Reply to "new Layout"

[nfmisso]

Tommy;

Nailing is probably not such a good idea. Try Aleene's Tacky Glue to bond the road bed to the subroad bed and the track to the roadbed. It is strong, and dries somewhat flexible. Diluted (use distilled water, tap water may be okay but is not consistent from location to location or week to week) it is good for ballast too. Just let the rail joiners secure the turnouts, don't glue them.

[Hudsonmike]

Tommy;
I don't know about foam roadbed. I use cork and leave my curves loose where ever I can, Like in the rear of the layout or in tunnels or under my second levels. This allows the track to slide over the cork road bed. This is to allow for exspansion and contraction.
This works well for me but I didn't solder any rail and I only use flex track.

[1train]

Having the same questions! (Rich New Layout ) Code 83 user with atlas tunouts. H.O. Scale, I am switching to peco's turnouts because of reliability. Nothing wrong with mix and match. However, I have nailed the rail to foam roadbed but it is coming up. Any suggestions in keeping track from spreading? Do I need to soldier, and if so, HELP!