USING DIFFERENT BRANDS OF TRACK

[fifedog]

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.

[Jim Hornaday]

Thanks everyone for the awesome answers!!

[Nationwidelines]

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

[ADCX Rob]

Jim Hornaday

...Do they even make adapters?

 

[Penny Trains]

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.

[rtraincollector]

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

 

[Nationwidelines]

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.  

[rtraincollector]

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  

 

 

[Firelock76]

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. 

[Jim Hornaday]

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?