Brass vs. Stainless Steel

[Anonymous]

Those involved with garden railroading know what I'm talking about. However, for those that arent, let me bring you up to speed. The industry's standard of using brass rails is threatened by the use of stainless steel. Personally, I put my money on brass any day of the week.

[FJ and G]

Many folk use brass in the garden. I personally think it's the closest thing to the prototype as real rail often looks like brass. It also is one of the best conductors of the various metals as long as you maintain and clean it every so often.

I guess I love brass mainly due to fond (perhaps not so fond) memories of cleaning my USMC web brass buckle with brasso and sometimes jeweler's rouge, to get out any scratches. Once shined, it's a lovely work of art.

I'm not sure if any O scale (or gauge) rails are made of brass but I do recall HO brass rails and I still have some that I plan to use to make a deck girder bridge (the thin supporting structure). As a matter of fact, I tried some out a small sample today and it looked pretty realistic.

Brass locomotives are also works of art.

[cnw1995]

I hate brass track for the very reason you like it - when I was in N scale, it sure was a pain to 'polish' - I find the classic three-rail tubular more forgiving of my slovenly track-cleaning habits.