A dilemma on track and switches.

Jason:  One of the big fears of many people using Gargraves is having to cut the rails after you bend the curve.  Atlas flexible is no different.  You still have to cut the rail ends to fit them into a curve.

If your switches and some of your track came off the old layout still appearing reusable, you can save yourself a ton of money by reusing it.  In order to bend Gargraves track that has been in place for a while, simply turn the track sections upside down and spray them with WD-40 or a similar product.  This will loosen the ties grip on the rail base and permit reconfiguring the track.  By my choice, I used the old Gargraves track in my new yards and sidings, using new track for most of my main line trackage.  As to switches, I haven't been a fan of Gargraves for switches for a long time, and I have gradually been replacing most of my main line switches with Ross products.

Paul Fischer

Really it comes down to what you can afford and what you are comfortable working with. Atlas is track is not cheap, and it looks very good.

I like the Ross switches and Gargraves track because of the track is a little more affordable, and I like the wood ties.

If you are comfortable bending flex track then you can use either the Atlas or Gargraves.

I can tell you from experience that Atlas O "flex track" is very definitely NOT user friendly!!!

If I had it to do over again, and had known more about MTH Scale Trax, I would have done my whole layout in Scale Trax. 

I personally would NEVER give up a Ross switch for an Atlas switch.  I do not have any experience with MTH switches so I will not comment on them.

Keep in mind that the Ross switches match perfectly with the Atlas track (same height, rail profile and can be joined using the Atlas rail joiners).  I like the Atlas track because of the smooth curves and trains run much more quietly on the solid rail.  I have replace most of the Atlas switches on my layout with Ross and if ballasted, it blends very well together.

Good luck with your decision and happy railroading,

Don

I use gargraves and have for many years. With a dremel drill and a cutting blade cutting the track is easy. This present layout I used gargraves preformed curve track. They offer quite a number of curve sizes. Years ago I started replacing my gargraves switches with Ross. Whatever you use in the line of flex track you will still have to cut it......Paul

I prefer Gargraves Flextrack and Ross Turnouts operated by Tortoise motors. I have laid a lot of Gargraves Flex over time and have no difficulty with cutting or, achieving perfect curves at the seeminngly troublesome track joints where some seem to have problems.

I recycled the Gargraves Flex Track and Ross Turnouts from a 15x25 layout down the hall here in the Condo and used it on my much reduced attic layout just down the hall over the Garage. I gave away a dozen Turnouts to Will down in Raleigh and also gave away 290' of Gargraves Flex from my dismantled 14x32 Mountain Cottage 5-track layout.

Good advice from Paul F. above on rehabbing Gargraves Flex with WD-40.

I used Atlas track and love it, but would not use their switches based onthe limited use of them (two) that I have had.  Their flextrack is not the most flexible I've seen, and you do have to cut it (but I think you have to do that will all flextrack). I doubt Gargraves is much different though, so I'd use whatever I wanted between those.

Except for two,I operate essentially all Ross Switches with Tortoise Motors on 12 VDC which have been trouble-free. 

The exception to Ross:

I have 072/084 curved/curved turnouts custom made by Frank Curtis back in the '90s  now used as the entrance/exit to my Service Yard off the inner mainline. I have never tried articulated engines on them, but the 2-8-2s, 4-6-2s,the big N&W 4-8-2 "Water Buffalo",Cab Diesels and 20" passenger cars all negotiate them okay foward or reverse. 

Of course I am not biased at all.

Thanks to all who replied.

I was happy with the Gargraves track and Ross on the old layout, worked well, used a combo of flex and curve sections and a mix of 1970's vintage Gargraves switches with NJ International machines and new Ross ones with DZ1000.

However the old layout was small and there the less than optimal track gaps here and there which I never seemed to be able to work out.  In addition to track which can be recycled. I had been buying Gargraves whenever I saw a good deal awaiting the larger layout, so there are 2 complete circles of O72, O63, O54, and an entire box of flex, along with about a half dozen Ross switches.

Now that the new layout is getting closer to construction, I'm second guessing going Ross / Gargraves, the layout is big for me, will most likely be an on going project for a few years (at least) and in seeing folks use the Scale Trax and Atlas I reached the "Yikes is/was Gargraves the right choice?" stage. As noted above I've used Gargraves before but it took time, lots and lots of time, and I never was able to get the nice smooth curves from the flex and on long runs was never able to get the flex to run dead straight, then there were the little gaps which popped up here and there and never seemed to be fixable.

Also the new layout moves from O42/O54 to O80/O72 curves, again everything up-scales and thus get more complex adding to my desire for the more user friendly options possible.

Will continue to think this over, the room will not be finished for another couple months any way, so I can over think it a ton between now and then. I do appreciate everyone feedback, might be the train layout version of wedding day jitters.

Thanks again,

Jason

Jason, purchase a little of both ScaleTrax and Atlas:  a flextrack and a couple of curves of each.  Then roll some cars on each, run a loco back and forth, try bending the flextrack.  Perhaps even mount both flextracks as straights on a 4' long 1X12 along with some Gargraves, and ballast each track.

Not only will you obtain some hands-on experience with each, you will be able to directly compare your options.  And it will be fun as well.  Whichever you decide, you can go forward without the second-guessing, which is never fun.   -Ken

Any flex track installation will go better with the new rail roller/bender from Norm's Model supply.  Available direct or thru Just Trains of Delaware.

Top View:

Bottom view of biusiness end:

It takes about 45 to 60 seconds to get a perfect smooth arc out of any flex track.  I have been curving cases of it every week for months on a very large layout.  It has cut installion to a fraction of the many hours it required previously.

I  test  rolled three rail track to a 9" radius perfectly smooth semi circle.

For your installation I would spec Ross / Gargraves.  Tortise is a good option. 

I can also use it to straighten out curved track. Tom Tee

If I had it to do over again I would stick with Atlas O track and Ross switches like I have currently.  I would use as little Flextrack as possible and stick with manual ground throws wherever I can easily reach.

Hi Joe Barker,  Who's resistance iron are you using.  Thanks

I use Atlas track and Ross switches as well. Terry

I have used Atlas track and switches  and had great luck.  I really like the solid rail, I think it both looks better and is quieter.  

While I have not had any issue with the Atlas switches  I will use some of the specialty Ross units that are not available in atlas, such as the 4  way switch.

If starting over, I would look at the MTH scale track as well, I believe it is in a similar class as Atlas, however the switch complement is limited.

Just my 2cents

Marty - We use a Triton iron #82111 from Micro-Mark.  We groove the tips with a grinder to fit around the rail.

Here is a link:  http://www.micromark.com/trito...ering-iron,7890.html

My father's family was from Fairfield and I model the NH.  I infer that you are also a NH modeler?

Joe

Another option is to intentionally use different track systems for different effects.  Heavier rail for mainline, lighter rail for branch and industry tracks.

My railroad is primarily Lionel Fastrack, but with Atlas for a mountain branch line (heavy mining), and then I am trying Atlas Industrial rail track for a new spur that I am putting in.   The spur will come off the main on a Lionel Fastrack turnout.

I seriously considered Scaletrax, but the wider tie spacing put me off.  It looks great from low viewing angles though, and rail height and look are fantastic. 

Purchase a little bit of each and see what your eyes prefer.