gargraves track

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I need some input on gargraves wood tie track. I am planning a new layout with gargraves track, and I read somewhere that the wood tie version (the ties) shrink with age and the rails get loose. it went on to say the plastic tie was better for that reason. has anyone experienced this problem. also I was wondering why the flex track sections were less expensive than the rigid. I would think it would be the other way around. thanks, John

2

I have never experienced that problem. I’ve had GarGraves track on my layout for 20 years and have never had any rails come loose or experienced any other problems. If anything, the wood ties stick to the rails in old GarGraves track making it difficult to bend flex track.

3

My current layout has been in place with GarGraves since about 1971. No problems with tie shrinkage. If left new & unbent, the ties often stick to the rails & it is hard to curve the track after several years, but they can be sprayed w/ WD-40 or the like to slide like new.

Rob

4

John

I have both wood and plastic ties on the layout and in 11 years have not seen any real difference except in appearance.

I also have flex and rigid. The possible reason that the rigid is more expensive may be that an extra manufacturing operation is needed, they add a couple of braces to the track to keep it rigid.

5

I have Gargraves track in both O gauge and S gauge and have not noticed any problems with the wood ties shrinking or warping, there is one precaution with wood ties and using screws-you must drill the hole for the screw first or the wood tie will split! Also the switches in Gargraves are more dependable than Lionel tubular switches from recent years. If anybody mentions something bad about Gargraves track it must come from people who don’t know about Gargraves track, like Lionel or MTH or Atlas.

The reason the ridgid track costs more is that there is two extra pieces of plastic underneath on the plastic track that run the whole length of the track.

Here in Florida I am using Gargraves stainless steel track as it don’t rust like regular steel track.

Lee F.

6

I think a lot will depend on where you live and what sort of climate you live in. Setting up a layout using the real wood ties in South East Texas (high humidity) versus Denver, Colorado (low humidity) will probably see very different results. Any product made out of wood here in Colorado will dry out and shrink to a certain extent. How this would impact the wood ties with Gargraves track…I don’t know. But I would think it will have some small impact if not cared for over time.

Jerry

7

thanks guysfor all the GOOD info. my next search will be for switches.

8

Just some info on switches; Gargraves and Ross Custom switches can be used with Gargraves track with just regular Gargraves track pins, DZ Industries makes the switch motors for Gargraves switches and you can buy replacement switch motors from Ross custom switch website. From my own experiance do not deal directly with DZ Industries as they sell wholesale only and not retail, use www.rossswitches.com for DZ Industry stuff.

Lee F.

9

thanks Lee. I have been looking at ross and gargraves switches, do you think the ross are worth the extra $$. also on the ross there were “premier line and super line” switches, what is the difference? I emailed ross but have not received a reply.

10

Ross switches are THE top of the line turnouts. They are precision made devices and you will have no problems with them, period. They are expensive, but you get what you pay for. The difference in the two lines are one (Premier) is meant for prototypical use with shallow straight angle turnouts (labled as No’s) and the other is meant for more traditional toy train use (SuperLine) with turnouts ID’d by the radius of the curved portion of the turnout.

11

Where is a good place to get gargraves track?

12

This should be about the lowest.

http://www.amhobbiesonline.com/

13

Justrains in Delaware is another good source.

Poppyl

14

Thanks csxt30 I could not remeber where you said to purchase from. Thanks for the help csxt30 and poppyl

15

This is the reason. The spine used in the fixed sections adds labor and material to the cost.