Newbie Has Question

[TrainFreak409]

I would agree with the majority in this thread. Brass track can be used, but would be best on an area of either little use, or where metal wheels frequently transverse it.

I work in a train store, and you know that something isn't truely worth using when you are told by the boss to throw it away. I have been told to throw away boxes of brass HO track, because nobody wants it anymore, nobody uses it, so on and so forth.

Go with nickel silver, that's my opinion.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[rtraincollector]

Boy i'am learning a lot I switched from HO to Lionel about the time the ns started coming out I guess. I remember using the brass for complete layouts and barley remember seeing the ns as I started using O/O27 around mid 60's I believe did know all you just told helps me also as I'm just getting back into HO . Yes I remember cleaning the tracks with alchol weekly I believe .

Bill R.

[Anonymous]

ok,

My advise would be that if your "money wise" you could go to pretty much any hoby shop with trains and by a load of NS flexible track. It conducts much better than sectional track because there are alot less joints. Another plus is that it is cheap, Really cheap. At the LHS i go to you can get 2x 30 inch flex track for what you would pay for a 5inch sectional track by peco. You can solder it (Yes,jetrock,im over my fear of soldering!) and there will be even less joint breaks to worry about.

anyway thats just my 2 cents

Many thanks

Pavariangoo

[Don Gibson]

Metal wheels tend to keep brass track polished.

[cacole]

Brass track would be okay to use for dead-ended sidings that you are not going to run trains on very frequently, but I would never try using it on a main line.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice, guess I will have to be more careful when bidding on eBay. Everyone have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

[Anonymous]

Sure brass can be intregated into the mix. I've done it but not without a high rate of oxidative degradation.
Suggestion; spend your time running trains and not cleaning track.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the forum erodommoc768. There's really nothing else that can be said that these guys haven't told you, but also be aware that "all track" gets dirty and has to be cleaned once in a while depending on how much you run your train(s) no matter what it's made of, so it might as well be a material that will give you the least amount of trouble which is NS...

Good luck to you.

trainluver1

[simon1966]

erodommoc768, Welcome to the forum. This is a great place for a newbie to hang out, lots of really good information. I don't think will find anyone suggesting that you stick with the brass track. Perhaps the most annoying aspect of MRR that can ruin your fun is poor running. Brass track tarnishes more quickly and as mentioned above, the tarnish inhibits the connection. Also, the wheels of your locos will get coated with this non condutive tarish and further compound the problem. By all means use the brass to expreiment with layout and even use it to begin with, but install it with the plan to replace it as soon as is practical.

[grayfox1119]

Chip is right on target Mr E, do not waste your time with the brass track.

[SpaceMouse]

Here's the deal Both NS and Brass corrode, but brass corrosion is non-conductive while NS is conductive. You could possibly be spending more time behind the scenes cleaning your track than running.

In my opinion, it is not worth what ever you paid to use the brass. Sell it and buy more NS.

[Anonymous]

Hello all, first time posting here. I'm new to the hobby and have a quick question. I recently bought a lot off EBay of miscellaneous track, which was a mixture of brass and nickel-silver. Are there any problems mixing brass and nickel-silver track on a layout, such as non-conductivity, etc? I'm not worried about the look, since I'd use the brass for the behind-the-scenes part of my track, but have experienced problems with my engine breaking the circuit on a simple oval layout. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.