I have a partial box of flex track by Atlas that I picked up with a recent yardsale. It is 1984 vintage. It doesn’t match the color of my new NS track. It has more of a brass cast to it. I am not sure if it is because it has oxidized over the last 20 yrs coloring it or is it in fact brass. Was just wondering if Atlas even made Brass Flex track. My guess it is just old NS.
Terry[8D]
Yes, and I can remember a time they made both brass and NS. You paid a premium price for the NS. I can’t remember when they dropped the brass but my guess would be sometime in the 1980s.
So from what I have read Brass track really isn’t worth fooling with?
Terry[8D]
Yes they did, in both fiber and plastic tie.
I wouldn’t bother with brass because of the oxidation problem. It is possible to mix brass with NS track but you are asking for problems. There is enough maintenance to do on a MR without increasing the frequency of track cleaning. It used to be a common sight to have the wheels of your locos sparking as it ran across oxidized track due to on and off electrical contact. A track cleaner called Rail Zip used to be standard equipment with brass track but my LHS doesn’t even stock it anymore although you can order it.
Just a thought but if you don’t want to throw it out, you could use it for spurs. It would be less problematic than if you put it on your mainline.
I still have a piece of the old Atlas Brass Flex Track. There was a time when it was the only track available. Brass rail is hard to keep clean and will gum up the wheels very quickly. It should be avaoded at all costs.
Fergie
You guys fell for a trick question
The old Atlas brass fiber tie and plastic tie stuff was almost impossible to flex
The stuff they make now is a wet noodle in comparison
So the accurate answer to the man’s question is “Sure Atlas SOLD brass flex track, but they never MADE any”
Dave Nelson
Yes but it was way way back in the days when we used scale dinasaurs to pull or trains around.
Not only did Atlas sell brass flex track, they were the actual inventor of this type of item, way back in the dark ages.
CNJ831
God forbid you ever got the fiber ties wet before it was stapled down! You didnt glue it down … it would disintegrate, which it could still do when you glued down the ballast.[V]
Well actually it was not a trick question. I have 14 pieces of it and it does flex as redily as the new flex track. The only writing on the back says Atlas Made in USA and then the Patent #. Is there any way of determining if it is brass or do you just go by the color. I turned it over to the wife who has much better eyes and she says it is gold colored. So if in fact Atlas did sell a Brass flex track in 1984 then is is most probably brass. That was the reason for the question. I plan on putting in a static storage yard under my layout with lots of re-railers for storing rolling stock and loco’s that are not being used on the layout. This will be unpowered so if this is brass then I can still put it to good use.
Terry[8D]
It’s usually easy to tell by the rail color. In 1984 they certainly were still making brass flex track - as well as brass sectional track. But at least it was all plastic ties. I have a few old scraps of the fiber tie stuff… wow. If you used the wet water method of ballasting, if it didn’t disintegrate the fiber ties it would often warp them and mess up the track gauge.
–Randy
OK thanks guys. I will hold on to it and use it in my static yard. Save the good stuff for the powered track.
Terry[8D]
They probably did, but oxidation on brass will end any fun of running trains.
Avoid it.
I got my Atlas brass flex track back it the early 1970’s. Only it didn’t do a lot of flexing. I still have several three foot sections around the house. Phil
Use your brass track for your display case. That’s what i do.
I think your real question is, “What can I do with brass-rail flex track?”
A few suggestions:
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Use about 18" at the end of a spur, beyond the point where a locomotive will ever go, to get a start on that weathered/corroded/unused rail look. This also works on single-ended yard tracks. I’m using some on single ended staging tracks where the staged train backs in.
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Cut into 39 scale foot panels, for flatcar loads or to stack next to your MW depot. (Prelaid track panels, ‘prototype snap-track,’ are used when new trackwork must go in quickly, as in repairing a derailment site. Once in position, the rails are welded and the ties are ballasted.)
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Remove the rail from the ties, then use the raw rail for scenery, carloads, guard rails, even relay rail awaiting installation. (Long lengths are seen either between the rails or on the side of the roadbed where track maintenance is in progress. )
Atlas actually made the very first flex track, brass rail staple-clipped to fiber tie strip. I have a few lengths which I use to determine the exact positioning of route rails through handlaid puzzle-switch yard throats and such. It holds any bend, so it can be used to make instant templates.
Terry,
If you want more of the brass flex track, let me know…I have about 25 pieces, brand new, never used for anything. You’re welcome to it if you want it.
Don Z.
Hey thats some great ideas on using brass flex track. I sure won’t be throwing it away. It will be put to good use. Tks everyone its been quite the history lesson.
Terry[8D]
Yes Atlas made Brass flex track. Some other manufacturer also made it too. I use to have both on my layout but just recently (taken about 2 yrs) replaced all of it with Atlas NS flex. and some assorted snap track pieces. Some of it had the fiber ties. 'When taking up the track, ALL of the atlas track with the Plastic ties came up good. Most of the fiber, and other manuf. with plastic ties came up in pieces. The fiber ties would break apart in pieces, and the plastic, only the rails came up, had to scrape the ties off with a scraper.
A big difference with the NS rails. Still haven’t had to clean them.
Sam