Trains.com

What is the best way to attach track permantley?????????????

1134 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
What is the best way to attach track permantley?????????????
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 2:51 PM
what is the best way to attach track permantly!?!?!?!?!?!?!???????
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 1,304 posts
Posted by mitchelr on Sunday, February 12, 2006 3:22 PM
What kind of track? What surface are you trying to attach it to?

I am using Lionel tubular track and attach straight to the plywood top with 1-1/8" drywall screws. The dark color hides the screws. My platform is 3/4 " plywood with a layer of painted lauan plywood on top. The lauan is very thin with a smooth surface that is easy to paint.

Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Central PA
  • 2,536 posts
Posted by jefelectric on Sunday, February 12, 2006 3:50 PM
Since I use homasote over wood for bench top I use 1" #4 flat head sheet metal screws for my MTH realtrax. In the area where I use Atlas track on cork roadbed I use the black Atlas track screws which are long enough to go through the cork and a little way into the homasote.
John Fullerton Home of the BUBB&A  http://www.jeanandjohn.net/trains.html
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 3:58 PM
i am using lionel tubeluar and 1' finishing nails in 3/4 inch smooth top fiber board/plywood mix it is not easy but it is working.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 4:26 PM


You could always try one of these. Railroads have been using them for many years[:D][:D][:D]..[;)][;)][;)]







  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 4:45 PM
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][8D][8D]
good one ha ha!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 4:52 PM
That's an easy one: Ballast the track! The glued ballast will hold everything in place securely, and the track itself will look a whole lot more realistic (especially if you go to the extra step of painting the sides of the rails).
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Sunday, February 12, 2006 9:01 PM
0-27 in all its various circumferances with #4 half inch screws.
100 for $2.00
laz57
  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 12, 2006 9:19 PM
How permanent do you want it? You want permanent go with ballast. You want to be able to rearrange your track from time to time, go with screws. I like 1/2 " panhead machine screws.
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:15 PM
PIGSEYES,
LOL, LOL, LOL!
laz57
  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Monday, February 13, 2006 8:08 AM
I'm with George (Laz)--1/2-inch #4 sheet-metal screws into plywood for O27. (To make it more permanent, you could grind off most of the screw head...;-)

Actually, prototype spikes make excellent and very appropriate weights for the likes of tenders and baggage cars.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Kansas City
  • 413 posts
Posted by mickey4479 on Monday, February 13, 2006 11:05 AM
Stilmon6:
Once upon time I made a 9 X 5 "permanent" layout. I used atlas track, a layer of rubberized shelf material for sound deadening, screws and ballasted the track. I should have used homesote or another sound board material to keep the screws from going into the plywood top because of the noise. I eventually removed the track and switches when I changed my layout and it was a real chore. I am not suggesting that a permanent layout is a bad idea. My humble advice is to model and run trains on your layout for a while before you commit to making it permanent by ballasting the track. In my opinion, the screws for atlas track are fine to keep atlas track in place and they can be removed if you want to rearrange track. A sound deadening material is recommended. There are many RRmodeling books and articles on trackage. Once you ballast track, it is a whole other "adventure" if you decide to change. Good luck.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 13, 2006 3:22 PM
thanks guys you've really helped!!!![bow][bow][bow]

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month