Going back to the OP's initial question, it is a shame that there isn't some better way to add rail joiners without having a wide open space where the ties have been removed. All of the workarounds suggested on this thread are good, but that is just what all of these suggestions are - - workarounds. The flextrack manufacturers ought to come up with a better way in the first place.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrainGoing back to the OP's initial question, it is a shame that there isn't some better way to add rail joiners without having a wide open space where the ties have been removed.
Way back in the day... The Shinohara line of N scale track included sectional track. These track sections had ends where the last tie did not touch the rails, so the track joint was perfect as far as the ties were concerned.
I think the N scale sectional track was only imported by Lambert for a short time. I don't know how wide the selection was. I found some at A & J Model Trains back in the early 1980s and used it on my first N scale layout.
This was the best solution I had seen, but it would not work with flex track.
If a better option was offered, how many people would buy it? I mean we all have "free" ties lying around. I can make hundreds of my replacement strip plastic ties for a couple of bucks.
I would not pay for a factory made solution.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks for all of the ideas. I tried some and I think what will work best for me is the simple file solution.
I tried the grinding wheel for the Dremel and while it is the same size as the joiner I couldn't keep it from making a mess of the tie. The file will take longer but I had control and it was a neat job. I am sure as I do more of them efficiency will improve.
Rick