im looking to pick up some gargraves track to experiment with. What is the difference between tinplate outside rails and stainless steel outside rails? Which one is better and why?
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FWIW, I use the stainless. It stays cleaner, longer.
Gilly
If there is any concern for moistuer (that you can't control) in your room (damp basement, etc). then I would stay away from tinplate track.
At a Greensburg show this summer a vendor was offering a box of 096 curves for $60.00 which was cheap. Later I discovered that it was tinplate like the old Lionel track. I did not not that both tinplate and stainless steel was available from Gargraves. Also I think that it may only have plastic ties and not wood.
For my straight sections I purchases the Gargraves flex track which is less expensive than the same section of non flex track. Thanx to Gargraves for this info.
I no longer have moisture problem in my basement so I am not concerned.
However my latest purchase from Gargraves have been stainless steel with WOOD ties (like the look better). I have also bought their remote switches but have not tried them as of yet.
I also very much like the way the track couples with "pins".
Good luck
It is more difficult to bend and harder to solder on SS track. It is more expensive and you don't need it if you keep the humidity down in your train room.
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Dennis
Well I do know that gargraves makes power clips for the track which is a big help and eliminates the need for soldering. I currently have atlas track which I love but it's exspensive and I am not great at soldering. Also I haven't had much luck with the switches either. I needed 2 new motors so far and some of them are very slow when you want to throw them. I am looking into ross custom switches along with there track line. But gargraves I see everywhere and is very affordable especially if your looking to build a huge layout.
FWIW, tinplate will also support Lionel's postwar Magnetraction; stainless does not.
As for dampness, I have no experience with damp conditions. But if dampness is enough of a concern to use stainless Gargraves, wouldn't that dampness also be an issue for trains, electronics, etc.?
Personally, Gargraves tinplate flex track on 1/4" cork and Ross switches is pretty much bulletproof IMHO, especially when ballasted and the shiny sides of the rail dulled with paint. And if you have the time, spiking Gargraves w/ O scale rail spikes makes a nice, subtle effect.
