Okay heres another track question whats gargraves plastic or wooden ties?

[rtraincollector]

I'm thinking of going with Gargraves for my track and I'm wondering which is better plastic or wooden ties and why. I plan on building a 7' by 13' layout.

[csxt30]

RT : I'm running about 300 feet of Gargraves with wooden ties . That is flexible & the plastic ties track is solid. Nice for the radiuses but remember the plastic ties track is a lot more expensive !!

Thanks, John 

[palallin]

The rails are steel and the ties are wood:  who says 3-rail O ain't prototypical?!

[rtraincollector]

Okay one more question is tinplate or stainless better I know stainless less likely to rust ( won't rust) but for inside does it really matter which and I believe phantom is the way to go but maybe not lol

[Blueberryhill RR]

Okay one more question is tinplate or stainless better I know stainless less likely to rust ( won't rust) but for inside does it really matter which and I believe phantom is the way to go but maybe not lol

Stainless is more expensive, and will not work with Magnatraction.

I have some Gargraves Phantom rail, which is tinplate with wooden ties. It works good but does not conduct electricity as well as tubular.

Chuck

[Anonymous]

I am doing the same with the wood tie stuff. when you go to the gargraves site they don't list the plastic tie stuff anymore.

[sir james I]

Well stainless wont rust but Magnatraction will not stick to it. I've had regular GG in my basement for 25 years and the only rust I have found is where I soldered wires and that is not damaged. I like wood ties, they look better than anybodys track.

[spankybird]

The Stainless Steel track and the plastic ties was developet for outside use. If you are planning on inside use, the the steel and wood ties are great.

[poppyl]

It you decide to go with phantom rail, be sure and use a scotch brite pad to remove the film and some of the black on the top of the middle rail to assure good electrical pickup.

Poppyl

[rtraincollector]

I heard about MTH realtrak having problems with the center rail that was blacken but not GG but guess if one does the rest would also.

[sir james I]

The newer MTH track comes with the black removed from the top of the rail. I have not had a problem with the black rail with my GG .Whatever MTH is using was coming off on the rollers to the point that engines,car lites,etc.would not work until the rollers and track were cleaned.

[Frank53]

. . . but does not conduct electricity as well as tubular.

Chuck

no surprises there!

[phillyreading]

GarGraves makes plastic track in both flexible and non-flexible, the only differance is they leave out the underside extra plastic rail to make it flexible.  I use stainless steel because of humidity down here in Florida even indoors is bad, don't have any magnatraction loco's so that is not a problem for me. The other nice thing about Gargraves track is the switches, the switches work better than Lionel's tubular track switches made in the last 15 years, and you can replace a switch motor easier than with Lionel switches.

The only problem I have run into with GarGraves plastic track ties is that they separate from the track or break if screwed down too tight.  Have not found plastic ties on Gargraves track to be more expensive.

csxt30 have you gone to the Gargraves website to order your track? You will find they make a variety of track.

poppyl you do not have to remove the black coating on Fanton Rail at all for good electrical connection, at least I didn't remove it and have no problem with the Fanton rail track by Gargraves.

rtraincollector I have not heard of the black paint coming off of any Gargraves track, you must mean another brand of track correct?

Lee F.

[palallin]

 It works good but does not conduct electricity as well as tubular.

Chuck

With all due respect to Frank, I don't find that to be the case.  My Gargraves conducts at least as well as the few pieces of tubular on the layout.  Whether that has anything to do with the the use of feeders on every piece of rail and soldering of all track joints I don't know, but Gargraves works just fine as a conductor.  With fewer joints (because of the longer rails), it should be superior to tubular.

[raymans]

I have GG both platic and wooden ties, flexible and rigid

 I have had no problems with either, they both look and perform great.

I also use their turnouts as well as Curtis.

 I've had to make minor adjustments to the GG turnouts inluding deepening the flangeways and adding wheel guard rails for smoother operation but haven't had to touch the Curtis.

 

 

[rtraincollector]

Thanks all probally go with my original thought gargraves with wooden ties.