I am sorry, I know this question has been asked before, just can’t find it on the MRR site. The question is, the rail that slides on flex track, does this go on the inside or outside when laying track. If it makes no difference what is everyones preferred placement of the sliding rail side.
I have been told two different view on this over the years. At first I was told to put the sliding rail to the outside - the slight increase in gauge was good when long wheelbase engines were operating through the curve. Made sense. I was later told to put it on the ‘inside’ of the curve - Easier to lay the track(ties do not bunch up). Well this is fine with really sharp curves, but even 22" radius curves made with Atlas flex seem to have no problems. Maybe with a really ‘stiff’ flex like M-E, this can be an issue.
What I do is not worry about the which side is the ‘slider’ - I just lay the curve, and then do the following:
I solder the rail joints on a curve and any the joint leading into a straight section. I then take a small fine cut mill file and dress up the joint so that I have a smooth connection. I have one long curve and I did cut an expansion joint in the middle of the curve(just in case). That expansion gap is plugged with styrene/epoxy and spiked on both sides. I have had no track warping issues. I even have a 22" radius reverse curve on a grade - no expansion issues. The layout is in a basement that sees humidity range from 16%(about a month ago) to 65% in the summer(forgot to empty the dehumidifier). Usually it is in the 45% range.
Jim
LION lays the slider on the inside, then him can cut it even with the outside rail, then him SOLDER a new length on to this and repeats the process.
ROAR
Jim:
If the expansion gap is plugged with styrene how does it allow for expansion?
Joe
Joe,
Yes, I plug it with some scrap styrene/epoxy - then file to the profile of the rail. I wondered if the styrene would ‘crush’ with the expansion - never saw a problem. And it did not ‘pull’ apart from forces in the other direction as well. My track(Atlas flex) is laid on Homabed roadbed, and that is glued to 1/2" plywood. The track is held down with track nails until I ballasted, then I pulled the track nails,
Jim
Jim:
I’ve made joints that way for isolation but haven’t needed any expansion joints. I always felt that you needed to provide for free movement to allow for expansion and contraction.
Joe