I am at the point now where I am screwing my track down. I was told that nails used long term would work themselves out and be a problem(true?). I am running HO Power-loc track on top of grass paper covered plywood. I have in my layout an over-under fig8. My question is where do all of you cost thrifty people get the screws to hold down your track and trestles. Home Depot/Lowes does not have screws small enough. My LHSs have screws but there $5 for six. Even these screws look a little big to be used on the trestles under the fig8. Am I missing something? Any help is appreciated.
I am relatively new here (forget the star count…it just means I have no life). Yet, in the seven months of life on this forum, I have yet to read of someone using screws.
I don’t believe you will have that kind of trouble with nails. I only have darting pins for the track that lays unglued, directly on extruded foam inside my mountain, and I have never seen one of the pin heads working its way up to snag an axle. The track is stil inside the outlines I drew on the foam when I first layed the entire plan to see how it fit.
You needn’t secure trestles with anything except a sure footing…as long as the trestle fits and is well built. In fact, my track is not anchored to the trestle, but merely traverses it. No problems yet. Mind you, it is for a slow mine spur, and not a main with a heavy Hudson or other loco careening down it.
Try some very thin finishing nails. They might be too thick for the holes that are normally found in sectional track, but if you only use one nail per piece, maybe you could bore out those holes slightly with a Dremel. It would be a pain, and meticulous work, but then you could nail your track.
My advice? Use the darting pins…with 1" foam. See the sewing section.
One of the few advantages of Power-Loc track is that the trestles snap into the botom of the track. However I still need to attach the trestles to the base as this is my main-line. I have already run a locomotive with a couple of cars and found the track needs to be more secure. I plan on running fairly long trains(10+ cars) at speed. Pins are not really an option for me right now as I already have the track laid out on a plywood base.
I’ve been a model railroader for 20 years. Once the nails are driven, particularly in plywood, they aren’t coming out. Forget about the screws, and get some #19 or 18 wire nails long enough to pass through the track/roadbed and into the plywood. The only problem I have is occationally nails will pop if used on foam.
Nick
i use the atlas track nails to hold down the track until i get around to ballasting it. they are long enough to go through the ties, cork roadbed and into the plywood. i use caboose ground throws and i screw them down with 1/2" #2 round head screws that i get at a hardware store for 4 cents a piece.
I have used track nails thru cork roadbed into plywood and have had no problem with them coming out. Some have been in place 10 years.
Enjoy
Paul
To fasten your trestle, place it with the track installed, join all tracks, and then use sculptamold or plaster of paris to build rocks, or clay foundations. Or, use real gravel glued with a mixture of capenter or white glue, 50/50 with water and a dab of dish detergent to glue them in place. Once secured at the foot of the bents, you can safely whiz your trains along.
Thanks for all the great advise. I think I will try to nail the track first and see how it works. However I will use selector’s suggestion once I get to landscaping.
I have used track nails without a problem.
ICMR
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
Liquid Nails.
I use a combination of nails and liquid nails. As long as you are on plywood, nails are quick, strong and dont pop out. On foam though, go for liquid nails or some other industrial adhesive. Make sure you read the labels carefully because some types will dissolve foam instead of glueing to it.