remember if that was related to this issue.

DFF

My main issue with the WS trackbed was indeed the "give," such that it pretty much "absorbed" the shims I used for super-elevating the curves. Replacing the section with Unitrack was more due to a kink in a joint I blamed on cold/low quality solder.

[C855B]

... Having said that, in a yard, I'll use underlayment sheet cork.

I'm doing similar but with 1/16" bulletin board cork. I cut it into 1" strips so there's at least a little bit of profile. It's $9 for a 24"x48" roll at our local Menards, which works out to 10¢ a foot the way I use it.

@John ? You're saying Midwest roadbed cork has availability/price issues? $27.19 for a box of 25 at NSS, or 36¢/ft. Not including shipping, of course. I did notice they're out of stock on the wide sheets.

[John]

I'm doing similar but with 1/16" bulletin board cork. I cut it into 1" strips so there's at least a little bit of profile. It's $9 for a 24"x48" roll at our local Menards, which works out to 10¢ a foot the way I use it.

@John ? You're saying Midwest roadbed cork has availability/price issues? $27.19 for a box of 25 at NSS, or 36¢/ft. Not including shipping, of course. I did notice they're out of stock on the wide sheets.

Modeltrainstuff $29

[Rossford Yard]

I'm doing similar but with 1/16" bulletin board cork. I cut it into 1" strips so there's at least a little bit of profile. It's $9 for a 24"x48" roll at our local Menards, which works out to 10¢ a foot the way I use it.

@John ? You're saying Midwest roadbed cork has availability/price issues? $27.19 for a box of 25 at NSS, or 36¢/ft. Not including shipping, of course. I did notice they're out of stock on the wide sheets.

Wow. I'm expanding my layout, and went to Michael's to get more cork.  It was $29.99 for 2 x 4.  I found one from my last layout expansion in 2016, and a 2 x 8 sheet was $15.  I chalked it up to inflation, but I should have looked around harder.

As to WS, in addition to stability, I think it's difficult to solder on it.  You will probably have to pre-solder your feeders and joints before laying the track down, which isn't that big a deal.

[TrainCat2]

Modeltrainstuff $29

My last order from MBK 2 months ago was $24.95 / 25-pack

[peteski]

I seem to recall that lively discussion, and that I was part of it.  Same experience as others. Friend started his large layout using WS spongy stuff, but for the reasons mentioned, he switched to cork roadbed soon after.

[John]

My last order from MBK 2 months ago was $24.95 / 25-pack

[mu26aeh]

That's why we don't have any, they bought it all (113 cases in stock)

[John]

That's why we don't have any, they bought it all (113 cases in stock)

Well -- there is this guy

[reinhardtjh]

That's why we don't have any, they bought it all (113 cases in stock)

A few months ago ( or maybe 6 months, I can't remember) they had over 200, possibly close to 300.  I remember thinking that's a heck of a lot of cork.