Secure track to pine

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I am building an around the top of the wall system using pine boards. I am not planning on put any thing under the track and just lay straight on the pine boards (no ballast or track underlay) I have read many suggestions on securing track. It sounds like a lot of users like the "caulk" method.

1. Do you think caulk will work for this design.

2. Regardless of securing material where do you lay the glue/ caulk. Just spot here and there, whole track?

Thank you.

[Greg Elmassian]

now, you need to loosely fix the track to the wood, to allow it to move. Don't screw it down, and definitely do not glue it in place. a loose clip straddling a tie every 3 feet or so will be fine.

You cannot defeat physics, and heating and cooling will eventually break the track loose if you are trying to glue in place. I worked on a friends layout and it was concrete curbs with the LGB track glued to the concrete.

Well, he used enough glue that the ties were fixed to the concrete all right, but the rails ripped right out of the ties. You cannot stop metal from expanding and contracting, and shiny rail absorbs sunlight really well.

[Loco Bill Canelos]

Make sure your pine boards are moisture free, if they are not they will shrink. Also never have a track joint directly over wood joint. A friend used small dabs of the cheapest caulk every 5 feet and never seemed to have a problem. He also put the boards in the house so they would adapt to the interior temperature before construction. 

Have fun, Loco Bill

[Greg Elmassian]

Another tip with wooden boards, put convex side up, not concave.... this way water will not collect in the center... if the board is flat now, then look at the end to see the "lines" to set it the right way... you will thank me in 5 years...