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I hope this helps. I still model in HO and have for years. Last year I was inspired by the "Colorado & Pacific" series in "Garden Railways" magazine, and decided to build a variation of it. I joined a group on garden railways (Yahoo groups) and asked a similar question. With my HO background, I was VERY skeptical about using brass outdoors, due to brass's poor reputation for conductivity and oxidation in the smaller scales. Based on the inputs I recieved from the group, I somewhat reluctantly ordered LGB brass rail, tie strips, switches, and a rail bender. Since I started late last year, the railroad was basically complete, but not running when I ran out of good weather for the season. This Spring as the snow melted, portions of the railroad (Including whole LGB power turnouts)were completely submerged in water due to poor drainage (Hopefully, since corrected by the addition of several culverts)for a couple weeks. I figured I had a MAJOR track cleaning & repair project on my hands. Yesterday, I cleaned a portion of the track to a nice shine, and proceded to systematically check out the electrical connections. The first locomotive ran fine on the cleaned portion of the track. Feeling gutsy, I continued running the engine onto the dirty portion of the track and it ran great even on track that had tree sap on it from an overhanging pine tree. I can wholeheartedly recommend brass for outdoor use!! The LGB switches worked flawlessly electrically, and only needed removal of debris around the moving parts. BTY, I live in Great Falls, Montana, so this is not some fairweather line. Ron Hanson
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