Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Nickle-Silver vs. Brass

1220 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 9, 2002 8:51 AM
Mike... I do the same thing with my old brass and other than having to clean the track a little more frequently than the rest, I've had no problems...
Matt
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 9, 2002 7:08 AM
I recently read about somebody (it might have been somewhere in this forum - I don't recall) who was using his old brass for sidings and industrial areas where locos wouldn't likely be running, and so electrical pickup wouldn't be a concern. Properly weathered, ballasted, etc, it would be hard to tell that it was there. Sounded like a workable solution to me.
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: US
  • 506 posts
Posted by snowey on Saturday, March 9, 2002 1:20 AM
brass rail is copper in color (the color of a shiny, new penny) & nickel silver is silver, like the name says. You made a good choice in deciding not to use brass track, but I should tell you, brass & nickel silver ARE compatible-that means they both work together
"I have a message...Lt. Col....Henry Blakes plane...was shot down...over the Sea Of Japan...it spun in...there were no survivors".
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 8, 2002 6:37 PM
Take the point of a sharp Xacto knife and scratch the web of the rail ( the flat area between the top and bottom) If its brass the scratches will appear to be an almost "gold" looking color...Vic
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 8, 2002 6:25 PM
The brass rail should appear to be darker in color than the nickle silver rail. If you take a bright boy or other type of abraisive cleaner to the top of the rails, the nicle silver rail will appear to more silver in color. Hope this helps.
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • 8 posts
Nickle-Silver vs. Brass
Posted by BlueMountain on Friday, March 8, 2002 6:11 PM
Help,
I have some brass track mixed in with my Nickle-Silver track. After some years I'm ready to start laying track and I don't want to lay the brass track. I don't know what I to look for to separate the two. Color, texture, flexibleness. I feel very dumb right now. Any help or ideas?

Thanks,

-BlueMountain

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!