Second hand track worth it?

[yelrow]

Have you looked on Gumtree.

[Rog (RJ)]

I would be EXTREMELY cautious about buying second hand points. Buying plain track second hand is risky enough but points are another thing. Unless you can check them out personally before buying them, I wouldn't.

I know you are on a budget but one new point that works properly is far better than ten dodgy second hand ones that cause you endless frustration.

[yelrow]

Totally agree, people who sell secondhand track, etc, usually do it, to get rid.

[AndyH]

Just checked on ebay, the first lot is at nearly £60 for 11 points, couple minutes left.

Another lot at £27 from the same seller. These lol older and have a little black rectangle to the side of the points, not sure what they are for? Sorry I can't work out how to copy the image in to this.

I am somewhat tempted by one lot that a club chairman/secretary is selling on behalf of their club 6 standard points ,3 left 3 right buy it now for £22 plus postage.

I've relayed the track and points I have, and will test things see what happens and work out what needs replacing.

[AndyH]

Well... Just won 5 "new" points in steel for £25 apparently never used and look clean, tbf I thought they were nickel, will see when they come.

[General DeGaulle]

From my point of view, situated as I am in Central France, second hand track is definitely worth it. As I have started laying track on my Southern 'three - in - one' layout I have run out of points, and bought some from the local (30 miles away!) model train shop yesterday. 18 quid for a 2nd radius turnout!! and 9 quid for a piece of flexitrack! I have acquired quite a bit of second hand stuff from ebay, had it sent to my inlaws in the UK and then got them to post it over here when the amount was substantial enough to make it worthwhile. In most cases it has been fine, with only the odd sleeper missing where it has been previously nailed down. As long as the ebay photo is detailed and the item appears to be in good shape, I reckon it's worthwhile.

[darkscot]

I would be EXTREMELY cautious about buying second hand points.

I acquired a job lot of various model rail bits and pieces that was discovered in an attic. It includes quite a bit of track including Hornby points. Most of the track is fine but the points are awful! I don't know how old they are but the are definitely last century. There are no holes for fitting point motors and the springs have gone. I am using them to plan my new track, but when that is done they will go in the bin and be replaced with new ones.

[Bandit Mick]

Most people say peco points are the way to go. I don’t have much spare cash so decided that a small layout was the way to go - less cost initially re points, track, stock etc but could always expand later if more cash became available. My present micro-ish layout uses three points but really I could have used just two. I think a quite well known author/layout builder once said any more than two is extravagant(or words to that effect).

[darkscot]

I went to my local model shop today and bought some 2nd hand Hornby track in very nice condition, but two brand new Peco points. Not cheap but I hope worth it in the long run.

I asked if he was interested in some Peco code 75 flexy track that I bought by mistake (why is there 100 in the part number?). He said not really as very few people in the area use code 75 nowadays and a lot of people are moving back to code 100.