Enjoy rails with real rust

[FJ and G]

As an experiment, I left some Lionel tubular track outside for 2 years. It immediately started rusting but once the coat of rust was there, it sort of stopped. IOW, the rails did not rust thru. Of course they might in 5 or 10 years.

Anyway, I got a mess of that track and since I'm using spikes that rust, I thought perhaps my next fling would be to use this track as I'm on battery power.

I know I'll probably get some negative replies to this, but I was just wondering if anyone else has ever used rails that rust and enjoy the look. Esp., when modeling little used branch lines or industrial rail lines.

I'll be sure to post my results, as I may start laying tracks soon, this time going multigauge 32/45mm

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Interesting idea, never herd of it, but interesting. I know modelers that let steel wool rust into a paste and them brush it on X, but thats the closest I've herd of.

[Anonymous]

Dude, cool is all I can say as I have brass track. Well, brass does do dim, but true rust is a +.

One thing to remember is rust never stops. Dew, watern plants, rain, mist all keep it going.

Toad in da Swamp

[Takasaki Matt]

Now you make me feel timid as I have bundles of tin track obtained very cheaply from Yahoo Auction Japan that.  It was 3 rail, though with the help of a pair of pliers it is quite good condition 2 rail now.  I'd hoped to put it down as an inner circuit for trams and human-powered (but still battery powered) as the radius is rather tight.   These rails remain unused and with an undecided future in my shed. 

One of the aspects of garden railways is the ever changing modifying progression with the end, as yet unseen.  If that means getting a good few years out of rusty bucolic track and then replacing it with more of the same or different then so be it. 

This is probably the kind of thing that Peter Jones would applaud, as bringing diversity and character to the pastime.  I shall go ahead and lay a short wobbly loop as soon as I get a spare hour in the garden this weekend.  Let's see how long rusty rails last.  I suspect I will be replacing my tin rails before you, due to the thinness of the metal and the often extreme climate I endure enjoy.

Regards, Matthew Foster.

[imrnjr]

As an experiment, I left some Lionel tubular track outside for 2 years. It immediately started rusting but once the coat of rust was there, it sort of stopped. IOW, the rails did not rust thru. Of course they might in 5 or 10 years.

Anyway, I got a mess of that track and since I'm using spikes that rust, I thought perhaps my next fling would be to use this track as I'm on battery power.

I know I'll probably get some negative replies to this, but I was just wondering if anyone else has ever used rails that rust and enjoy the look. Esp., when modeling little used branch lines or industrial rail lines.

I'll be sure to post my results, as I may start laying tracks soon, this time going multigauge 32/45mm

 FJ&G --

There is  a method in gunsmithing called "browning" that actually rusted the barrel and other steel parts which were then steel wooled and polished to a gloss patina.  I've built two  muzzel loader rifles from kits using the technique with commercially available browning packages.  It's been several years since I did them so I don't recall the brand, but I'd bet it's still available.

The "browning" much like modern day blueing creates a protective coating on the steel that with nominal maintenance (oiling) will never rust further.  In the garden however I think the treated metal is likely to continue to rust, and perhaps more quickly than if left alone.... but I speculate without any experience with the track or chemically treating it.

Good luck!

Mark

[Ray Dunakin]

There used to be steel rails you could buy for garden railroads but they too rusted and became useless. I've seen some of it used as a scenic detail, representing a pile of old rail alongside the tracks. Looks really great that way.

[FJ and G]

Interesting about the muzzle loader. On YouTube, incidentally, I saw videos of a bolt carriage assembly made from lost sand castings, using a styrofoam piece shaped to the bolt carriage assembly, with molten metal poured into the styrofoam, melting it and forming in the moist, fine grain sand. The casting method could be used for train parts, but I digress.

It's not surprising the steel rails rust, but toy train rails I believe also contain some zinc and tin which might be responsible for retarding the process. I'm not saying the rails will not have to eventually be replaced, but what I am saying is that I've had these rails in the garden and in the dirt for 2 years and they are rusty as all get outs but are still pretty much intact. Iron spikes have been in place 3 years now and you can't even pry them out of the ties!

To digress again, my nextdoor neighbor threw out a perfectly good smoker b/c the steel legs had rusted thru and it collapsed but the smoker portion was rusty and perfectly intact. I kick myself as I could have repaired it for myself.