What in the heck am I doing wrong? I have been trying all day to get my train to run smoothly on the Scenic Ridge layout. Try as I might, I seem to be unable to put 2 pieces of track together with a joiner and have it stay together. I can’t glue it down at this point as I am not done with the track bed, etc. The instructions tell me to lay the track on the risers, mark the outline for the roadbed, then pick up the track. If I even nudge it the track comes apart somewhere on the layout.
I am using Atlas Snap-Track - but I don’t know why it is called “snap” - that would seem to imply that the rails would snap into place. Help!!
I am new at this.
I have used Atlas N-scale sectional track for a loop under the Christmas tree and found it impossible to keep together. So I mounted (nailed) it in sections of three to a formed plywood base. The track is simply too “petite” to hold together by rail joiners alone.
You might want to consider soldering the joiners, but not all of them because there are numerous joints with sectional track, but a few to help keep things together until the glue dries. I used flex track on my layout, which is pretty much required to keep it in place – particularly around curves.
Hey (southern for hello) gholmes, good morn’in. Here is a solution I use when working with sectional track. Take those small wire twistie things used to close those small plastic bags and wrap them around the ties at each joint with the twist between the rails. It will temporarily hold your track together while you position it or what ever and can be easily removed as you attach it to the road bed.