Brass is 'stickier' than nickel silver. Back in the brass only days, most locos could easily outpull their prototype - but not just because of brass track. Many were metal, not plastic with a slug of lead in the boiler. And Athearn diesels all has the sintered iron wheels which are great for tractive effort but not so great as far as holding dirt and making quality electrical contact. NWSL did a booming business in replacement nickel-silver wheels for Athearn BB locos. Replace the sintered iron wheels with the NWSL ones improved slow speed oepration and reduced cleaning, at the expense of tractive effort.
Steel rail is even better than brass for tractive effort, but outside of a brief period way back, the only place I've ever seen it used in quantity was in train set quality stuff. And the black base Bachmann EZ-Track. Conductivity is much worse than brass.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerSteel rail is even better than brass for tractive effort,(snip)
I didn't know that but,I've never used steel track.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Well I was already to post my thoughts on this thread but then I saw I already had -- when it was new in 2012!
But I am reminded that during WWII when metals were strategic supplies and there was no new track being sold, some enterprising firm created milled WOOD rail so that a desperate modeler could shorten the sidings where the locomotive never went, and thus scrounge enough bits of brass rail and use them elsewhere. If someone laid in a supply of that wood rail perhaps they can finally use it when "dead rail" takes over
Dave Nelson
BRAKIEIf nickel silver track stays cleaner, why are their so many topics asking how to keep track clean?
Nickel silver rail, like brass rail, oxidises, but unlike the oxidation on brass rail, that on nickel silver remains a good electrical conductor.The need, or at least part of the need, to clean brass track is to remove the oxidation. If you need to clean your nickel silver track, it's probably because it's dirty...dirty as in there's dirt on it. I've found that a clean environment for the layout is a key factor in obviating the need for track cleaning.My current layout has been in use for over 25 years, and the only time I've cleaned track in the traditional sense is after ballasting or adding ground cover near the tracks. That cleaning, done with a fine abrasive block meant for cleaning electrical contacts, is simply to remove the film of diluted white glue which often covers the rails in the immediate area.Other than that, a yearly (or bi-yearly) vacuuming of the track and structures with my shop vac keeps the trains running reliably.The layout room, in the basement, is drywalled and has a drop ceiling and a door, and no windows or furnace/ac outlets. The bare concrete floor is vacuumed regularly, never swept. Well-insulated, the temperature is comfortable year-round.If you're planning to build a layout, your first step should be to finish the room where it will be located. Yes, it's an extra expense, but if you consider your time to be valuable and don't enjoy wasting it on track cleaning, it is money well-spent. It also gives you a pleasant environment in which to build and operate the layout.
Wayne
doctorwayneIf you're planning to build a layout, your first step should be to finish the room where it will be located.
I use a spare bedroom-I hate all creepy crawly basements regardless if they're finished or not(shudder ) I clean track as needed usually twice a year with a bright boy..I stopped using 92% alcohol.
Wayne,might I suggest painting those concrete floors,it will keep the layout a lot cleaner.Im sure you knew that but others might not.
I have brass, nickel and steel rail. I can only tell the difference between the brass and the nickel by looking at it. Operationally they are the same to me. I use DC and live in the desert if that makes a difference. I can always tell when I get to sections of steel rail because they get dirty much quicker or maybe they just don’t conduct as good to begin with. However they actually look the best. One day I will replace all of the steel. Cost was a huge factor when I bought track. Most of it I bought when I was in high school or college and had very limited income. You could buy three times as much brass track as nickel.
I'd thought about painting the floor, but I do a lot of cutting (mostly 4'x8' styrene sheets) on the floor there, and the paint probably wouldn't stand up to it very well. It's the only area of floor in the house that's large enough for that type of work.
I'll eventually put down laminate flooring when the layout gets taken out.
An untreated concrete floor releases a bit of itself as dust whenever it gets scraped. Shoes, for instance. I would think either epoxy paint or porch paint would eliminate that. Pretty much any paint that smells REALLY awful after you've applied it.
Ed