Question & Answer of the Week - September 16, 2005

Classic Toy Trains Forum
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From the pages of CLASSIC TOY TRAINS magazine, Ray L. Plummer and the CTT staff offer a Question & Answer of the week.

This Week: Making insulated track

http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/006/168mwfyn.asp

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Somehow after working last winter on creating my own section of insulated track - pretty much according to these instructions, it didn’t work . I used duct tape instead of the suggested cardboard and it may not be ‘insulating’ enough.

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Perhaps a layer or two of electrical tape would have worked better?

Jim

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You need something stouter than duct tape. I use the black fiberboard from an old report cover (one goes a long way), which seems very similar to the stuff that Lionel uses.

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I use to use two layers of black vinyl electrical tape. Never had a problem. Is the silver in duct tape aluminum?

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I’ve had good results using a cut up matchbook cover. Never had a problem.
Paul

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Lionel uses an age-old insulating product called “Fish Paper” that is .020" thick. Fish paper is an insulating paper used in motors, switch boxes, lamps, etc., that is made from pressed rag fiber (inexpensive version) or vulcanized fibers (more durable expensive version). This stuff has the ability to be easily die cut and folded.

Something else that works well is the plastic covers from the old 7" floppy disks (the original floppy). How many of these do some of us have lying around? I have lots!

There are serious sharp edges and burrs on the Lionel tubular track and ties. I have had brand new track fail (short circuit) due to a burr pushing through the fish paper. This caused me to rip up the center rail on 4 feet of track just weeks after the ballasting was completed looking for the short. Luckily I have electrical blocks on my layout so I only had to worry about 8 feet of rail vs 30.

Regards,
Roy

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Visit an electrical supply house, one that electrician contractors use, and purchase a sheet of insulating paper. It is semi-ridgid, water resistant and has excellent electrical insulating properties. the Information Technology and Telephone Companies use it. It works.

bomber