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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by UNIONPACIFIC4018 Well this is what I plan on doing on the next layout. Soldering feeders to each rail and not soldering any joiners also that have to be some allowance for exspansion of the rail. I will not solder any turnouts you never know when you will have to replace one. [/quote] Over time I have found that problems with expansion and contraction have little to do with rail and everything to do with the supporting surface. Homasote is particularly bad, but so is MDF. My track is laid on 1/2" plywood. I solder everything, including switches. In 40 years of building HO layouts, I have had to remove only one switch because of a mechanical failure. The layout is in a garage the middle of the Sonoran Desert where the heat reaches 110 degrees or more routinely and have never had a problem with rail expansion. I'm not trying to be contrarian, just sharing my own experience...[:)] John Timm
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