Switch and track questions and suggestions.

I would go with Atlas. I have 48 of their switches and have had zero derailment problems (not so with RCS). The only issue with the Atlas switches was the soldered jumpers underneath, of which I have had to fix five or six of them, but it is an easy fix.  I installed these switches in 2011. The track is great.

Before you decide on any brand, check the availability and prices of the track and switches you would like to use.

Good luck!

Alex

I'm a GarGraves and Ross guy, but I'm always a little jealous of layouts done with Atlas. Much quieter because of the solid rail. Drawback with Atlas, price and maybe availability.

I'm glad to hear that you want to ditch the Fastrack. I hated it since the day it was introduced. As cheaply made as possible, and way over priced. There's almost no metal in it. You already know about the sound.

My layout has both Atlas and some Ross switches. I have had very good service with both. The Atlas switches can have continuity problems as alluded to above. That can be overcome by simply soldering jumpers around the deadspots. You will need a burnishing tool to remove a small part of the middle rail blackening because solder will not stick to it. Other than that, I have had no derailment problems with the Atlas switches. If I were starting a new layout, I would probably go all Atlas. I started my layout in 1996. Atlas track did not come out until 2000. So, my layout has several different track systems on it. I had planned on taking it all down and starting over. That didn't happen. Oh well.

Talking to my friend Rick, he was saying Atlas is rough on the wheels.  I dont want to tear up my equipment. 

Is there that much of a price difference between Atlas and Gargraves? 

Did your friend explain how & why or was that a blanket statement? I would do a layout with Atlas O.

Southern4501 posted:

Talking to my friend Rick, he was saying Atlas is rough on the wheels.  I dont want to tear up my equipment. 

Is there that much of a price difference between Atlas and Gargraves? 

Between 20 and 30% typically. I haven't bought any track lately, my layout is done. I want to say I paid around $9 for a single 3' GarGraves flex. Case prices are better, closer to $7. I want to say Atlas runs around $12 per 3'. Shop the larger dealers (forum sponsors at the top of the page). I got my last 4 cases of GarGraves from Trainworld.

I believe your friend is mistaken about the wheel damage. The wheel material is harder than the nickel silver Atlas rail.

I've heard other folks complain about wheel damage.  If memory serves me it was pre-war stuff I last heard of this.  I have both Gargraves track and Atlas track on my current layout.  I like both but Atlas is the gold standard IMHO and I haven't seen any sort of wheel damage.  The only issue with Atlas is if you have any post war Lionel with MagnaTraction it doesn't work with Atlas.  If I were building a layout from scratch with decent grades, I would mix Gargraves and Atlas (Gargraves on the grades for the MagnaTraction engines).  I also have both Atlas and Ross switches on my layout.  I have no issues with either.  I've used Gargraves switches but they are not as solid as either Ross or Atlas IMHO.  The biggest issue with Gargraves switches I found is the length of non-conductive rails in the frog area.  Short engines stall.

If you like quiet, Atlas...

Tony

Ross switches and Gar Graves track. Between them both you have more choices to chose from. .........Paul

Whatever system, make sure that the switches lie flat on the layout, if one leg has a bit of a twist, you may have problems with steamers derailing. 

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Southern4501 posted:

Talking to my friend Rick, he was saying Atlas is rough on the wheels.  I dont want to tear up my equipment. 

Is there that much of a price difference between Atlas and Gargraves? 

Between 20 and 30% typically. I haven't bought any track lately, my layout is done. I want to say I paid around $9 for a single 3' GarGraves flex. Case prices are better, closer to $7. I want to say Atlas runs around $12 per 3'. Shop the larger dealers (forum sponsors at the top of the page). I got my last 4 cases of GarGraves from Trainworld.

I believe your friend is mistaken about the wheel damage. The wheel material is harder than the nickel silver Atlas rail.

I watched your video of your train travelling up the helix.  Quick question. Did you put down any cork or other road bed under the tracks?  Just looking at the cost savings of going Gargraves. 

I didn't use any sound deadening or roadbed material in areas that wouldn't be seen, like inside both helixes and in both hidden yards. The visible parts of the layout have a variety of different treatments for roadbed. No cork, too expensive.

I always start with 3/4" plywood as a base. In one small section, I carved roadbed out of pink foam. Another section I use Homasote cut on the table saw, but most of the layout is done on inexpensive fiberboard, including the entire upper deck. The roadbed profile was later carved into that material with carpet knives.

Rewatch the video more carefully, now that you know what to look for. See if you can spot all the different types. A lot of it has been ballasted so it's hard to see, but it shows through in places. BTW, the pink foam is covered with a layer of brown paper, and there is only about 40' of it.

I chose GarGraves for a couple reasons. I had a layout 25 years ago, built with 10 cases of it, which I recycled into this layout. So I just added another 15 cases to that. Oh yeah, the cost. If I'm going to be cheap on roadbed, I'm going to be cheap on track too. Especially when dealing with the volume I have.

I can completely understand recycling and i cannot imagine the cost in just track and switches alone on your layout.  It is a beautiful layout in my book. 

I want to say thanks to everyone’s input so far.  This is a learning experience for me.  I am just happy that i finally have a room just for trains.   

You're welcome, it's what we're here for. I like answering questions when I can. BTW, the layout has over 300 switches and somewhere around 3500' of track. I have just a little GarGraves experience.

A suggestion.  Do not mix the fast track with gargraves or atlas.  Those two offer a built in isolated rail, perfect for adding signals or occupancy lights in hidden areas.  I used tubular track in my hidden sections, it was a bear switching it out.  Better to be consistent during the build out, someone will buy the fast track.

Thanks for that advice also. I figured i might cause problems mixing manufacturers.