I can't say I have looked to purchase any, but there always seems to be boxes of sectional brass track on the floor under the tables at the train-shows I attend. I'll probably pay more attention to it now to see if it is in fact brass.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
MisterBeasley Thanks for reminding me I need to break out the CMX car and clean my track this weekend....
Thanks for reminding me I need to break out the CMX car and clean my track this weekend....
Track cleaning? What's that? I STILL haven't cleaned my track, and I can crawl around with no headlight flicker or sound dropout. I think running the heavy brass RS-3 cleaned off the last specs of paint in the yard area that I missed, since the MTH FA's ran great.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
eaglescoutI continue to chuckle as the controversy still rages.
It only "rages" because _you_ started the thread and are working to keep it going. You brass track guys sure seem defensive about it.
I had both on a layout and the nickel silver worked better for me with less cleaning required. You want to use brass, great.
Everybody wants to be a persecuted minority these days ... sheesh.
tatans simon1966: If you are a die-hard brass user, happy with it, and ecstatic that the hobby assigns little value to it. Why on earth would you want to ruin this perception so that the used market for this track goes through the roof? It seems you have not tried to buy used brass track lately, it's almost impossible to buy and I believe the answer is the pro-non-brass people simply throw the old brass track in the dump. Will it be long that brass track will be sold along with brass locomotives? ?
simon1966: If you are a die-hard brass user, happy with it, and ecstatic that the hobby assigns little value to it. Why on earth would you want to ruin this perception so that the used market for this track goes through the roof?
If you are a die-hard brass user, happy with it, and ecstatic that the hobby assigns little value to it. Why on earth would you want to ruin this perception so that the used market for this track goes through the roof?
It seems you have not tried to buy used brass track lately, it's almost impossible to buy and I believe the answer is the pro-non-brass people simply throw the old brass track in the dump. Will it be long that brass track will be sold along with brass locomotives? ?
No that'll never happen.
You see, the Anti-Brass Conspiracy (ABC) is actually after your brass locomotives, too! Cleverly and sneakily making brass track disappear is just the first step. Next, the ABC will be calling for a ban on all imported brass. Then they'll pick off the few remaining all-American brass craftsmen, surrounding them with ATF hit squads, while claiming to have warrants based on evidence of flux-sniffing provided by clandestine informants, before bashing down the door to their workshops.
After they take down the last cottage brass fabricator, then they'll show up on your block to pry the last piece of hot brass from your dying hands...
It's that bad folks. I'm taking the next UFO outta town with all my brass Ks. I should passed on the brass and stuck to the Blackstones -- but I couldn't help myself.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Nickel silver Rules,and that is not a Ghost Story.
Russell
As I mentioned earlier my layout is a mixture of n/s, brass and steel.
The brass portion of my layout is mainly Shinohara double slips, crossovers and number 6 switches. At that time this was the best quality available.
I was given the majority of the brass Shinohara pieces by an elderly neighbour who was dismantling his layout and getting ready to move into a retirement home. I used to visit him on occassion and he would show me his layout and also his latest acquistions which were mainly HO brass. I assume that he sold the brass engines and railroad rolling stock.
Just before he left he sent over a box which had all of the Shinohara track and switches.
That is the brass pieces I have used in my layout. I have only used about 1/2 of the switches which were in the box The n/s is mainly the track I bought for my mainlines and the steel track was given to me by a friend so I made sure I used it in building the layout.
If i was to start a new layout I would of course use the remaining pieces of Shinohara switches etc. I certainly would not go out and buy n/s switches when I have all of this new "old stock" As far as any other track I needed I would likely buy n/s as that is all that is available.
However, if I was to come across new "old stock" brass at a good price I would buy that and use the money I saved to buy scenery items and of course rolling stock.
.
Alco Fan,
Did you even read my post? I suggested folks read the archives past threads to view the arguments on both sides. I have posted exactly one additional comment out of 35 posts. That is really keeping it going.
don7,
If I was you, I'd do exactly the same thing. If the brass Shinohara is working for you, stick with it, makes no sense to do otherwise.
That brings up another variable that might be at play. It's entirely possible the the brass Shinohara used works better for our purposes. I know there are variations in the metallurgy of N-S, but they have more to do with how it works physically than it's ability to conduct current reliably after exposure to various environmental conditions. N-S just works regardless of that, which is why some people won't consider anything else.
For instance, how many successful brass users live near the seashore? I'll bet that would leave you looking for N-S, because I've heard of people with exactly that problem.
So, there is reason to have faith in brass if it works for you. The issue remains an important one for those planning a large layout. This is not something you want to find you have a problem with after you have the first 1,000' of brass down, for instance...
Who said you can't get brass code 70 rail. I have some. (It's probably older than the poster who said you can't get it...)
My main objection to steel is that it doesn't solder worth beans. OTOH, it IS magnetic...
As I type I have several trains sitting in staging - on brass rail. (Bumper ends of back-in spurs, one length of NS back from the stopping diode gap.) OTOH, most of my cars have NS wheels(!)
Originally, the big selling point for NS was that it looked like steel, and brass didn't. All the whoop-de-do about cleaning didn't start until later.
The biggest reason that small-section rail isn't made in aluminum or copper is that both are too soft and would deform under even minor stress.
If you don't have to put power through the rails they can be anything - wood strips, plastic, cardboard...no, strike cardboard. Insufficient dimensional stability.
I'd like to see somebody make Code 83 rail in stiff rubber, for use on a ribbonrail train...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - on whatever works)
mlehman tatans: simon1966: If you are a die-hard brass user, happy with it, and ecstatic that the hobby assigns little value to it. Why on earth would you want to ruin this perception so that the used market for this track goes through the roof? It seems you have not tried to buy used brass track lately, it's almost impossible to buy and I believe the answer is the pro-non-brass people simply throw the old brass track in the dump. Will it be long that brass track will be sold along with brass locomotives? ? No that'll never happen. You see, the Anti-Brass Conspiracy (ABC) is actually after your brass locomotives, too! Cleverly and sneakily making brass track disappear is just the first step. Next, the ABC will be calling for a ban on all imported brass. Then they'll pick off the few remaining all-American brass craftsmen, surrounding them with ATF hit squads, while claiming to have warrants based on evidence of flux-sniffing provided by clandestine informants, before bashing down the door to their workshops. After they take down the last cottage brass fabricator, then they'll show up on your block to pry the last piece of hot brass from your dying hands... It's that bad folks. I'm taking the next UFO outta town with all my brass Ks. I should passed on the brass and stuck to the Blackstones -- but I couldn't help myself.
tatans: simon1966: If you are a die-hard brass user, happy with it, and ecstatic that the hobby assigns little value to it. Why on earth would you want to ruin this perception so that the used market for this track goes through the roof? It seems you have not tried to buy used brass track lately, it's almost impossible to buy and I believe the answer is the pro-non-brass people simply throw the old brass track in the dump. Will it be long that brass track will be sold along with brass locomotives? ?
Hey ! by golly, I think you are right, I saw some guys out lurking in my yard, could be them, anyway, I like brass track, and they like non-brass track and we are all happy, happy, happy eh? and I'm not telling anyone about all the beautiful brass locomotives available for $250 to $300 that no one seems to want, thanks guys.
I think this forum may soon be ending, 'nuff said !
tatans ... Hey ! by golly, I think you are right, I saw some guys out lurking in my yard, could be them, anyway, I like brass track, and they like non-brass track and we are all happy, happy, happy eh? and I'm not telling anyone about all the beautiful brass locomotives available for $250 to $300 that no one seems to want, thanks guys. I think this forum may soon be ending, 'nuff said !
...
I dumped all my Brass locomotives in the trash years ago and bought Nickel Silver locomotives instead. Cost a bit more, but hey you gotta keep up with the times.
I'm just thankful that we're not on the Gold standard.
Paul
I think you're funning us on throwing brass loco's in the garbage, or am I wrong. Hey while we're on the subject of which track is bestest, leave 6 or so of your rolling stock with plastic wheels, don't change them to horrible metal stuff. The plastic wheels pick up dirt better than anything I know of, so you won't have to keep cleaning you track everytime you have a running session. I've read on some forums that even guys with nothing but NS, still have to clean track every time they try to run trains.
Now since the plastic wheels get so gummy with big time dirt, you only have to clean the plastic wheels on the few cars with alcohol and q tip once a week, or month. No more expensive track cleaning cars $100 or more that quit after 2 hours of running! Works like a charm! You see those horrible metal wheels do nothing but push the dirt and grime into those tiny little scratch's you put there with your brite boy abravsive blocks, might as well use sandpaper, does the same thing!
LOL, Jim
It really does not matter what type of track you run on...everybody, at some point needs to clean their track.
Unless your layout is in a cleanroom....
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Unless you follow the Gleam regime.
There's never been a controversy of any significance. NS is much superior. That's clearly been demonstrated by the market place.
Bottom line for me is: I will use what I want (nickle silver) and I don't care what you use. There is no controversy in my opinion. Everyone is allowed and welcomed to use what you want. If it works for you fine.
Bob
TA462I had that very same truck. My little red 97 ZR2 would go anywhere any other truck or Jeep would go. It was probably the best off road vehicle I ever owned. The only thing it wouldn't do is tow my Trans Am to the race track.
I have heard the arguments for both sides when talking about brass vs. nickle silver vs. steel rail. I'm curious about something. I used brass track back in 1978 when I was starting out in the hobby and I have to say it corroded quickly and always had to be kept clean. However, the corrossion gives the rail a rather realistic coloring to it. So, my question is, what do you think would happen if the top of the rail was coated with solder? Would it corrode, would the trains still run smoothly and pickup power correctly? It's something that recently has given me something to think about. Wondering if anyone has ever tried doing that? Something I may try if I can get a piece of brass rail and see what happens...
Bill
How do you propose to get a uniform coating of solder with out dribbles on the inside that would affect the gauge or hills and valleys that would bounce the train and not melt more than a few ties in the process?
Having figured that out, who is going to bend over and huff solder fumes while they solder the tops of 100-500 feet of track?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I suspect the coefficient of friction for typical model locomotive wheels and solder is kind of low.
Example of high coefficient of friction:
If you want to pursue the "silvering" of brass rail, this would likely work better:
http://www.goldn.co.uk/gold-silver-pen-plating-kit-battery-powered/
Ed
Might be easier to super glue silver strips to the top of the rails.
Realistically, by the time you factor in the cost of the solder (and you'll have to periodically redo it) it's probably cheaper just to buy NS and paint the sides.
But hey, if you're just curious then give it a try. Let us know how it goes
Which track works better?
ATSFGuyWhich track works better?
Depends on how much you're into track cleaning!!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
ATSFGuy Which track works better? Depends on how much you're into track cleaning!!
ATSFGuy Which track works better?
If nickel silver track stays cleaner, why are their so many topics asking how to keep track clean?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIEIf nickel silver track stays cleaner, why are their so many topics asking how to keep track clean?
It all boils down to this,If you use brass track & it suits your needs then use brass track,if you use nickel silver track & you are happy with it use it. I have used both.
Where can I get code 83 brass track?
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Because not many of us can afford gold, or platinum track, Larry.
LOL! Good answer!
I have not seen any brass track for over 40 years now. Most manufacturers selling N scale, HO scale or any of the HO scale NG track, is using nickel silver rails for their track. Marklin is using stainless steel rails in their 3 rail AC track. The only track I know of being made of brass is LGB´s G scale track, or am I mistaken?
I wouldn´t have thought that brass track is still an issue in 2017...
Sir MadogI wouldn´t have thought that brass track is still an issue in 2017...
Brass track is good and can be found on e-Bay and at train shows.The only thing bad about brass track is the negative press it got when NS track first hit the market and there are those that never use it repeating what they read or been told.
Seems we had more tractive effort with brass track then we do now..