Gargraves or Fastrack?

I like gargrave track on cork roadbed. I thinks is the wood ties and black center rail that look great in a 3rd rail environment. But I tend to not use sectional track so I can put easements into my curves, also gargrave flex track tends to be somewhat cheaper right now.

I had all of the FasTrack I needed to construct my attic layout. Before the first piece was laid, I sold it all and bought stainless steel GarGraves (w/ Ross switches). The FasTrack is noisy. GarGraves has a much better selection of large diameter curves (I now have 906, 0120, 0128, & 0138!). As for variety of switches Ross has FasTrack beat hands-down.

Gilly

What Gilly said 

Gargraves and Ross and Tortice Switch machines or Red Caboose ground throws.

Clem

Fastrak is great on the floor, for temporary display, or ease of disassembling to transport and move often.  

Gargraves is great for a fixed layout that you want more realism.  Gargraves is less expensive and time proven.  It has been around since the 1940s.

Only you can answer what is best for your situtation.

Gargraves on cork with Ross turnouts. Ballast if you'd like. I would, however, increase the track separation in the curves since you're talking about sharper curves.

I do like how nice Ross switches look- a nice match to Gargraves track. I remember how smooth trains ran through the staging yard at AGHR- is it worth using Ross switches over Gargraves switches? I probably won't be ballasting the track- my modules have a 1/2" sound board w/ 1/2" OSB underneath on the surface.

Geno

IF you go Gargraves, the flex track combined with an abrasive disc chop saw is wonderful. Attach the track at one end, gently bend it until it's pointing where you want to go and then cut-to-length. I always check against a piece of 072 section to ensure I'm not "tighter" than 072. IMHO, 100% better than anything I could have possibly achieved with FasTrack.

It's real nice to be able to go "there" when you need or want to.

Gilly

I love my fastrack.I apply the same color ballast along the sides and it looks much more realistic.The turnouts are ready to go out of the box,anti derail etc.But I have to say,Gargraves sure looks real.Nick

I do like the Fastrack roadbed- it does indeed look realistic, much more so than Gargraves. But the rail profile of Fastrack just looks too toylike to me, and it's rounded profile doesn't like scale wheels at all. That's a factor to me because I do run some 2-rail cars and MTH engines with scale wheels. Gargraves, Ross, MTH and Atlas all also have a squarer T- rail profile- all of these all work better for me.

One thing I did to make Gargraves look more like some Atlas switches I had was to close up the tie spacing- it improves the look and only costs me a few inches of track per section. Of course the Gargrave ties are much wider than the Atlas ties, but once painted and ballasted it will be less noticeable.

Geno

Gargraves track and Ross switches. Look no further.

Gargraves flextrack on cork,Ross track switches. Remove track screws after 50/50 glue ballasting ,fill screw holes and color tie with black/brown Sharpie.

Tortoise motors.

Geno,

I think so.  I have mostly Ross and a few Gargraves.  I prefer Ross for the excellent construction of the switch.  The Gargraves have plastic base construction of the switch-you can be the judge on the two.

If you want to see a comparison pic, let me know.  I'll post one.   

Not sure what the difference in price would be-I buy them used (like my coal cars, HAHA).

Is that a Lab in your avatar?  We have a Lab, great dog. 

Fast track is very noisy, even with sub roadbeds. Gargraves/Ross is a lot quieter.

72Blackbird,

   This is 68ManHunter over,

   I like the FasTrack especially for the FT Command Control switches that are remote controlled without wiring.  As for the noise, simply cover your platform with old sound absorbing ceiling tile, or use inside outside carpeting, using both you will not even be able to hear your trains run.  If I can get some more old ceiling tile I plan to due just that this Christmas season.  My layouts are child like wonderland, if you want realism go with the GG.  One other thing FT is not forgiving, if you use it, make sure you can get the required track pieces you need, FT tends to run out in the hobby or trains stores around Christmas time.  FT also transitions smoothly to Atlas Industrial Rail with the new Atlas/FT transition track, both look very similar and run well together, especially with DCS. 

Good luck with which ever track you choose to build with!

PCRR/Dave

The office/gameroom multi level FT layout, prior to FT Command Control Switches.

Last years Christmas living room layout before completion.

Pictures of the Fort Pitt HiRailer modules.  Done with Ross Switches, Gargraves track. The fabricated TT uses Atlas track.

I think the last two posts (Pine Creek Railroad and Mike CT) sum it up pretty well.  What kind of layout and features are you looking for.  That will dictate which track to use.

I am in the starting stages of using Fastrack for a Christmas layout and GarGraves for a permanent layout.  Each has its own special good points.

Mike CT,

Thank you for all the photos of the Fort Pitt HiRailer modules.  They show GarGraves/Ross ballasted and ballasted, which gives a great idea of how realistic they are.   

Mike,

That looks really great! I wish I could find a modular Hi-rail O gauge club here in SoCal- my wife refuses to let me use the 20 x 20 family room we have, and I even have some 2 x 6 modules already built (just need to lay track on them). But I'm not loosing hope or quitting the hobby- I've been into O gauge trains for 40 years, and I'm not stopping just because of my wife (I can always get another one).

Geno

Geno

You talk tough when your wife isn't around. 

I told her if I can't use the family room, she can forget about any free labor or future remodeling plans she has for the house. And she can kiss that matching necklace at Tiffany's for our Anniversary goodbye- no compromise, no bling for her. I'm also planning to take a job out of town next year- time for some changes in my life. I'm tired of being denied the few things that give me happiness.

I bet she caved right in to those threats!

I wish- like many women, she's proud and stubborn. Once she finds out how much contractors charge to rip up old hardwoord and lay tile, she'll pay for that pride. I'm still gonna build my modules and my layout- I'll just have to do it in the garage. Having the layout in there will kick my 76 TA or 72 Firebird out, but one can still park in there with a quick removal of a few tables.

Geno

I am using Gargraves and Ross on cork roadbed.  I painted the cork so it looks pretty good and I can decide later if I want to put down ballast.  I never liked the look of FasTrack and it is noisy.

Love my Gargraves!!! I do use the little bit of Lionel Fastrack with the grandkids floor running.......otherwise GG!!

I would not rule out Gargrave switches as a stop gap. They perform ok, and are very economical. I purchase a used one than upgrade to Ross as money becomes available.

If you ballast them you cannot see the base. Some Gargrave switches were so reliable that they remained on the main line to this day.

72 BlackBird,

    Geno, if you have a cellar build your train room down there, if not park the cars outside and use the garage. Very few guys have a large enough office/game room in their homes to build a nice size layout and still have a formal living room & dining room.  Fortunately our 100 year old home does have that kind of space in it.  With the office layout already built, when I started building the Christmas layout in the formal living room, even my wife of 35 years, gave me the evil eye.  I do not ask permission however, I was raised in a different era.  I did advise her that the formal living room train layout was only for Christmas time, and I have lived to my word.  If you have not had a Christmas layout for a long time, maybe starting in that manner with the Christmas tree on the layout, is a good way to introduce the wife to your train hobby.

PCRR/Dave

Just an update on my negotiations for the land rights to build a layout- the wife informally agreed to let me build a layout in our family room, but I need to show her "plans"-lol. I was told I could use the wall, but not go wider than 24"- so no return loops. This changes my track plan, but it's better than not being able to run trains at all.

I'm also considering using some Atlas 3-rail switches and track- I really like the tie spacing and spikes applied at each tie. Atlas 3-rail and Gargraves are the same height too, so using them together shouldn't be difficult.

Geno

 Geno,

This is my first post in along time I live in the so Calif area and there is a nice active train club in San Pedro. there is also the TTOS club that meets Acadia and another branch of the TTOS that meets in Anaheim. There is  also a BIG train show this weekend at Ontario convention center.

Jesse

Hi Jesse,

I used to belong to Angel's Gate Hi- Railers for a few years, back in 2000-2010 (I forget the actual length of time I was a member). I have alot of good memories with the members of that club, and learned much from them. Their layout is impressive, but the distance is killer of me- 120+ mi. round trip is just too much driving for me just to run trains. I have a 20 x 20 room, more than enough space to build a layout. But I would love to reconnect with the AGHR guys, maybe even meet the TTOS guys in Arcadia and run trains with them as well. The AGHR guys can tell you I'm a big fan of intermodal, and can lash up a 50' long consist to prove it. I live in Santa Clarita- please e-mail me sometime and we'll talk trains.

Geno

I use Gargraves.  It looks great as main line, secondary,or sidings.  Fast track looks fine for main line but for sidings it looks very wrong.  Gargraves is also less expensive and not as noisy as FT.  

72blackbird you can park those firebirds next to my 69 400, 70.5 and 75 t/a. then you'll have plenty of room in the garage to build the layout. just an idea!!!

To me, Gargraves is a no brainer.  ross swtches are nicer but cost more.

72blackbird : Check you E-mail at the address you have listed under your profile plz.

Thx,

Jesse