Rail Comparison

[rich doney]

What are the differences between the steel rails and the nickel rails?

[West Bound]

Nickel silver is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. Nickel silver is named for its silvery appearance, but it contains no elemental silver. Nickel silver is slow to tarnish unlike brass. Steel rusts and is not as good a conductor. -John

[ACY]

Nickel Silver requires less maintenance for satisfactory operation, steel when oxidized is a very poor conductor which is prohibitive to operation without very frequent cleaning.

[electrical whiz kid]

You can also solder nickel silver; steel is not necessarily so.  Also-and I say this in speculation-nickel silver can be found in sizes ranging from .040 (code 40) on up; with .055, .070, .075, .083, and on up.  it is also a fair sight better looking than steel.
SGT C.

[jbrock27]

A magnet will stick to steel but not nickel silver.  You want to avoid steel track.
Are you currently shopping for track?