Fast Track - Gargraves - compatible?

check out www.gargraves.com.  I believe that they sell a conversion piece.  Maybe it's the other way around and Lionel sells a conversion piece of track.

Not sure if there is an easier method but have you looked at Fastrack to tubular track connector section and then go to Gargraves track. Is it Gargraves switches you are looking to connect with Fastrack? I have found that using Gargraves and 031 style tubular track requires shimming of the Gargraves track or switch sections to work correctly.

Lee Fritz

LIONEL sells an "adapter" - but - it's setup for FasTrack>Tubular

Tubular pins are bigger than Gargraves.

But Gargraves sells "Mating Pins" - so conceivably you could roll your own.

I think you'll still have profile issues, too - the Gargraves isn't as tall as the FasTrack - so you'll have to shim the Gargraves side.

Lionel 6-12040 FasTrack to O tubular and Gargraves #801 mating pins - GG to Lionel Tubular. I think the rail height is really close with wood tie GG.

I used the Fastrack transition section with mating pins.  I used Midwest cork roadbed and it matched up the Ross track almost perfectly

Thaddeus posted:

I used the Fastrack transition section with mating pins.  I used Midwest cork roadbed and it matched up the Ross track almost perfectly

I have used the same setup and it works good. I also have just pulled the Fastrack pins out of a regular section of Fastrack, used a Dremel to cut the Gargraves to the offset Fastrack pattern and used the mating pins in the Fastrack. It worked too.

George

Want to install several old Lionel 154 X-ing Lights, not crossing gate.  Modifying Fast track to install two small isolated sections of the outside rail would be a real challenge so I am looking at installing a small section ( 3") gargarves, wired to the X-ing Signals to operate them.  This would be fit between the layout fast track.

I have done Gargraves to 031 tubular and the Gargraves track needed to be shimmed. Roadbed might work as a shim, I have not tried that because I don't use roadbed with tubular track, I use 3 R Plastic's rubber ties instead.

Lee Fritz

bruce benzie posted:

Want to install several old Lionel 154 X-ing Lights, not crossing gate.  Modifying Fast track to install two small isolated sections of the outside rail would be a real challenge so I am looking at installing a small section ( 3") gargarves, wired to the X-ing Signals to operate them.  This would be fit between the layout fast track.

 

You could use 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" sections of Fastrack together to get just over a 3" section of track. Then pull the Fastrack connector pins on each end of that section for the isolated rail. Then use an O gauge tubular insulated pin in those two joints. You can easily connect wire to the bottom of Fastrack by putting an O ring wire connector around the rail tabs. I don't think I would use Gargraves for what you are trying to accomplish.

You can also use a single 4.5" piece of Fastrack for this, but I don't know your operating limitations.

George 

Thanks, George.  I like the idea of using the 1`-3/4" sections of fastrack.  That way everything is the same.

bruce