Trying to make a decision on Gargraves track choice, want avoid rust possibilities inside detatched garage train room. Thoughts anyone !!!!!!! First time using anything other than Fastrack.
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I have over 500' of Gargraves Phantom track with wood ties.
Paul Edgar
Gargraves wood tie with tinplate rail for me on cork. My new layout under construction is my 3rd one with this combination. (3) cases worth so far (450 feet).
I also use ROSS switches and curves that matches the Gargraves products.
My layout is in a basement with heat and de-humidification in the summer.
I never had any issues with their products. Easy to cut and easy to bend if you want to roll your own.
Will your garage be "climate controlled"? That could help in your decision.
Donald
My layout uses mainly Ross switches and over 600' of Gargraves Phantom track laid on Midwest Cork roadbed. The only place that there is stainless steel track is in the tunnels where cleaning would be more difficult. With home made jigs the track is easy to bend and install. My basement is in a humid location in summer and some rust shows on the track but IMO this adds to the realism.
All great views, I think leaning towards plastic ties and all stainless rails. Will add slight cost but still more reasonable than others. It's a large open building not heated year round, just want to be cautious of the higher potential of rust formation. Plan on closing in layout area in future.
I'm in an attic in coastal SC and I went with the wood ties and stainless steel outer rails and phantom center rail. If I don't run for a while there is very light rust on the center rail which 90% isopropyl alcohol removes. If you absolutely don't want any rust, you might consider all 3 rails in stainless. Gargraves also makes several types of connectors for powering the track including lock-on like clips and blade connectors with wire pigtails. It isn't easy to solder to. I used Ross switches on the main lines and Gargraves in the yard. The Ross switches are smoother; both work.
I've had a piece of flex track, with wood ties, sitting in my garage for over 12 years and other than dust it looks like brand new. I'm in lower Michigan and the garage is not heated and the wife puts her salt covered car in there during the winter.
Appreciate the response, was kind of thinking that. Going to be a good size layout, don't want to be cleaning track all the time. Be a little more money but still reasonable. Thanks
For my attic layout
Stainless GarGraves with wood ties laid on Woodland Scenics roadbed, Ross Switches on Rossbed.
Seldom mentioned, but GarGraves has 0138 curves. For my layout, the bigger the better.
I'm going 30 x 15 L shape with 072 min main outer rail 080 +
3-Rail,Phantom,tinplate rail,wood ties.
John Ochab posted:3-Rail,Phantom,tinplate rail,wood ties.
Same here. I like to run a lot of PW locos w/Magna Traction and tinplate works well for me. No rust problems but basement train room is climate controlled. Humidity here in Baltimore is brutal in the summer.
