It’s time to pull the big ole 2-6-6-6 out of the box and run her . Want to build a descent layout and am new to O scale . Does anyone have knowledge of the Gargraves flex track ? That 72 radius minimum is killing me for this huge lady . Or what other brand do you think is best … what I’ve been reading alot of people are going for the Gargraves .
Hi. This particular forum is frequented heavily by S, HO, and N scale folks. You will get a much broader range of responses over in the “Classic Toy Trains” forum, next door.
Well, Gargraves is as you point out, flex track. Have you worked with flextrack in a different scale say before, so you’re used to cutting track to length on a curve, laying out precise curves to a set radius, laying roadbed and ballasting track etc.?? If so, Gargraves is probably for you. If not, you might want to consider something like Lionel Fastrack with built in roadbed/ballast that comes in pre-determined curves.
<> I used Gargraves track in the eighties, FWIW I found it very stiff and hard to bend in a smooth circle, and after cutting the track to length it left fairly sharp edges that can (and did) cause some cuts. Once in place and ballasted, the track and wood ties did make a nice effect, but if wide radius sectional track and turnouts like Lionel has now had existed then, I would have gladly used that.
Helped my dad build a layout several years ago and used gargravestrack. The only problems we had were the “accessory shoes” on the postwar lionel cars getting hung up on the gargraves switches. otherwise the track is great