Answers.Body: <p>The main LEGO train systems are all roughly compatible. They all use a 6 stud gauge, so with a bit of fiddling, you can use all of the systems together. If you want to be most compatible with the current track offerings, you're better off with 9V and RC/PF track. <a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/2539/can-i-use-the-old-12v-rails-with-the-remote-trains/2541#2541">This question</a> discusses the specific compatibility issues in more detail.</p>
  <p>There are several other train systems that have been used that are not compatible (DUPLO trains, 4 guage rails, etc), but I'll just cover the common 6 gauge systems here.</p>
  <p>The different types of train track can be divided into a few main eras.</p>
  <h1>Blue Era (1966 - 1980)</h1>
  <p>A track section consisted of 2 rails connected by regular 2x8 plates. The rails themselves were blue.</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/N30f7.jpg" alt="blue straight rails" /></p>
  <p>Trains could be either pushed by hand along the track, powered via 3 batteries (4.5V system), or powered via a third conducting rail added to the center of the track (12V system). Here are what the conducting rails for the 12V system look like:</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6QACC.jpg" alt="12V conducting rails" /></p>
  <p>Some people still prefer the 12V system because it included more remote controlled components than the later 9V or RC/PF systems. With later systems, the only thing that is easily remote controlled is the train itself, whereas the 12V system included remote controlled points, light, and decouplers.</p>
  <p>Each era included straight track, curved track, switches, and cross track.</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/bpfrx.jpg" alt="blue points" /></p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/WIEQb.jpg" alt="blue cross track" /></p>
  <h1>Gray Era (1980 - 1991)</h1>
  <p>These rails are generally the same as the blue rails aside from the new gray color.</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/w84Sn.jpg" alt="straight gray rails" /></p>
  <p>The sleepers were moved closer together (3 per section rather than 2), and they were changed to a specialized part to improve the strength of the connection. Here's what the sleepers look like:</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Rde98.png" alt="gray era sleepers" /></p>
  <p>The trains of this era were still either powered by 4.5V batteries or the 12V conducting rails.</p>
  <h1>9V Era (1991 - 2006)</h1>
  <p>The 9V era completely changed the track components, and did away with the old 4.5V and 12V voltages. Rails sections were a single piece, and they were all conducting.</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oa4LN.jpg" alt="9V straight rails" /></p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mRC7E.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mRC7E.jpg" alt="9v curved rails" /></a></p>
  <p>The 9v system included straight, curved, switch, and cross track.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/uAZKG.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uAZKG.jpg" alt="9v cross track" /></a></p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/thoDC.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/thoDC.jpg" alt="9v switch pack" /></a></p>
  <h1>RC / Power Functions / Powered Up Era (2007-)</h1>
  <p>In 2006, LEGO switched back to non-conducting rails with roughly the same mold as the 9V track. Trains are now all battery-powered under either the RC or currently the Power Functions and Powered UP systems.</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MEcqT.jpg" alt="RC Track" /></p>
  <p>This era included the first and only <a href="http://brickset.com/sets/7996-1/Train-Rail-Crossing" rel="noreferrer">crossover switch (7996)</a> :</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XAJvY.jpg" alt="crossover" /></p>
  <p>It also introduced flexible track:</p>
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/f91sk.jpg" alt="flex track" /></p>
  <p>Switches are also available, but a cross track has not yet been released for PF track.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BLUsn.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BLUsn.jpg" alt="PF switches" /></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-01-30T22:31:05.563Z
Answers.Text: they should bring back the 9v track, would make trains way easier to build
Answers.UserDisplayName: redfrogcrab
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-02-24T00:36:33.250Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-12-05T16:28:42.027Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2022-12-05T16:28:42.027Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: jncraton
Body: <p>I would like to purchase some used LEGO train tracks off of ebay. I am not, however, very familiar with the different choices of track systems are out there that I might come across. So I would like to learn more about the existing types of track systems. What kinds has LEGO used at various eras in their history? Are they inter-changable? If I'd like train tracks that are compatible with the currently available new LEGO city train sets, what types of tracks should I consider?</p>
  <p>If possible, I'd love to see photos of a basic piece of each kind side by side to see the differences.</p>
  
Tags: <piece-information><trains>
Title: What different types of LEGO train tracks exist?
UserDisplayName: Jessica Brown
ThreadText: # What different types of LEGO train tracks exist?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-23)
  
  I would like to purchase some used LEGO train tracks off of ebay. I am not, however, very familiar with the different choices of track systems are out there that I might come across. So I would like to learn more about the existing types of track systems. What kinds has LEGO used at various eras in their history? Are they inter-changable? If I'd like train tracks that are compatible with the currently available new LEGO city train sets, what types of tracks should I consider?
  
  If possible, I'd love to see photos of a basic piece of each kind side by side to see the differences.
  
  **Tags:** piece-information, trains
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-02-24. Score: 53 | Accepted answer
  
  The main LEGO train systems are all roughly compatible. They all use a 6 stud gauge, so with a bit of fiddling, you can use all of the systems together. If you want to be most compatible with the current track offerings, you're better off with 9V and RC/PF track. [This question](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/2539/can-i-use-the-old-12v-rails-with-the-remote-trains/2541#2541) discusses the specific compatibility issues in more detail.
  
  There are several other train systems that have been used that are not compatible (DUPLO trains, 4 guage rails, etc), but I'll just cover the common 6 gauge systems here.
  
  The different types of train track can be divided into a few main eras.
  
  # Blue Era (1966 - 1980)
  
  A track section consisted of 2 rails connected by regular 2x8 plates. The rails themselves were blue.
  
  ![blue straight rails](https://i.sstatic.net/N30f7.jpg)
  
  Trains could be either pushed by hand along the track, powered via 3 batteries (4.5V system), or powered via a third conducting rail added to the center of the track (12V system). Here are what the conducting rails for the 12V system look like:
  
  ![12V conducting rails](https://i.sstatic.net/6QACC.jpg)
  
  Some people still prefer the 12V system because it included more remote controlled components than the later 9V or RC/PF systems. With later systems, the only thing that is easily remote controlled is the train itself, whereas the 12V system included remote controlled points, light, and decouplers.
  
  Each era included straight track, curved track, switches, and cross track.
  
  ![blue points](https://i.sstatic.net/bpfrx.jpg)
  
  ![blue cross track](https://i.sstatic.net/WIEQb.jpg)
  
  # Gray Era (1980 - 1991)
  
  These rails are generally the same as the blue rails aside from the new gray color.
  
  ![straight gray rails](https://i.sstatic.net/w84Sn.jpg)
  
  The sleepers were moved closer together (3 per section rather than 2), and they were changed to a specialized part to improve the strength of the connection. Here's what the sleepers look like:
  
  ![gray era sleepers](https://i.sstatic.net/Rde98.png)
  
  The trains of this era were still either powered by 4.5V batteries or the 12V conducting rails.
  
  # 9V Era (1991 - 2006)
  
  The 9V era completely changed the track components, and did away with the old 4.5V and 12V voltages. Rails sections were a single piece, and they were all conducting.
  
  ![9V straight rails](https://i.sstatic.net/oa4LN.jpg)
  
  [![9v curved rails](https://i.sstatic.net/mRC7E.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/mRC7E.jpg)
  
  The 9v system included straight, curved, switch, and cross track.
  
  [![9v cross track](https://i.sstatic.net/uAZKG.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/uAZKG.jpg)
  
  [![9v switch pack](https://i.sstatic.net/thoDC.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/thoDC.jpg)
  
  # RC / Power Functions / Powered Up Era (2007-)
  
  In 2006, LEGO switched back to non-conducting rails with roughly the same mold as the 9V track. Trains are now all battery-powered under either the RC or currently the Power Functions and Powered UP systems.
  
  ![RC Track](https://i.sstatic.net/MEcqT.jpg)
  
  This era included the first and only [crossover switch (7996)](http://brickset.com/sets/7996-1/Train-Rail-Crossing) :
  
  ![crossover](https://i.sstatic.net/XAJvY.jpg)
  
  It also introduced flexible track:
  
  ![flex track](https://i.sstatic.net/f91sk.jpg)
  
  Switches are also available, but a cross track has not yet been released for PF track.
  
  [![PF switches](https://i.sstatic.net/BLUsn.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/BLUsn.jpg)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: they should bring back the 9v track, would make trains way easier to build  
  
  ---
  
  