New to Site: Atlas O vs. Gargraves

Thanks for the clarification Dennis - must be the eyes!

 Scaletrax & switches all the way. easy to install,bend,and repair if needed. Have had it over eight years and no problems with exception of track cleaning every so often, which we all have to do at one time or another. Tom

PA Train Guy,

Just a quick follow-up to my original post.

Plan your layout, using layout software, prior to starting purchase of your track/switches.  Going into a layout of this size, you could easily spend $2000, if you plan a lot of turnouts.

At one time, and this was several years ago, AtlasO had free track layout software on their website, but I'm not sure that this is something they currently offer.

RR-Track at www.rrtrack.com has an excellent layout planning software.  They have libraries the include, AtlasO, Gargarves, Ross, Lionel, and MTH.  I believe the libraries will also price out the material for each track manufacturer.

Play around and see if you can design your layout with whatever manufacturer of track that you select.  If you have issues, try the same design using other track.

I have a very old copy of rrtrack that I still use after many years and several iterations of my layout.

Jim

I use what I can afford...

which is MTH real trax that came with sets, used I buy wherever I can and Used Gargraves I got a great deal on..I use MTH andgargraves turnouts...

I really like Atlas track, but IMO the switches suck.  The modular layout has Atlas switches, and I would never go that route again.  I like the Atlas track and Ross switches, that's a good combination.

Are you looking for 40" straights? We recently bought them at Trainz, and they still show them in stock.

And, Nicholas Smith, etc has the 10"

Jim

To all the folks that replied  to my first post. Thanks.  I never dreamed of getting so many responses.  It is clear that I have more research to do.  Again, thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond.  Truly appreciate it.  PA Train Guy