Choices in 3 Rail Track

Gargraves flex is your answer. Easy to work with and a lot cheaper. Oh I think it looks better too. I got my first GG track in 1953. Don

Chris,

   This all depends on what you intend to run on your tracks, as you acquire engines and rolling stock.  IMO it's not the least expensive you want to really look at, it's longevity engineering satisfaction and constant running ability.

You already have some great FasTrack, that most every kind of engine and rolling stock will run on.  Further the Lionel Command Control FasTrack Switches are simply some of the greatest engineering Lionel has ever done.

Add the Legacy & DCS packages to your FasTrack, and you are set for some quality running.

PCRR/Dave

I run FasTrack in my Train Room along with an inner loop of 031 RealTrax and some Conventional Lionel Tubular.

I found the prices at Mario's Trains to be pretty good in regards to FasTrack. Their no shipping deal really helps as well.

Of course, if you're putting down a good chunk of change for a number of items, it never hurts to call the dealer directly and ask for free shipping to seal the deal.

Like DON but not as long I have used Gar Graves since 1967. Started off with their switches but many years back, late eighties I started using Ross switches. With Gar Graves you have a wider choice of preformed curves with wood or plastic ties. Also you can bend the flex track to a curve if you want something in between those and with Ross you have more  choices of switches, crossovers to choose from. But in the end it will be what you decide as to what is going to be your track............Paul

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. This is exactly the kind of information I'm looking for.   Keep them coming....

I got into O and ended up with a ton of fastrack.  I like it.  It takes a lot of thought to work with though.  You can alter track length but not easily like gargraves or any tube type track.  Fastrack is super easy to add power drops to when wiring up your track.  Gargraves/Ross in my opinion does look better.  But dont forget to add the cost of roadbed and ballast.  You can ballast fastrack if you want to but it wont look like track laid on cork if you dont.  Read about fastrack and study how the curves are set up.   The 048 is an oddball.  I have a bunch of it that I didnt use on my new layout.  The lionel catalog online shows exactly what I'm speaking of. Look at how the other radius track makes quarter and half curves.  I think 048 is the only radius that doesnt in fastrack.  If I recall correctly. 

Jim

carsntrains posted:

I got into O and ended up with a ton of fastrack.  I like it.  It takes a lot of thought to work with though.  You can alter track length but not easily like gargraves or any tube type track.  Fastrack is super easy to add power drops to when wiring up your track.  Gargraves/Ross in my opinion does look better.  But dont forget to add the cost of roadbed and ballast.  You can ballast fastrack if you want to but it wont look like track laid on cork if you dont.  Read about fastrack and study how the curves are set up.   The 048 is an oddball.  I have a bunch of it that I didnt use on my new layout.  The lionel catalog online shows exactly what I'm speaking of. Look at how the other radius track makes quarter and half curves.  I think 048 is the only radius that doesnt in fastrack.  If I recall correctly. 

Jim

Thanks for the info Jim. I have 1/2 sections of the O-48. But nothing in 1/4. Any additional ballast would be very easy to do.

You said your layout was going to be semi-permanent. I'm not sure what that means, but if you think that you might be taking the track up from time to time, then you should probably stay away from flex track. It really wants to be anchored to the table. If you are going to rearrange your track more than once in a blue moon, you should think about its durability. Of the various types of sectional track, Atlas is probably the easiest to break. The rails are held on by tiny plastic faux-spikes molded onto the ties. Pretty, but you can grab a rail in one hand and the plastic ties in the other, and pull the track apart like a zipper. Except it doesn't go back together again!

As far as expense, the very cheapest sectional track is used O or O-27. It can be found in several different diameters. I know that O-27 was also made in O-42 and O-54. O has been recently made in a variety of diameters, by Menards. You could add your own ties and ballast. Gargraves sectional is better looking, and not too expensive; and it's pretty robust. You can use it with Gargraves switches, or splurge and use Ross, which are pricey, but super reliable.

Just some random thoughts!

I never get bored of these  "whats the best track" subjects Not kidding! Nick

If it weren’t for the Command Control switches of FasTrack, I’d have gone with Ross track and switches. But those Command Control switches are just too convenient: no wiring, no remote controllers, just connect, program and play.

But FasTrack is too loud. I covered the plywood with thin carpet. One real concern would be bridges: the roadbed is still there.

TM Terry posted:

If it weren’t for the Command Control switches of FasTrack, I’d have gone with Ross track and switches. But those Command Control switches are just too convenient: no wiring, no remote controllers, just connect, program and play.

But FasTrack is too loud. I covered the plywood with thin carpet. One real concern would be bridges: the roadbed is still there.

On your last paragraph simple solution-transition to Gar Graves.Nick

rockstars1989 posted:

TM Terry posted:

If it weren’t for the Command Control switches of FasTrack, I’d have gone with Ross track and switches. But those Command Control switches are just too convenient: no wiring, no remote controllers, just connect, program and play.

But FasTrack is too loud. I covered the plywood with thin carpet. One real concern would be bridges: the roadbed is still there.

On your last paragraph simple solution-transition to Gar Graves.Nick

The only time fastrack is loud is if you are running your trains full blast.  Then the train is going to be loud anyway!  I spent hours reading on how to keep FT quiet.   Then used it and wondered what folks were doing to make it loud lol  I do have a 1971 DT&I engine that I run now and then at mach 5 because that's how it runs.   Its not that bad lol

Jim 

Gargraves Track.  Ross Custom Switches--they have more kinds and are the Rolls Royce of O scale.  Do yourself a favor and just buy Ross switches.

Groundhogs Day!!!

Maybe the #1 topic here.....use the search button....same for 'So you want a model railroad', the huge railroad in Germany and the Menard's Brewery!!!!

Another recommendation for Gargraves Track, returned to this hobby in early 1990's had origional O Gauge Lionel track from the 1950's, gave this track away and stayed with Gargraves wood tie Phantom rail tinplate track. Layout in basement equipped with a dehumidifier, no track rusting. track wire leads are easy to solder to the tin plate track, once you start working with the track bending into arcs or curves becomes easier this is a learned experience, USA manufacture and not difficult to purchase domestically and Gargraves has a long track history.

Ross Custom Switches or Gargraves Switches cane be use directly with this track,no special joint/connection adapters and no noticeable in the overall height from switch and track base to top of the rails. They have a website that can answer you questions as they arise, I use their 3/4 inch phillips head black painted screws and Midwestern Cork roadbed. For switches/wyes  these two items were laid on a sheet of luan and traced out to make templates, these templates were used to cut out the bases for these switch/wyes by using a scroll jig saw.

I'm taking this all in...Sounds like I stay with the Fastrack and the convenience of the programming of the switches or with Gargraves track with Ross or gargraves switches. Now I just need to make that final decision.

AMCDave, sorry, totally forgot to use the search feature.

Thanks everyone!