3356 Horsecar set and Gargraves track

I am not familiar with what your set needs, but Gargraves offers several operating track sections on this page on their website. Looks like they should have something that you can use.

I think Ross Custom Switches also handles some of the Gargraves products.

You are not restricted to the OTC for this set.

The neat/custom trick for GarGraves is to use #36 Super O control rails and mount them in your ties at the optimum spacing for your needs.

You can also fashion similar rails yourself for GarGraves use.

When I had my larger Gargraves/Ross layout, I did exactly what Rob suggested--used the Super O blades and made my own control rails for the LIONEL PW accessories.  Made perfect sense since the blades were made for use with Super O track.  Instead of the pre-formed holes in the Super O track, simply drill comparable holes in the wooden ties of the GG track to accept the blades.

What I did for a friend with GG track and who has operating cars is as follows:

I took a length of bare 14 gauge copper wire (stripped from a piece of Romex® cable) and formed it into an inverted "U" shape, with the top being two inches long, and the sides being long enough to reach from the tops of the wooden ties down through two holes in the track, roadbed, sub-roadbed, platform, etc, and with enough to be able to fasten (solder) control wires to one end of each "U". You need to make two of these wires, and then connect them appropriately to a controller to get the proper electrical connections for the operating car.

The tops of the U shapes are laid parallel above the ties at the correct height and at the correct linear spacing (you can hot glue them in place) and they become the contact rails for the car's pick-up shoes.

Good answer Rob.

It's just the horse and cattle cars that have a special arrangement like this. The difference is that the cattle pen has its electrical contacts for the car built into the base. That one is even trickier to set up with GarGraves. It's almost easier to just use a couple sections of 027 and glue in some wood ties to fake the look.

The only reason that neither one of those use a normal remote track is that the car and pen need to be activated by a single switch. There is a 5 rail remote track that would also work for the horse car, but Rob's solution is more elegant, if you can find a set.

If you need the Super O blades, email me (the address is in my profile)--I have multiple pairs.

ADCX Rob posted:

You are not restricted to the OTC for this set.

The neat/custom trick for GarGraves is to use #36 Super O control rails and mount them in your ties at the optimum spacing for your needs.

You can also fashion similar rails yourself for GarGraves use.

Thanks so much for this tip. It looks like it might be the way to go. I will investigate further to acquire these.

Pingman posted:

If you need the Super O blades, email me (the address is in my profile)--I have multiple pairs.

OK, I'll write you.

rtr12 posted:

I am not familiar with what your set needs, but Gargraves offers several operating track sections on this page on their website. Looks like they should have something that you can use.

I think Ross Custom Switches also handles some of the Gargraves products.

I'll check into it. Thanks for the tip!

Jeff,

You can easily install the 3356 horse car and coral on a layout using GarGraves track. You can use the OTC lock  on and 364C controller supplied with the set.

If you are using a roadbed material such as cork make sure the roadbed is extended  to the area where the coral is located.

Move the wooden GarGraves cross ties back in order to make room for the OTC lock on. Place the OTC Lock on under the GarGraves track and snap it into place just as you would do using regular Lionel tubular track. I placed a screw in the cross tie on each side of the OTC Lock on to help keep it in place. Be sure and insert the O Gauge adapter into the OTC control rails. Place the two alignment rails on the coral under the GarGraves track just as you would using Lionel tubular track - move the wooden cross ties as necessary. Wire the OTC Lock on, coral and 364c controller per the directions that came with the 3356 set. The 3356 and coral work best using variable voltage.

Here are a couple of pictures.

 Here is a Video of the 3356 Horse car and Coral in operation on GarGraves track.

Hope this helps.

Richard

Richard Gonzales posted:

Jeff,

You can easily install the 3356 horse car and coral on a layout using GarGraves track. You can use the OTC lock  on and 364C controller supplied with the set.

If you are using a roadbed material such as cork make sure the roadbed is extended  to the area where the coral is located.

Move the wooden GarGraves cross ties back in order to make room for the OTC lock on. Place the OTC Lock on under the GarGraves track and snap it into place just as you would do using regular Lionel tubular track. I placed a screw in the cross tie on each side of the OTC Lock on to help keep it in place. Be sure and insert the O Gauge adapter into the OTC control rails. Place the two alignment rails on the coral under the GarGraves track just as you would using Lionel tubular track - move the wooden cross ties as necessary. Wire the OTC Lock on, coral and 364c controller per the directions that came with the 3356 set. The 3356 and coral work best using variable voltage.

Here are a couple of pictures.

 Here is a Video of the 3356 Horse car and Coral in operation on GarGraves track.

Hope this helps.

 

Richard

 

 

 

 

 

Just a question, could I just use the Gargraves UCS track section?  Those sections have the controll rails, just like a Lionel UCS section.  I want to add this accessory and all my track is Ross.

thanks

Tony

Atlas O Accessory Rails (6097) will also work.  I added them in a couple places on my Gargraves track for unloading dump cars, Lionel and MTH.  Work great!

Accessory Rails Link

KD

Tony,

 I’ not sure but I think not. The horse car and corral are activated at the same time by the 364c controller.

Cut a piece of GarGraves track and place it in with the Ross track. You can insert the OTC lock-on and adjust t GG ties as necessary.

I just don’t see how the GG operating track can be used with the 3356 horse car and corral.

Hope this helps.

Richard

Tony,

the Atlas Rails may work. Use the OTC lock-on to make sure the Atlas rails are connected electrically the same as the rails on the lock-on. The 364c controller or some kind of on /off switch must be used in order to activate the horse car and corral at the same time.

Let us know if it works, we may learn something new.

 Thanks!

Richard 

I also use the Atlas control rails. Very easy to install into the GG track.

Hal

HMS2035 posted:

I also use the Atlas control rails. Very easy to install into the GG track.

Hal

Jim Barrett did an article in OGR a few years ago about installing the Atlas rails on Gargraves track. They do work and I have a few pair I've yet to use.  While the Atlas rails are easy to install the mounting pins are offset and require precise off center drilling so that the rail itself centers.  Since I no longer have that OGR copy, I'll have to measure up and find the drill size and exact position to drill them myself.