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EZ Track

Started by bille36, January 09, 2012, 11:25:33 AM

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bille36

Are  nickle silver tracks and steel tracks interchangeable?

jward

Jeffery S Ward Sr
Pittsburgh, PA

Doneldon

bill-

Nickel-silver and steel tracks are interchangeable but be aware that the selection of steel tracks is very limited compared to N-S. You'll also find you have a distracting visual hodge podge unless you either paint the roadbeds to match or ballast everything. While serious modelers, at least the few who use sectional track, will probably ballast their track, most casual modelers do not in order to save time and expense. More important, steel track has some significant deficiencies which renders it unsuitable for long-term use for most modelers. Specifically, steel is a poor electrical conductor, it rusts easily which further impedes its conductivity and it is very difficult to solder complicating the installation of feeder wires. Consequently, I would urge you to replace your steel track with nickel-silver if your budget allows, or plan on using it only until you can replace it. Further, I would urge you to explore alternatives to sectional track if you plan to build a permanent layout larger than the traditional 4x8 plywood sheet starter set-up.
                                                                                                                         -- D