I have all Gargraves three rail track. I have started painting the sides of the outside rails using the Rail Brown, Railroad Colors alcohol-based paint. Has anyone found a better paint or way to do this?
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Krylon camo spray paint. There are several Browns. Very easy to use and a quick way to paint the rails. Just wipe the tops of the rails after spraying.
Dave
Spray em, as Dave said, very very easy. I also recommend a flat dark brown, any brand, the cheaper the better.
+1 on the Krylon. 
I have used it and I like it just fine. 
I've also used acrylic model paint (Testors) with a Paashe VL airbrush with excellent results as well. The nice thing about acrylic paint is that it has little to no odor and can be used inside while the track is already installed. The double action airbrush offers extremely good control and I find it ideal for weathering the rails. 
Chief Bob (Retired) 
Another vote for spray them,,, I prefer the Rust Oleum Camouflage - Earth Brown color. It's exceptionally flat, I spray them on cardboard in my garage, wear a mask. After spraying both sides, I have found wiping them down first with left over scraps of styrofoam or the pink styrene hard board insulation saves on paper towels. Then I wipe them again with the Blue Shop towels wrapped around a piece of scrap wood and wet with a solvent, Acetone is my preferred solvent. Once you get the hang of it you can do 10 (37 inch) gargraves sections in about 20 minutes. Walmart here in MA carries this paint for under $4.00 a can. 
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I have so much rail to paint, and it's already in place, that I have just used flat latex wall paint and a cheap Badger air brush. This method isn't for everyone, maybe not anyone but me, but seeing as how I'm just about to get into my second gallon of paint, I think it works really well, and it's cheap. Spray cans would kill me on both cost and fumes.
If you don't have one, you can pick up a new external mix brush for less than $10 on eBay. Easy to use and easy to clean. The big ticket item is the compressor to run it. I've had mine for 30 years.
Looks good Chris A.
All of my track is installed and half of it has ballast so unfortunately I will have to paint them in place. While I have done a lot of painting on my structures with an airbrush, it sounds like the paint would get on the ties as well. Is that not an issue?
