Well, I have been solding all my rail joints for 50 years now.
I do use DC, so that means all the jonts within each block, typically between 40' to 70' each.
Like Wayne, there are some strategic places I don't solder, but I only install one feeder per block.
If I feel a block needs some expansion/contraction allowence, I solder a jumper around the rail joiner.
Sheldon
The one area where I do solder the rail joiners is on curves in order to avoid kinks.
Rich
Alton Junction
I solder all rail joiners except those at the ends of bridges, as I want to be able to remove the bridges if I need to do scenic work around or under the bridges.Six of the small towns on my layout have double track through them to allow passage of on-coming trains or room for trains passing in the same direction. Because I am the sole operator, it's up to me to decide which train needs to be moving and which ones need to remain stationary, hence the feeder wires to both tracks through each town, and ON/OFF switches on the layout's fascia for each of those tracks.
Wayne
I soldered everything. But that just me, haha. What Rich says brings up a good point.
I didn't solder feeders to each track, has I had a lot of smaller sections, for yards and spurs, but the main, is all sections of flex track, and all have feeders, so I could've not soldered the joiners and all would be fine.
I even soldered in little jumpers at the track joiners, just to be sure.!
I have a fair amount of hidden track, so I didn't want any problems. So far, after 12 yrs. ? it's been working fine.
Mike.
My You Tube
If you wire a pair of feeders to every section of track, there is no reason to solder rail joiners for alignment purposes. The rail joiners will hold the rails in alignment without the need for soldering.
Yeah, I plan to add a feeder to each track section as well. I was more thinking of maintaining track alignment instead of electrical conductivity.
Good Luck, Morpar
I generally don't solder rail joiners, but I do solder feeder wires to the outside of the rails on every piece of track.
I finally got started laying track today, and a big question popped into my head. What is the consensus on soldering rail joiners when laying track? I did it 40 years ago on the 4 x 8 layout in Mom & Dad's basement, but when filling a basement is it a good or bad idea? Maybe just leave some small gaps every so many sections to allow for movement? What do most people do and why?
For just a little background the basement is 27' x 49', all poured concrete, with a large dehumidifier running at 45% humidity. There is a little heat vent coming off the main trunk to upstairs at one end, but I don't really need it thus far.