Anyone Ever Use Gargraves 2-Rail track?

http://www.gargraves.com/switch2.html#o2

Same rails as the 3r......decent profile with a squared top. Maybe not as nice as Atlas 2R but very close and easy/cheaper to buy/find. Joe linked the switches. 

Thanks guys!

I wonder how a GG 100" radius switch and a RCS #6 would look if they were laid over each other (I don't see any switch pdfs for Gargraves)?

Switch - 100" Radius GG

Straight Rail Length - 15.00" (RCS #6 = 19.1", but RCS doesn't make 2-rail track, except special order)

Inside Curved Rail - 16.76"

Length Radius of Inside Rail - 101.27"

Frog Angle Degrees - 10

Degree of Arc Crossover - 9.5

Center to Center - 4.21"

I understand it is cheaper and easier to find than Atlas but it is essentially the 3 rail track with the center rail missing.  If you are going 2 rail you need to commit to the scale rail height.  GG 2 rail just isn't an option.

I am not sure how to word it so you can understand.........

'Same rails as the 3r......decent profile with a squared top.'

What's the "code" thickness of Gargraves and Ross track?  Pretty large I assume, I'll go measure!!!

Looks like code 250 (.250" above the ties).

I'm going to jump in and not only re-iterate what AMCDave said: "...decent profile with a

squared top" - yes, indeed; very good profile, but, I'll add to it - as I've done the comparison - this is true:

From bottom of tie to top of rail GG is LOWER than Atlas.

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Now, the ties...? GG are too big, no doubt. I do not mind them in a 3-rail setting,

and probably not in a 2-rail setting, but they could be smaller; SHOULD be

smaller, long-amortized tooling to the contrary.

And getting all those chrome rails painted between the ties is a pain. (I spray my

rail before laying it.)

Heck, I'd use GG anyway, probably. Seems to me that Atlas rail-tops are too wide, and

I just like the product.

Yes.

Many many years ago when I was transitioning for 3 rail to 2 rail [ via a layout that could operate 2 and 3 rail on the same trackage ] I either bought some at an attractive price, or was given some.  I sold or gave away almost all of it -- there is still some [ maybe 12 ft ] on my present layout, in a very hidden-from-view stageing area.

Frankly, unless it were absolutely the only 2 rail track available, I would recommend against using it for a number of reasons:

   -  Looks.  Is there any worse two rail track [ other than 2 rail tubular for windup / clockwork trains ] for looks ?  No tie plates, shape of rail, etc etc

   -  Does not readily flex or bend

   -  Does not mate well with anything else - well, except with GG or equivalent 3 rail track !

That's just my opinion and experience, of course. 

Best rgds, SZ

Dave, you probably should take a breath before typing and think about how the message will be read.  That being said, in my opinion, GG 2 rail track is a poor second choice.  If you are going to build out a 2 rail layout, then there are other choices that just look better.  My Atlas track is (as Bob asked) code 125.  I don't know what the gargraves track code is but it certainly is not to scale and just doesn't look good in a 2 rail setting.  I try to visit some 2 rail modelers from time to time and I have yet to see any of those layouts include gargraves track.  Now, as a 3 rail option, I happen to like and use their product, but for 2 rail, it simply is not an option. 

Question was 'is it same rail'

I answer 'same rail'

Then question 'but is it same rail'

I am at loss as to how to answer further.....didn't want to look like I just ignored......

From day one I heard that Gargraves track was a bear to work with. But in 1994 I wanted to run some O 3r track outside. Best option, only one I knew of, was GG stainless steel. I bought a case.....then with many outside issues...it sat. 

When I started my layout last year I tried using some. Maybe because I built so many HO and N layouts only using flex track.....but the GG was as easy as it gets. No matter weather it was GG stainless or GG tinplate rails.....still no issues. Nice smooth curves. Now I do not go below O-54.....but only because I am building a scale layout.  Maybe tighter is hard to do. 

Also I am using Atlas cross overs as I wanted 22.5 degree......work just fine with GG track using Atlas joiners.  Even look good.....I have a junction with GG, Atlas and Ross components that I love!!! The best of all worlds. 

I just measured my 1 piece of Atlas 3-rail track and the rail is .223" only above the ties compares to the GG .250".

D500 is correct though, the Atlas track is taller from the bottom of the ties to the top of the rail, the Atlas plastic ties are thicker than the Gargraves wooden ties.

Here's my reason for asking...I have a 2-rail Weaver RS3 and a 3-rail MTH 2-8-0 and I need to decide which one I'm going to operate using battery-powered RC.  If successful then my other engines (all 3-rail) may get converted.  If so, I can run them on 2 or 3-rail track, but I don't necessarily want to redo the drive wheels to do so.  I could switch the Weaver RS3 back to 3-rail wheels, but it does look good wearing the smaller-flanged wheelsets of 2-rail.

I was looking to see if there was any track (scale or Hi-rail) available that would accommodate both 2 and 3-rail wheels without (any or too much of) a dip when they cross a switch frog.  At what point will a 3-rail wheel bottom out on the ties (in other words, how deep are the 3-rail flanges)?

I may have to keep my present 3-rail layout and fleet, and build a simple 2-rail shelf layout when I want to run the Weaver RS3, IF the RC gear will fit inside.  I know it'll fit in the 2-8-0's tender.

The easiest/simplest/cheapest solution is to backfit the Weaver RS3 to Hi-rail wheels, which it may come down to.

But I'd still like to know if there's a minimum rail height that will still allow 3-rail wheels to work properly.

Just wanted to clear up one thing.  Rail used on Atlas 2 rail track is different than that used on their 3 rail track.  Atlas 2 rail is code 148 rail which is about half the height of Atlas 3 rail track at roughly code 250.  That was a cause of confusion in the above discussion.  If you want to run 3 rail flanges on 2 rail track, some may actually run OK on standard Atlas 2 rail track as 3 rail flanges are not terribly standardized over time.  Some recent 3 rail models run OK on 2 rail otherwise I do think GG is a good choice as it is the only current choice for large flange 2 rail.  I have heard that some people have used MTH scaletrax and removed the center rail.  Not sure how that looks but might be better than GG.

J2M

I have used it and I have a bunch of 2 rail "flex" left over. If anyone is interested in it let me know. It's on the for sale list that I'm working on.

Bob D take a look at the posting of the 3 rail stud layout for sale. this might be exactly what you are looking for....

Thanks guys, I have a lot to look at!!!

I'm still waiting on the RC system to arrive from RCS in Australia, got the battery in yesterday, I'll know more then.