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USING DIFFERENT BRANDS OF TRACK

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USING DIFFERENT BRANDS OF TRACK
Posted by Jim Hornaday on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 2:22 PM

Ok, so this is probably a dumb question, but can I use Gar-Graves track or Ross Custom Switches with FastTrack or regular tubular? Do they even make adapters?

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Posted by Firelock76 on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 3:38 PM

Not a dumb question, but I don't think so.  I know Lionel and MTH make (made?) adaptors for Fastrak-to-tubular and Realtrax-to-tubular, but I don't believe Gargraves has done the same, nor has Ross, nor do I think Gargraves has come up with adaptors to mate their track with Lionel or MTH.

Atlas makes a Gargraves style track of their own, but I don't know about any adaptors for them, you'd have to check an Atlas catalog.

Could be wrong though. 

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Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 4:05 PM

I couldn't find it on there website but gargraves use to make adaptor pins for O gauge to there track ( would work with Ross also. ) but if you contact them, you might get answers you want. www.gargraves.com  

 

 

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 5:16 PM

Gargraves track does mate to Ross Custom Switches.  It will not mate to tubular track and I do not know if there were any adapters made.

One question for you, what are you planning to run on the new track.  I ask, because I run prewar American Flyer and I learned the hard way that prewar engines with thick wheel flanges are not compatible with the frogs on Ross Custom Switches.  

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Posted by rtraincollector on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 6:16 PM

This a link to Gargraves site that answers this. As I said they do make mating pins for Tubler but wasn't aware the rest of these answers. 

http://www.gargraves.com/faq.html#mating

 

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Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 7:21 PM

If it's a permanent installation on a layout, but the ends of the sections together as close as possible and solder feeder wires accross the gap (under the table surface).  I did something similar back in the 90's to join RealTrax to Lionel O27.  But I don't solder so I just pried the Lionel rail open a bit at the bottom with a flat screwdriver and inserted one end while the opposite end was looped around the built-in brass connectors of the RealTrax.  Not perfect, but it worked.

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 9:39 PM

Jim Hornaday
...Do they even make adapters?

 

Rob

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 5:00 AM

One other thing to consider.  Tubular O guage track sits higher than Gargraves track.

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Posted by Jim Hornaday on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 6:00 AM

Thanks everyone for the awesome answers!!

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Posted by fifedog on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 6:12 AM

I'm using several different brands of track on my new layout.  

On the "regional" line, I'm using Atlas Industrial Rail track, with Lionel switches.  I use transition track pieces when available, and Gargraves 801 pins, which work fine.  I also use Lionel tubular track where the line is hidden, to keep costs down (I have tons of it on hand).

On the "high" line, again Industrial Rail, Lionel on hidden parts, and Ross sectional track for my bridges (looks good on trestle structures).

Lionel tubular with Johnson rubber roadbed on the "main" line, and a combo of Lionel tubular and O-27 on the "inner" loop.

And good ol' AF track on the "upper" line loop.

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