Question about fastrack

To mate Gargraves with Fastrac you must first get the tubular adapter piece that Lionel makes for Fastrac to tubular then use Gargraves adapter pins to go to Gargraves track. There is NO easy way to go to Gargraves track with Fastrac.

Lee Fritz

It's also possible to remove the pins from Fastrack (not easy I know), and use those same adapter pins to go directly to Fastrack.

Given that I consider Fastrack switches to be at least equal, if not better than Gargraves switches, why would you want to do that?

I agree with gunrunnerjohn.  I have all Atlas track except I use Fastrack remote switches - the most durable and reliable I have seen.

Could you perhaps post some photos of this?  I was planning to go all FasTrack on my future layout, but the Atlas track looks so nice to me.  But I wasn't sure it it was worth mixing them.  And do you use any of the "snap on" molded trackbed for the Atlas track (Do they even still make it?)?  I have no plans for weathering or ballasting, which is why I was thinking going all FasTrack.  And I'm wanting to lay the track on that green astro turf carpet stuff you can get at Home Depot/Lowe's, like I did for my under the bed layout as seen here (I like the way it looks.).  But it is very noisy and I was thinking the Atlas track would be quieter.

"Pigfoot" asked the same question about Ross switches and Fastrack a day or so ago. My opinion is the same as on that thread. I really don't see any practical advantage to it.

Unless you have Gargrave switches around and wont to use them rather then see them collect dust it's alot of extra work with no gain.

Now if you wont to use Gargrave track with the Lionel switches then there is a possible gain in the looks of the system.

You see I think Fastrack switches are one of the most reliable on the market.

The above guys have had good results with there applications but you must remember that there is a real learning curve when you start mixing track systems and both of them have been doing it for years.

I guess in my old age I'm more interested in seeing people take the easy way to running trains.

In any case there is not much I could add to what Lee, or John said above accept if you do go this route have patience and fun.

You would also have to cut the FasTrack rails to an equal length OR cut the GarGraves rails to an appropriate unequal length to mate up.

Yes, but it's not that difficult to use the Dremel to cut the rails to an even match.  The harder part is getting the rail up to remove the pin without putting a kink in it.

Thanks.  I've got plenty of time before I even start, so we'll see what I go with.