Great Advice for these expensive switches when it comes to Gargraves anything Lol! But yes Sir I have both of these said tracks on my layout and though the Gargrave equipment is very expensive, in my personal opinion, its probably the most lifelike track and switches I've ever seen so far yet! Especially when they're made of real wooden railroad ties! But definitely worth the time and effort to make conversion pieces for adapting these different styles of tracks together! Thanks for the video Gary, it's was very helpful! 😊
Thank you so much for showing this video to us. This helps us a lot I inhered my dad's old gauge layout yesterday. We moved it from his basement to our club. Now we are in the process of rebuilding it
Just remember this is Menards track, if your track is 027 it has a different profile than Menards, in other words it sits lower than Menards track. You might want to try the Ross switches without the Ross bed, It might still work but I haven't tried it.
Atlas connectors fit on Ross switches, you just have to move the spikes from the first tie from the middle to the back of the tie, or not have spikes at all, and glue it back on. Thanks for watching.
@ganrailroad I used the foam rail bed from Trainworld. The Menards was still a bit tall, and the switches would lean outboard with weight. I had to put card board shims under the foam under the switches to get them high enough and level. I also used the Gargraves adapter pins but the different size rail was upsetting the trains. I had to fiddle with it allot to get the right geometry for each switch. It works fine, but I would go with lesser curved switches than O-72...maybe O-100.
Thanks for letting me know that. I was wondering about the Ross track being thinner than Menards. I obviously didn't run the engine through the switch at high speed. I will have to get more Menards track and set up on the floor a loop with the Ross switch, and a Lionel FasTrack switch, and run some engines at a fast speed. I will see if the FasTrack transition pieces make a difference, when you look up close at them they gradually go from the thicker Menards to the thinner FasTrack.
I’m using fast track and I’m having trouble with it I’m losing power on certain spots which never happened before and when I send the train on to the spur the train goes around out of the spur back on to the main line and stops cos of no power than the locomotive resets it self and continues on the main line without any problems it’s driving me crazy.
If i ever get the energy to do it. Iam going to rip up and trash my Lionel fastrack. But currently i have no turnouts if i stay with the 4x8 i say i will just stick with the loops.
Yes, but you have to wire it yourself. I have a video on how to wire Ross switches for non derailing. Lionel FasTrack switches come pre wired for non derailing.
This video is only for Menards tubular track. I don't know anything about super o track. I did this to show mostly people new to the hobby they can use inexpensive track and not just run in loops, they can add switches, and have the same layout as someone using FasTrack, Gargraves, or Atlas without the high cost.
Great Advice for these expensive switches when it comes to Gargraves anything Lol! But yes Sir I have both of these said tracks on my layout and though the Gargrave equipment is very expensive, in my personal opinion, its probably the most lifelike track and switches I've ever seen so far yet! Especially when they're made of real wooden railroad ties! But definitely worth the time and effort to make conversion pieces for adapting these different styles of tracks together! Thanks for the video Gary, it's was very helpful! 😊
You're welcome and thanks for watching 👍🚂
i love the PRR hat! I live right by the Strasburg, PA train museum and i go just so i can look at their collection of PRR trains
That's awesome. Thanks for watching
Thank you so much for showing this video to us. This helps us a lot I inhered my dad's old gauge layout yesterday. We moved it from his basement to our club. Now we are in the process of rebuilding it
Just remember this is Menards track, if your track is 027 it has a different profile than Menards, in other words it sits lower than Menards track. You might want to try the Ross switches without the Ross bed, It might still work but I haven't tried it.
Very good information. Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful and thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing Gary. I assume they make Atlas pins to transition to Ross as well. Hope to see you at Allentown in a few days.
Atlas connectors fit on Ross switches, you just have to move the spikes from the first tie from the middle to the back of the tie, or not have spikes at all, and glue it back on. Thanks for watching.
Because the Ross Switches and the Menards track are different heights, I could never get the switches shimmed well enough to prevent derails.
Did you try the Ross bed like I used in the video?
@ganrailroad I used the foam rail bed from Trainworld. The Menards was still a bit tall, and the switches would lean outboard with weight. I had to put card board shims under the foam under the switches to get them high enough and level. I also used the Gargraves adapter pins but the different size rail was upsetting the trains. I had to fiddle with it allot to get the right geometry for each switch. It works fine, but I would go with lesser curved switches than O-72...maybe O-100.
Thanks for letting me know that. I was wondering about the Ross track being thinner than Menards. I obviously didn't run the engine through the switch at high speed. I will have to get more Menards track and set up on the floor a loop with the Ross switch, and a Lionel FasTrack switch, and run some engines at a fast speed. I will see if the FasTrack transition pieces make a difference, when you look up close at them they gradually go from the thicker Menards to the thinner FasTrack.
Good information to know Thanks
Thanks for watching
I’m using fast track and I’m having trouble with it I’m losing power on certain spots which never happened before and when I send the train on to the spur the train goes around out of the spur back on to the main line and stops cos of no power than the locomotive resets it self and continues on the main line without any problems it’s driving me crazy.
i dont use fastrack, you might have to find an online forum, youtube channel or contact lionel for help with your issue
If i ever get the energy to do it. Iam going to rip up and trash my Lionel fastrack. But currently i have no turnouts if i stay with the 4x8 i say i will just stick with the loops.
Sell or trade that stuff. Go to a shop with used Lionel and see if you can get a few cars.
@@MilwaukeeF40C Thats A Idea There Is A Swap Meet Coming Up In Two Weeks.
That’s good to know 👍🏾
Thanks for watching
Can Ross switches switch automatically like the old tubular Lionel switches.?
Yes, but you have to wire it yourself. I have a video on how to wire Ross switches for non derailing. Lionel FasTrack switches come pre wired for non derailing.
It’s all nice but I run on post war super o track 😁
You need more curves and switches though. Does Hargreaves or Atlas go better with Super O?
Damn spelling correction.
This video is only for Menards tubular track. I don't know anything about super o track. I did this to show mostly people new to the hobby they can use inexpensive track and not just run in loops, they can add switches, and have the same layout as someone using FasTrack, Gargraves, or Atlas without the high cost.