Install Gargraves Adapter Pins in Lionel Fastrack

I was also concerned about damaging the FasTrack, so I just added a piece of old Lionel track between the FasTrack and the Gargraves.  Note that I have insulated the outer rail - I am using the outer rail to indicate train presence.  Also you can see the small popsicle stick at the beginning of the GarGraves track - ensuring the rail heights are even.  One more thing you may notice in the photo is the soldered connections between the track pieces - soldering between the rails is how I can avoid having a power drop to every piece or every other piece of track - especially ones with modified pins or connectors like these.

Thanks Dan!

The standard Fastrack pins have a vertical ‘fin’ with a small tab that engages in the track bed to keep it place. The GG pins look like the only thing keeping them secure is the pressure from the rail around them once installed?

Apparently that’s enough to keep them from pulling out of the FT rails on the track adapter when separating pieces of track if needed?

If you take a regular FT straight and cut it in half, a Gargraves/O gauge adapter pin should fit right into the openings in the cut track ends. The openings will nicely handle standard O gauge track pins so you should be good to go,

Rod

Thank you Rod. I do already have some of raw 6-12040 Fastrack adapter pieces so no need yet to modify any other FT pieces yet.

Do the new GG pins have to be soldered in place or will they just stay once the rail is reinstalled into the bed?

The Gargraves #801 adapter pins will join the tracks directly.  The only thing you have to do is match the roadbed height to the Fastrack so the rails are at the same height.

@Raven87 posted:

Thank you Rod. I do already have some of raw 6-12040 Fastrack adapter pieces so no need yet to modify any other FT pieces yet.

Do the new GG pins have to be soldered in place or will they just stay once the rail is reinstalled into the bed?

They are a press-in friction fit just like regular 031 pins in 031 track.

Rod

Well, I must be doing something wrong because after putting one of the new pins in a FT rail and tightening the rail tabs back down on the underside of the road bed, the GG pin is still loose. See pics.
What am I missing or doing wrong? It sure seems like the friction fit would hold it in place, but it does not so I must not have something tight enough because when I test fitted a GGrail against the fast track with the GG 801 pin, the pin pulled out of the FT and remained STUCK in the GG piece.

So I’m wondering, is there anything wrong with just installing three pins in the GG piece of track and leaving the rail ends open on the FT adapter and just attach it that way?

The end result is the same except the 801 pins stay in the GG piece and slide in and out of the FT.
there is a big difference in rail height so transitional shims, ballast etc will be needed.

OK you have the fat end of the adapter in the FT, right? How come you had to loosen tabs underneath? Won't that 031 pin just pry out with diagonal cutters?

Here is what I know from building a FT layout in Florida a few years ago. You can cut a length of FT straight or curved (to make fitters or 031 adapters), and the open ends nicely fit a standard 031 pin. You can then use 031 pins to connect 2 pieces of cut FT, straight or curved. So they should also nicely fit the fat end of a gargraves adapter pin? I have never tried to fit an adapter pin to an FT/031 track adapter piece as you are doing, but it seems like it should work with no issue. Maybe you need to judicously squeeze the open end of the rail sides, from the end, then insert the pin?

Rod

You may find that standard 3/16" high cork roadbed will make up the height difference, at least close enough to make the remaining transition in one length of Gargraves.

Rod

You will likely want to use some sort of roadbed under the Gargraves anyway?

Rod

Thank you Rod. I’ve tried different things in an attempt to seat the 801 pins in rails on the FT.

i could not pull the O round pins from the FT piece until I loosened the tabs underneath and pried them up a wee bit. Apparently the rail is notched internally to match the groove on the round pin?

Then, when I insert the GG 801 adapter pins and reposition the rail down, I can feel the pin slide in and hit that stop or whatever that is. But even once I tighten everything down the pins, no matter how snug they feel will not stay in the FT piece.

I’ve even squeezed each rail a little bit to make it even harder to get the adapter pins into the fast track piece.  But still they will not stay and seem to have a more snug fit in the GG piece?

I was thinking about the cork Road bed so that really won’t be an issue. I just didn’t think that was that much of a difference in rail height without the road bed but I will need to transition it in some manner.
Thank you again!

To hold the Gargraves adaptor pin tightly, I glued in pieces of styrene strip then chased the hole with an undersize bit

If all else fails cut a 10” straight in half! Bet that will work no problem.

@Mick60 posted:

To hold the Gargraves adaptor pin tightly, I glued in pieces of styrene strip then chased the hole with an undersize bit

The flat should be horizontal for the Gargraves end to properly made with the track.

Is the Midwest Cork Roadbed product what most members use? Any pros or cons?

@Raven87 posted:

Is the Midwest Cork Roadbed product what most members use? Any pros or cons?

Its been my go-to roadbed material for close to 30 years now. Looks quite good, easy to work with, and definitely quiets the track down. it used to be quite affordable but god knows what a case costs today.

Rod

Thank you Rod.

@Raven87 posted:

Is the Midwest Cork Roadbed product what most members use? Any pros or cons?

I used foam roadbed, and I found it easier to use than cork roadbed.  A bonus is it's also a lot cheaper.  The cork nowadays is around $1 a foot, I did the foam for half that.  Also, the foam didn't need to be split and staggered, and it comes in 6 foot lengths, twice the length of the cork roadbed.

Thank you GRJ. Any particular density or manufacturer you prefer?

There's a seller on eBay named sparks00033.  He has the best prices on the foam roadbed, and I found it just as good as any of the more expensive stuff.  Here's a sample, he has many different packages and combos, also several colors.

Perfect. Thank you John. Much appreciated.

Do you like the homasote and could that be placed on my multiple folding table (‘Benchwork’ 😉) to help level subtle level differences in a given table’s surface? I currently shim the FT to compensate  

Or, should I put plywood/etc down first? I don’t want to build all new bench work supports and the ability to modify easily is important.

And what am I missing to join the male end/pins of the GG track back to the FT? Do I remove the pins from the GG track and somehow insert the 801 pins? Is there anything required to remove the factory GG pins?