New - Question regarding track.

[davidrobinson]

HI,

Hope this is okay in this forum. The planning forum hasn't had a post for a while.

We are in the process of building a little outdoor railway around a raised bed. I have some track laid out temporarily however I am noting rust building up very quickly (2 days).

The track is all Hornby, although some is coloured different to other bits.

Is there any thing I can put on the rails (coating with varnish etc) that will slow down the rust accumulation.

I have read quite a few posts and there seems to be no advantage to either steel or nickel silver (people claim both work) so my next step is to leave different bits out and see which lasts longer.

Of course any advice from people who have the experience would be helpful

Thanks

David

[aussietmrail]

Hi David, welcome to the forum, what part of the world do you live as it depends on how hot your summers and how cold your winters are, I live in Queensland Australia our summers are very hot , last summer peaked 48C degrees and our winters drop down to minus 3 degrees, August is at the end of our winter and the days are starting to warm up, spring not far away, back into my layout.

Peco nickel sliver track is the best track to use for outdoors, that Hornby track must be steel track for it to go that way so quick, ok as you said will be a temporarily set up, my layout isn't going to be a permanent set up either, set up as a module outdoor layout, wont have those issues you can go to my post on Camdale layout and have a look how mine is coming together slowly.

There isn't anything I know you can put on the rails to stop that rust build up just have to clean the rails with a track rubber every time you run a train even with Peco nickel silver track you have to keep the track clean and same with the loco wheels and rolling stock.

This is where everyone hangs out, so yes place to be, you sure will get a lot of advice here.

Tony.

[davidrobinson]

Thanks Tony,

I'm in the UK, I've had time to look through some other posts so I think the best thing for me to do would be to start a thread showing what I'm doing and let the advice flow from there.

Thanks for the advice with the track

If a moderator reads this then they can feel free to delete the post.

Thanks

David

[doublecee]

Id certainly set up a thread in the planning section if I were you as this section is for established layouts.

So, Hornby Track... Its ok, but the plastic sleepers dont fare as well as the peco, and you will probably find yourself replacing sections within a year or two. Also, depending on the size of your layout, you should really let the wall govern your layout, not the track, so you should really look at using as much flexi track as you can.

If your using points, then the Hornby ones (as fine as they are for indoors) will eventually disappoint.

Looking forward to reading your planning post... and welcome to the forum