Track

Atlas!

@jps32016 posted:

1. I know RailTrax has been discontinued, but is ScaleTrax still being manufactured and if so where might it be available?  If not what  are the only options left?  I built a large Gargraves layout for a museum but wanted something up to date for a moderate home layout.  Is Fast Track overall the best option?  Ross?  They don't make uncoupler tracks or motorized switches?  Atlas?

     

For the record I am a happy user of Ross, GG flex and Atlas.

I would bet that there are still more layouts done with GG flex than the rest. Ross even sells it. Is it somehow a deficit because Ross uses well established and regarded Z motors while Atlas may make their own? I don't think so. Do a search and get a good idea of how many Atlas users replace those motors with Z motors.

Upper left is GG flex, upper right is Atlas, and that's a Ross switch.

@jps32016 posted:

I built a large Gargraves layout for a museum but wanted something up to date for a moderate home layout.  Is Fast Track overall the best option?  Ross?  They don't make uncoupler tracks or motorized switches?  Atlas?

Up to date? I use a mix of Gargraves & Ross track and all Ross switches. I am very happy with how it all went together.

Fastrack? That's what I ditched, I'd never go back there!

Atlas? Like the track, not the switches. However, Atlas has been hard to find, not to mention very expensive! I went through three cases of Gargraves Flex, that cost me $1200. The same amount of Atlas track would have been about three times the price! Also, the Gargraves track matches up better appearance wise with the Ross track & switches, the tie size and spacing are very similar.

IMO there's nothing not "up to date" with a Ross/Gargraves combo!

I have all Ross switches and track.  I'm very happy over the years.  The selling feature for me is the variety of switches.  Over the years I have made several modifications which would have not been posable without the Ross switch selection.

Yep, the assortment of switches Ross offers was a key point.  There are tons of them that I didn't use, but I do have a few that are pretty hard to find elsewhere.

The 3.5" spacing dual yard switch was something I didn't even know existed until I was looking how to make one using two 14 degree Ross switches.  Steve just said "why not use the yard switch".  Crikey, I didn't even know they existed!

I also have several 4-way yard switches, a couple of Double-Slip switches, and a few curved switches.  The variety that Ross offers is really a huge draw.

I used all Atlas and Atlas switches with RossBed for my 6x16. I upgraded my switches to DZ1000s........it worked well but I had trouble with the mechanical parts of the switches as they aged.....

Our modular layout uses Ross switches and Atlas track......it works great.....but building new modules with price of Atlas has sky-rocketed.....in our 8 track yard we used Gargraves straights to save money.....

My new home layout will be all Ross with RossBed. Atlas would have been cost- prohibitive......a tentative plan.......I’ve already made some changes in it......

Peter

Wait 'til those ****ed nubs on Atlas track start breaking. . .  I have a small pile of loose rails from cuts of Atlas flex track. I was going to use them but once they start letting go it is really hard to stop it. I did save a few with super glue. I don't think this is as much of an issue with sectional pieces but I suggest not handling them too much. Lay it down and leave it alone. It is beautiful track and for the most part I like it. Just too expensive and most often hard to come by.

I am just starting my layout and I am happy with gargraves track so far, I find it pretty easy to work with and flex. I picked up 1 gargraves 072 turnout just to see what the deal was with with them. The switch performs good for me but I will probably go with Ross as mentioned a lot here.
I looked at atlas track but the cost and availability are why I choose GG/Ross.

Thanks for all the responses.  The layout I built and later donated in the 90s is all Gargraves  with NJ and Toshiba switch machines underneath, and operated with DCS.  You can see pictures of it at strasburgmuseum.org.  I run shows for visitors during the season.  The track is screwed directly to the plywood, with ballast built up through the wooden ties.  Part of the fun is when I invite them to put their ears on little blocks of 2x4 along the layout.  What they hear is the loud rumble and vibration of the real thing when those 9 lb. locomotives and cars roar by.

While I have some Lionel 072 tubular for a fairly decent "off season" layout at home I was just wondering if an investment in some newer stuff would be worth it.  Took a lot of work to get old switches working and track cleaned, but everything now works fine, though I could use a couple more switches.  Seems the advice I'm getting is that if the look of the non-scale track doesn't bother me then finishing it up with tubular seems the logical choice.