|
|
 Posted - August 08 2010 : 02:17:47 AM
|
Does anybody here ever use brass sectional track? I know nickel silver is the way to go, but, I'm curious!
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 3147 ~
Member Since: May 07 2007 ~
Last Visit: January 04 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - August 08 2010 : 09:07:49 AM
|
| Some people hate it. In my experience, it's fine but needs much more cleaning because the brass tarnishes.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1166 ~
Member Since: October 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: December 23 2018
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - August 08 2010 : 09:09:59 AM
|
| I use it...have it on my switching module, just can't beat free you know. The chief difference other than looks is that the corrosion on brass track is electrically conductive, nickle silver's is not.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted - August 08 2010 : 09:47:29 AM
|
I use them in places on the layout. I stilll use code 100 so pleanty on it is there for me. I can get away from the rerailing tracks they work so well. As long as cars bounce thro switch frogs and crossovers the chance for derailment exists. The rerailer track calms down the shaking cars caused by the frogs and crossovers.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
Edited by - toptrain on August 08 2010 09:49:14 AM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 7538 ~
Member Since: August 07 2008 ~
Last Visit: December 06 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - August 08 2010 : 09:47:48 AM
|
quote:I use it.. The chief difference other than looks is that the corrosion on brass track is electrically conductive, nickle silver's is not.
Originally posted by shaygetz - August 08 2010 : 09:09:59 AM
|
What? now waitaminutehere...so brass's problem isn't the tarnish, it's just the dirt collecting on it? I never heard of that before. Since tarnish is supposedly an oxide,and oxygen isn't as good a conductor, I wouldn't think it'd be any different, unless the nickel-silver tarnish has other elements in it that insulate it more. Got any more info on this process?
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - August 08 2010 : 2:15:03 PM
|
| He's right, I misspoke. The dirt is the problem, not the "tarnish." It will still work even if it's not bright and shiny. Personally, I always preferred it to steel, but not everyone agrees. The best part is that you can find it cheap!
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 1166 ~
Member Since: October 18 2009 ~
Last Visit: December 23 2018
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - August 08 2010 : 6:50:36 PM
|
quote: Personally, I always preferred it to steel, but not everyone agrees.
Originally posted by burlington77Â -Â August 08 2010Â :Â 2:15:03 PM
|
The steel track is still useful, if you like the Tyco Turbo train. I intend to have one on my "serious" train module one day, as an advanced Demonstrator of future trains. The kids will love it doing loops, even if the rivet-counters knash their dentures at non-prototypical operations. LOL.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2019
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 16 2010 : 1:02:49 PM
|
Folks:
My 4x8 railroad is mostly laid with brass and steel sectional track.
It's in a basement, but it stays pretty clean. In my experience, oxide is something that affects long-stored track, more than track in use, and track dirt is usually just plain dirt.
I burnished it, according to the method called "Gleam" that a few people promoted over at the MR forums, and it works.
What I did was lay the track, cleaning off any heavy oxide. I used a brass wire brush on the rail ends. Then I sanded the tops with 600 grit paper to smooth them. Sandpaper scares people, but 600 grit is finer than a Bright Boy, and the next step removes even the small scratches left.
Now take a stainless-steel washer, and burnish the track to smooth off any fine scratches left by the paper.
On the MR forum, people sometimes use Dritz metal polish at this stage. I haven't needed it.
Finally, clean the rail with alcohol and a rag. After that, don't touch it with abrasives of any kind (although I do use 1200 grit crocus cloth, on rare occasions, if a loco drops oil and causes a crud spot, somewhere.) Maintain clean track with a Masonite pad, and occasional wipings with alcohol and a rag.
My Masonite slider car is made from a Life-Like 40' box, which have hollow weight-mounting lugs that are perfect for pad-mounting purposes. At the moment, it's drawbar-coupled to a battered old Bachmann U-boat with a Life-Like power truck, just because it's the fastest diseasel I have. Track-cleaning service is also a good way to shine up brass wheels on train-set diseasels. :)
This leaves the rails so clean and smooth that they won't collect much dirt. In fact, I just got back to my trains, after leaving the table to collect junk and basement dust for 6 months (home repair season), and was able to run diesels with 4-wheel power pickup, without even cleaning the track.
A few switches and track sections are newer NS from the train store, treated the same way. The brass and steel don't get any dirtier.
Of course, nobody ever believes me, when I tell them that this method works, but it really does. :D
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 432 ~
Member Since: March 04 2008 ~
Last Visit: December 28 2018
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 16 2010 : 4:30:32 PM
|
| what's a M R forum
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 424 ~
Member Since: June 25 2010 ~
Last Visit: July 30 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 16 2010 : 4:35:48 PM
|
quote:what's a M R forum
Originally posted by derfberger - November 16 2010 : 4:30:32 PM
|
db:
The forum belonging to a publishing company whose name begins with K and goes 'way BACH to the 1930s.
I used to hang out there, but I think I weirded people out.
Things like robot attacks:
And using card-waybill operation with Tootsie Roll boxcars:
So I don't go there much, nowadays. :)
Edited by - Autobus Prime on November 16 2010 4:43:58 PM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 432 ~
Member Since: March 04 2008 ~
Last Visit: December 28 2018
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 16 2010 : 4:56:29 PM
|
robot attacks?? 
Heh well Tyco did come out with a Transformer train set As did AHM for a Gobot train
Anyway Is it possible to use brass track with nickle silver or steel? 
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14987 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 10 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 16 2010 : 4:58:49 PM
|
quote:robot attacks??
Heh well Tyco did come out with a Transformer train set As did AHM for a Gobot train
Anyway Is it possible to use brass track with nickle silver or steel?
Originally posted by microbusss - November 16 2010 : 4:56:29 PM
|
mb:
I do, so sure, it's possible. I haven't noticed any problems, except the color difference.
If you paint your track, the color isn't too obvious, either. I have...um...about 3 feet of track painted. I'll get to it...
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 432 ~
Member Since: March 04 2008 ~
Last Visit: December 28 2018
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 16 2010 : 10:40:00 PM
|
| i mix and match brass, steel and nickel, can't tell the difference in performance
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 424 ~
Member Since: June 25 2010 ~
Last Visit: July 30 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 18 2010 : 6:20:37 PM
|
quote:
db:
The forum belonging to a publishing company whose name begins with K and goes 'way BACH to the 1930s.
I used to hang out there, but I think I weirded people out.
Things like robot attacks:
And using card-waybill operation with Tootsie Roll boxcars:
So I don't go there much, nowadays. :)
Originally posted by Autobus Prime - November 16 2010 : 4:35:48 PM
|
If you think they were freaked out over there, try that on the Atlas forum!
The Tyco Depot
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - November 18 2010 : 7:32:59 PM
|
| thanks guys I wondered cause alot of the old Tyco accesories do have the brass track The Tyco flagman I got has brass track in it
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14987 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: January 10 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
