Tracks

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I was just giving a lot of brass track and silver track, all in mint condition. Is there a way I can use both in the same layout without any problems. Could I use the brass as the mainline and the silver for branches of of the mainline?

Tom

2

throw out the brass track…it is old technology … brass track is nothing but a headache… it oxidizes quickly and you’ll spend more time cleaning it than watching the trains run…it’s also not a good idea to mix metal types when it comes to electrical continuity…use nickel silver track…if you want the track to look different on sidings and mainlines than use different types of track sizes like code 100 for the mainline and code 83 for the sidings…also if you weather the track it adds greatly to the look of the layout…the look of brass and silver doesn’t inhance the layout…different size track and track weathering does…Chuck[:D]

3

I agree, dump the brass. Otherwise you’ll be cleaning it every time you run trains.
Enjoy
Paul

4

If you don’t want to throw away the brass track, you could use it for sidings and the nickel-silver for main lines. Most people don’t run trains on sidings that much, so having to clean it would not be that big a problem. Using brass on the main line would be a mistake.

5

I am only useing brass track some sectional some flex had most for years can be purcahsed cheap, no problem runing trains or keeping clean but I have a very controled enviorment. If you are throwing it out throw it my way.
Larry

6

I wasn’t going to get rid of them. Sorry mrgstrain…[:p] I have about 400 pieces, mixture of both. Just trying to figure out the best way to utilize what I have and not throw out good track.

7

Brass track can work, but maintaining conductivity between the track and the train can be a problem since oxidation of brass is non-conductive (those that have little problem with brass seem to either clean it more often or run trains so much that oxidation is not a problem). Nickel silver also oxidizes, but it is my understanding that the oxidation is conductive. I’ve never had problems with nickel silver, but I recall my dad (back in the 70’s) seemed to be always cleaning his brass track to get smooth operation.