Great news Patrick, really glad everything worked out for you and your layout. Fantastic job. Run a train for me since my layout is in storage right now. Joe
Patrick, if you really want that rail to stay cleaner longer, work on it with progressively finer abrasives until you get to 6000 grit. Then burnish it with a larger, plated fender washer. Follow up with No Ox. I have a friend that did that four years ago and hasn't touched the rails since other that to wipe dust off before operating. No issues.
I have the washer. Stainless steel. It really does shine the rail. I’ll get the fine grit and begin the treatment. No Ox is spray contact cleaner, right ?
The track needs one more spray coat of brown while in place to cover replaced rail joiners and various bare and missed spots. After that will come the fine grit and No Ox treatment . Can’t wait. Ballasting track is one of my favorite things, begins the transition to scenic layout.
A new track issue arose. It’s winter here on the coast and the other night it got really cold, a bone snapping deep freeze for around here at 40F. I didn’t expect this to happen. Most of the EZ track sections humped up in the middle, certainly caused by the rail severely contracting in the cold. Anyone else have a cold environment like an unheated basement or outbuilding and have a similar experience? The track isn’t fastened down yet while the plan is finalized. I’ll have to secure it very heavily. I’m glad I saw this issue before ballasting and scenery. PF
If the track is fastened to wood, homasote, or other wood product, the cause of your "hump" is contraction likely due to humidity drop. This is the common cause to "sun kinks" in winter time.
If you have ever had metal walkways on top of cars, you will see the same thing happen. It may be because of the different rates of expansion snd contraction between the metal and plastic. Metal walkways are often popped loose on my cars I have not used the type of track you are talking about. I dont keep the RR barn at a constant temp.
The affected track is Bachmann EZ track not yet fastened down while I finalize the track plan. So the contracting rail is strong enough to cause the plastic roadbed to warp when cold. Another effect is that all the movement has worked some of the rail joiners loose so that continuously track power has random issues. All of this means that I have to decide on the final track plan, fasten it down very securely, and solder all the joints before final track painting. Everyone here has told me how problematic this location would be, and if there was any other choice I’d use it. But at this time I have to be here 5 days a week for ongoing family attention requirements. Not where my actual home layout is, which is getting nothing done on it. And this marginal secondary layout actually is great relaxation when it’s not too cold or hot or mosquito-y down there. I’m not crazy about the EZ track. I did my first layout with it years ago, wished I used code 83/70, and had some left that I thought I’d use up on this small basically disposable layout. It’s turned out to be more trouble than it’s worth but now the layout is about done, the “period of discovery“ for being outside nearly done, and solutions to multiple unique problems being at hand. pf
