best track for a layout

Never dealing with Atlas I hear good about it as do I with Gargrave with Ross switches. To me there your best two choices. 

Flex track allows you to lay track as you want it, not as a manufacturer 'knows' you want it.  Fixed curves are okay for carpet central layouts, flex track may be better for permanent layouts where you would like 76 1/2 inch curves in a specific spot or an 83 2/3 inch curve looks good in a specific area.  You are not restricted to the curves a manufacturer offers in their catalog.  That being said, we have Gargraves fixed and flexible track curves on our layouts.  John in Lansing, ILL

A good majority here use Gar Graves with Ross switches. I do. I would say look at all the track out there to decide. Atlas is good, expensive and hard to find sometimes but limited on choice of switches . For me it has been Gar Graves. Used it for fifty years and with the advent of Ross switches you have more choices for switches and specialty tracks. ...............Paul

There are a lot of great choices, mine was, Atlas O, with pre-curve 072-081-090-099, then coupled with Ross pre-Curve 0108-0120; Ross turnouts—DZ1000 table mounted switch motors....I like the solid rail of Atlas O, and coupled with the Flat top rail of Ross....It’s a great match. Investigate the possibilities....For certain, pre curves prevent the possibilities of Kinking...Example, one can mix curves say on the outside edge of a layout you could begin with 099 090 090 099 For a corner. This is an easy curve for longer trains.I used table top mounted switch motors for ease of repair or replacement....Imagination, Good Luck and Merry Christmas....

leapinlarry posted:

There are a lot of great choices, mine was, Atlas O, with pre-curve 072-081-090-099, then coupled with Ross pre-Curve 0108-0120; Ross turnouts—DZ1000 table mounted switch motors....I like the solid rail of Atlas O, and coupled with the Flat top rail of Ross....It’s a great match. Investigate the possibilities....For certain, pre curves prevent the possibilities of Kinking...Example, one can mix curves say on the outside edge of a layout you could begin with 099 090 090 099 For a corner. This is an easy curve for longer trains.I used table top mounted switch motors for ease of repair or replacement....Imagination, Good Luck and Merry Christmas....

I second Leapinlarry...Nick

I use all Gargraves.  It is interesting on so many posts I see use Gargraves track with Ross switches. I have a large layout with 21 Gargraves  remote switches. They are all the newer design with the cast frogs. They vary from 031 to 072.  They have operated flawlessly now for over two years and they are a lot less expensive than the Ross switches.

Jim

To each his own.  Atlas looks great but I am already invested in Gargraves and Ross.  MTH scale track also looks great.  Both Atlas and MTH have fewer options when it comes to preformed curves and turnouts.  As time and $$$ permit, the GG switches are being pulled from my layout and replaced with Ross.  For whatever reason some of my locos used to "Pick" the GG switches and try to dive for the floor.  Ross is as reliable as they come.  

All good advice above. Something not mentioned in your original post - You will need to decide what is the overall 'look' you want for your layout - 'toy trains' or more 'realistic trains'. That will be the main consideration for you to decide. By leaning towards Atlas I gather you are after a more realistic look.

Atlas, Gargraves, and MTH Scaletrax are the obvious choices here. I'd like to suggest Scaletrax for several reasons - the size of the rails themselves is smaller than the others resulting in a more realistic overall look causing your equipment to appear more massive. The center rail is not a 'rail' at all but similar to Lionel's 'Super O' with its thin center blade. This too helps with the visual imaging we are after. Atlas especially looks almost 'clunky' and 'crowded' due to the larger size of the rails - all three of them.  The track is relatively inexpensive compared to Atlas and the flex track is a pleasure to work with (It springs back to neutral like HO flex track). Switches are limited to 054, 072, #4, & #6 in the larger sizes which really isn't a problem for most of us. I had a decent sized layout using it and didn't feel constrained at any time. The rails are solid like Atlas for quiet and quality. Disadvantages to MTH would be that the ties are spaced slightly too far apart for a prototypical mainline track which is not a major concern to most. Not all shops carry it but it is generally available online easily.

Gargraves is just too large to look good with our O scale equipment IMO. The ties are WAY too big and better scaled for G gauge equipment. Again, just my opinion. The operational qualities are fine and the prices are good. Ross switches (and perhaps the newer GG units) are almost bullet proof and come in a wide array of sizes. 

Personally, the visual appearance of Scaletrax was the deciding factor..

Am I incorrect in thinking Atlas track is superior to Gargraves because it is a solid brass track compared to Gargraves being hollow steel track? Am I correct to assume Atlas' solid brass rails are superior in conducting electricity than Gargraves' hollow metal rails? Also, when you consider Atlas track is solid brass with molded plastic ties versus Gargraves hollow metal track with wooden ties. Also the raw materials and associated manufacturing costs of Atlas are likely considerably more than the cheaper raw materials Gargraves uses thereby  accounting for Gargraves being a much cheaper product. Considering what I've said, cost aside, why would Gargraves therefore be a better option than Atlas?

ogaugeguy posted:

Am I incorrect in thinking Atlas track is superior to Gargraves because it is a solid brass track compared to Gargraves being hollow steel track?

Atlas O track is NOT "solid brass"!  It is solid nickel silver, thus it hardly ever oxidizes. I only have to clean our rails because they get dusty (our whole layout is Atlas).

Am I correct to assume Atlas' solid brass rails are superior in conducting electricity than Gargraves' hollow metal rails?

Again, Atlas is NOT "solid brass"!

Also, when you consider Atlas track is solid brass with molded plastic ties versus Gargraves hollow metal track with wooden ties.

See above.

Also the raw materials and associated manufacturing costs of Atlas are likely considerably more than the cheaper raw materials Gargraves uses thereby  accounting for Gargraves being a much cheaper product. Considering what I've said, cost aside, why would Gargraves therefore be a better option than Atlas?

In my opinion, any recommendation on "what is the best track to use" should be based in availability & price.

To me it depends on what your level of interest is. If you enjoy just watching trains run on a bullet proof low maintenance easy to set up track system then Lionel Fastrack or the MTH version is the choice.

Otherwise any of the track systems mentioned above will work just fine. Each has it pluses and minuses but overall work just fine. I have been slowly switching over from Atlas O to Ross track and turnouts for two reasons that are important to me -

1. Ross is made here in the USA

2. delivery has always been assured - no such thing as out of stock waiting for the next container to arrive.

Joe

Hot Water posted:

ogaugeguy posted:

Am I incorrect in thinking Atlas track is superior to Gargraves because it is a solid brass track compared to Gargraves being hollow steel track?

Atlas O track is NOT "solid brass"!  It is solid nickel silver, thus it hardly ever oxidizes. I only have to clean our rails because they get dusty (our whole layout is Atlas).

Am I correct to assume Atlas' solid brass rails are superior in conducting electricity than Gargraves' hollow metal rails?

Again, Atlas is NOT "solid brass"!

Also, when you consider Atlas track is solid brass with molded plastic ties versus Gargraves hollow metal track with wooden ties.

See above.

Also the raw materials and associated manufacturing costs of Atlas are likely considerably more than the cheaper raw materials Gargraves uses thereby  accounting for Gargraves being a much cheaper product. Considering what I've said, cost aside, why would Gargraves therefore be a better option than Atlas?

In my opinion, any recommendation on "what is the best track to use" should be based in availability & price.

 

Thank you, Hot Water. I stand corrected. Because of its "golden" finish I assumed it was brass. I didn't realize it was nickel silver since the only nickle silver track I'm familiar with is Bachmann's EZ track which is indeed silver in color.

Hot Water posted:

ogaugeguy posted:

In my opinion, any recommendation on "what is the best track to use" should be based in availability & price.

Don't forget performance.  Not all track is created equal.  And some do not perform as well as others.  I have MTH Scaletrax (I even purchased some from C.Sam).  I like the look and I like the cost (Although now it is much more expensive that when I purchased mine some 6-8 years ago).

I'm not a fan of it's performance.  Switches can be finicky and have trouble.  The track does look great, but it's delicate.  It's easy to break while installing.  I've also found that some pieces don't mate nicely with others.  I have some steam engines that derail 100% of the time through switches because the pickup roller gets hung up.  I have to put foam in the switch to prevent the pickup roller from dropping.

I have also had problems with the contacts degrading between sections.  My only real fix it to try soldering the sections together.

I'm too heavily invested to switch to anything else now.  If for some reason I tear down this layout and try again, I will consider something different.

Some pics....

It does look nice (pics 1&2)

But it does not always mate together nicely...

Electrical connections just stop working one day and I have to solder rail to repair.

I had to put liquid electrical tape on this switch because the wheels on freight cars would bump the center rail causing a spark.  Sometimes enough to stop the train.

Foam pieces had to be installed on several switches because steam engines would get their pickup roller stuck and derail.

And my latest problem from last weekend...

Here is a close up of the center rail jumper wire which was making contact with the outside rail.

Have Fun and choose wisely!

Ron

You need to evaluate your budget. That may be the determining factor. All the current systems are good but can get very expensive. For me, I use all gargraves with Ross switches. I have a good size layout and just shake my head when I think about all the money spent on track and switches. Building over time helps with the expense. I recently saw 40” atlas flex selling for $22 per section.

As noted in previous replies, it's definitely "to each his own."  I ended up using Lionel Fastrack for my base level for a few reasons:

1. I already had a decent amount on hand from previous Christmas/carpet layouts 
2. The spacing and size of the ties. Also the reflective center rail can sometimes "hide" by acting as a mirror in the right light
3. Fastrack can be weathered to look pretty good by painting the outside rails and weathering and augmenting the roadbed with ballast
4. Fastrack turnouts work very well and have Command Control (TMCC) built-in. While not prototypical in operation (they "snap") I have yet to have a derailment or partially-thrown frog that some get with other manufacturers' motors.
5. Electrical continuity and physical connectivity is solid

Downsides:

1. Tubular rails
2. Sound - track can be loud
3. No flex track or custom bends
4. Custom cutting is difficult (but not impossible)
5. Roadbed isn't conducive to girder bridges

For the reasons above, I am using Atlas O for my upper level (primarily because it doesn't have ballast, good performance)

If you decide to go with Atlas email me I have 23 or 24 pieces of 40", some are flex and I also have some misc. curves and some 10' straights. I don't want to sell the 40" as individual pcs only by the case of 12. My email is in my profile.

If you need a vast variety of turnouts, Ross Custom Switches is by far the best. It easily mates with Ross track (naturally) and Gargraves track.

I like the realistic look of Atlas (at least of the track systems I've seen).

For minimal wiring requirements, Lionel FasTrack (and their CC switches) is your best bet, but you will need some sound deadening material under the track bed. 

There is no right answer to this, it all depends on what you are looking to do with your layout, how close to prototypical you want it, what kinds of equipment you are running, how handy you are, and of course budget. The most realistic track is probably scale trax, but it is also one of the most expensive, doesn't have the selection of track other types do, can be hard to get and is pretty fragile from what I hear. Atlas is decent looking track, it offers a decent selection (they have had problems in the past with availability, getting it from their supplier, hopefully that is now a thing of the past), but it also is expensive, the fact that it is nickel silver means it won't tarnish but won't work with magne traction, fastrack is all in one with roadbed (like MTH realtrax), it is expensive, is not particularly prototypical (but can be made to look decent, by painting it/using ballast), is pretty reliable and easy to wire, but also is among the most expensive track. Gargraves and Ross is not as prototypical looking to many people (the ties are oversize, track is tubular shape and is tall), but for many they are the right combination of looks, price, convenience and the ability to get it (Ross are made in the US, Gargraves track is made here as well). If you are running post war equipment with deep flanges, the taller rail on Gargraves may make it a better match than something like scale trax or atlas because their rails are shallower and the flanges on toy train stuff can be deep. 

I am in the initial decision making process for my layout, once I have the track plan designed I'll decide, but I suspect it is going to come down to gargraves/ross or Atlas, going to depend on how much track I need and my budget, Atlas is significantly more expensive then gargraves, if you buy the 36" flextrack in bulk you can get it for a 6.50  bucks a section (talking a 50 case at places like ro) compared to Atlas 40" which is almost 3 times the price.  

It's a little like the question, "What's the best color for a horse?" A cowboy's answer = fat.

I use Fastrack (see Matttrain above) because I move every 3-5 years and it's easy to reconfigure my layouts. As said above it is noisy, but the switches have been very reliable. It is subject to damaged connector pins when used over and over. But even that is fixable a bit of solder and plastic cement. 

Enjoy the build.