Ross Track

We used Ross curves all over the layout  Its probably in the thousands of the amount of sections of curves we purchased.   We also used Ross straights in a number of spots.  Steve produced a special bridge section of straights with the guard rails on it  They are the best

Charlie, I have a mix of Gargraves and RCS curved sections (054 and 072) on my layout and they work fine.  I too use GG flex track for everything else.  I found it's easier to use pre-curved pieces ofr the curves than it was to bend the flex, the cost was worth the aggravation of bending it.

We ought to be trying to get both companies to come out with more prototypical ties and a transition track from thick to thin.

I switched to all ROSS track and switches. Worked out very well. The thing I like about the track is the individual spiked rails. The metal underneath the Gargraves track always annoyed me even if it was ballasted. The metal would reflect the lights and shine. I know you could paint it rust colored but that is an additional step I did not take.

Very happy with the Ross combination.

I changed to Gargraves track & switches when Lionel switches(6-23010 & 23011) were giving me headaches by the numbers, even losing all power internally.

There were some track adjustments to be made with the initial change over to Gargraves as their track size is a little larger then tubular track curves.

I have an MTH engine that don't like Gargraves switches, so I am thinking about going to Ross Custom switches.

Gargraves mates up to 027 track with just some adapter pins, no heigth concern.

Gargraves to O gauge track will have some heigth adjustment needed, very small.

Lee Fritz

I haven't constructed or rebuilt a layout in years but whenever a change is made, ROSS track or switches are my choice.  My current layout is a combination or gargraves flex track, ross switches and some ross curves.

I use 100% Ross track and switches and could not be any more pleased!

Mike

Ross switches/crossings.  Gargraves straights, curves, and flex-formed. 

And we are  having American-made quality and performance as the basis for our layout.

Just to be clear and up front about the choice we made...  Given that Gargraves was going to be the mainstay of straights and flex-form transitions, and those sections have no 'spikes' showing, we chose to go with Gargraves pre-formed curves to keep the no-spike appearance consistent.  Otherwise, we might as well have chosen Ross for some of those mainline components also.  But, the wide array of switch (turnout) choices from Ross and their incredible appearance and performance were mandatory from the git-go.

In fact, after seeing for the first time Ross's stretched double cross-over at a show....and wishing I'd had some aspirin for the increased palpitations of the heart!...I plunked that monster down at the optimum viewing spot on the empty field of my RR-Track diagram BEFORE any other track was added. It was, indeed, to be the raspberry butter crème-filled truffle of trackwork eye-candy on our layout.

Still is.

KD    

Besides the Ross switches, we used all Ross straight and curved track, mounted in the Rossbed trackbed, except for the Gargraves uncoupling/unloading track sections.  The inner loop is O-54 and the outer loop is O-64.  It looks fabulous.  We have had only derailment, actually a split switch, since the track was installed in 2007.  That one problem happened when the shoe on a boxcar's truck pushed the switch points out of place.

 Here is a view of the south end of the layout where the two mainline loops curve around the missile railcar base.

 Here are the two mainlines and a passing siding on the back of the layout.

This photo is from last weekend as I working on installing the rip-rap around a lighthouse.  You can see the O-64 and O-54 curves behind it.  Notice the wide separation between the tracks?  That came from putting a 2 1/2" "fitter" piece between the switches connecting the inner and outer loops.  It worked out great for both appearance and equipment clearance viewpoints.

One thing I noticed once I installed the curves into the foam roadbed was they had a very slight sort of superelevation, a very cool visual result that was totally unplanned.

Hope this helps with your track choices.

I would use all Ross switches, straight track and curves on a future layout. Might use Gargraves for siding and yards or sections that would be best handled by flex track. I found the two very compatible.

Thank you Pat for posting the photos of your great track work.

I think the 3-rail hobby is very luck to have ROSS custom switches as quality supplier

with their super customer support.