Difference Between GarGrave & Ross Track

I have both on my postwar themed layout( I just dislike Lionel tubular). The Gargraves is all straight sections and a few custom curves. The Ross is all the rest of the curves and half the switches. The other switches are Lionel O42 (O27 profile). I prefer the Ross track over the Gargraves- it just looks more natural. The Ross switches are the best i've ever had.

I use both, using Gargraves for my straight and custom curves and Ross for all fixed radius curves. Like the look of Ross much better with the spikes and also the flat bottom of the rail that sits atop the wooden ties. Gargraves with the rail flanges that are cut into the ties necessitates the need to ballast up to the very top of the tie to hide the flange. Besides the Ross fixed curves that range from 0120 to 072, I also have 94 Ross turnouts. I am a big fan.

Both

Price is not the reason to choose track.  Remember, you only get what you pay for.  Ross track is much better built and the thickness of the rail is where Ross shines.  Ross is thicker.  Steve has his own rail making machine.  Gargraves has been around for many years and yes Ross cost a bit more.  If I were going to do it over, Ross is a no brainer. 

The Ross switch is second to none.  I have 86 of them on my layout and some have been there for many years.  A perfect switch.  Yes, Gargraves is a good track system also.  I am not throwing rocks at it.  You asked which track do we prefer.  That is my track of choice.

Ross turnouts, Gargraves flextrack.

Gagraves track is very nice, and I use their pre-curves to, but I really like the Ross Track best. Ross matches up with Atlas O which is my primary track.  As The Cape Cod Northern said, Ross sits Flat on Wood Ties, their Turnouts are The very Best, and the way you attach the track to your roadbed is easy...They are both Great Choices and when Ballasted, Who cares....Happy Railroading....

I will ditto Dewey.

But to add to this, I designed my layout using RR-Track (EXCELLENT!! Best money spent on a layout, IMHO!) and decided to use preformed sectional curves by Gargraves wherever possible.  I definitely needed the advantage and flexibility (pun intended) of Gargraves 101 in several dozen situations in the layout design.  But for the standard O-72 and O-80 (and several larger radii) curves I chose to use sectional to reduce the amount of bending, cutting,....and waste associated with forming flex into those regular curves.  I'm glad I did, too! 

It's not that I deemed Gargraves curves any better than Ross sectional curves.  Rather, I wanted a uniform rail/tie appearance throughout the layout, except for the switches, which were destined from the git-go to be Ross.  And the spikes throughout the Ross switch assemblies tended to 'celebrate' the switches, drawing attention to their complexity...and gorgeous quality!  The rest of the trackwork has a clean rail/tie appearance...which, if I choose to do so someday, should make it easier to paint the rails without working around the spikes (Probably not a biggie, anyway!).

So the use of Ross switches, Gargraves everything else, for me was for cosmetic reasons....in addition to Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y....and American-made, to boot!!

BTW, if you read Ross's info, they accept/encourage a quasi-symbiotic relationship with Gargraves.  Sure, they compete in several product areas, but how can you beat having TWO genuine American manufacturers making the highest quality products for our hobby working compatibly???? 

Hey, you asked.  That's MHO. 

Happy, happy, happy.

KD 

I have  both, but prefer Ross.

If you look at this link, you'll see Gargraves 072 curved track is actually 72.59" diameter, not 72":

http://www.gargraves.com/files...onal%20specs-web.pdf

Gargraves track is embedded into the ties, Ross track (at least all I have) is folded under and spiked to each tie, just looks better IMO. (I've posted photos about this on 2 other threads).

Ross does not make flex track, Gargraves does.  I used sectional curves wherever possible, just to keep the curve steady, and used flex for filler pieces or transitional pieces.

Atlas looks the best, but man is it expensive

Like Marty said, track is not the place to be stingy.

I have a pile of Gargraves flex track and Ross switches I picked up at York from Ross!  Since my layout will require some custom curves anyway I opted to use all Gargraves for my trackage.  I don't find anything objectionable or cheap about using Gargraves.

I have Gargraves track and Ross switches.  All my curves are Gargraves flex, 72 or larger.  The advantage of using flex, which is longer per section, is that you need fewer drops.  For DCS some people say you need a drop for every 5 joints in the track regardless of length. (your mileage may vary) I have one section where there are more section of track, it works but the DCS signal varies.

Although close up Ross looks better once you step back you don't see the spikes.

This setup has the best balance between operation, cost, and looks.

Dan

Remember, you only get what you pay for.  Ross track is much better built and the thickness of the rail is where Ross shines.  Ross is thicker.  Steve has his own rail making machine.  

It's not just the thickness of the rails and the actual spikes but the stringers underneath each sectional track gives the ross track strength and durability.

One has to think of track as a foundation of a house/building. Be stingy and use cheap products, eventually that will catch up to you and will bite you in the keaster big time. You can be running the most expensive top of the line loco however, it's not worth a darn if you are running on shoddy track and wiring.For switches, its ROSS[period]! Too many have positive comments on Ross Switches and gargraves switches can't hold a candle to Ross.

Atlas looks the best, but man is it expensive 

Maybe new but fi you look on the secondary market, you can purchas as much as 40% off MSRP! there is not much that can go wrong with atlas O track and It's solid nickel Silver rails. You can even easily fix any broken spike heads on the atlas O track too!

GarGraves fixed curves range from O-32 to O-138. Ross has an huge verity of switches, but GarGraves 42 switch is ideal for a freight  yard.