What is best way to assemble flex track? Staggered or non-staggered joints?

Garden Railroading
1

I am preparing to build a garden railway using AMS brass 250 rail and narrow gauge tie strips. I have read Kevin Strong’s recent magazine article comparing staggered and non-staggered joints. I think staggered is preferable in order to avoid kinking at joints.

What is the best way to assemble staggered joint track? I have seen articles where jigs have been built to hold the tie strips so that rail insertion would be easier but that appears to be more for non-staggered joints. What is the best method for inserting rail when the joints will be staggered? I assume that I need to bend the rail before inserting into the tie strips. Is that correct? Or should I build a long straight rail section, using maybe four or six 8’ rails, and then curve it with a two-rail rail bender?

Is non-staggered really the best way to go?

Please let me know.

Thank you for your help!

2

The word “best” has created many an argument on these pages. I “prefer” the staggered method myself, for a couple reasons. 1. Prevents any possible kinks (as you said). 2. As the roadbed shifts through the seasons any “evened up” joints can shift slightly in one direction causing the wheels to “pick a joint” and derail. The only “evened up” joints I have are at the switches (turn-outs). Also, using a gripping connector (such as “Split Jaw”) will aid in keeping the rails aligned, as well as positive electrical connections. I have connections that are well over 12 years of age and I have never been required to do any maintenance, mechanical or electrical. I push electrons down the rails. The only maintenance I’ve had to do was when a “day laborer” ran over the rails with a heavily loaded wheelbarrow and bent the joints.