027 track section with "built in" power terminals, instead of using a power "lock-on"?

It seems you are referring to the CTC. They work well enough if not abused, fatigued, and misshapen. The Lionel LTC has actual binding posts with thub nuts. Those are the only real manufacturer options. Marx has similar options to the CTC, but some of theirs actually slide in to the fold of the rails from the underside. I have seen the suggestion also to take spade connectors and jam them into the rails in a similar fashion. However, the real answer is to simply solder leads to the underside of the rails.

I solder all power connections on my Lionel tin track. Highly recommended.

Thanks for that info.

Really really strange to me that nobody makes that piece.

I have a soldering iron, and silver solder, so I guess I will go ahead and solder the leads to the bottom of the rails.

OR, I could just solder the Lock-On CTC to the rails, where each locking clip grabs the side of a rail.  Then there would be no solder bubbles on the bottom of the track.

Mannyrock

Mannyrock,

Mine are not really on "the bottom" of the rails. More to the inside part of the center and outside rail. Just a small bit of solder. You really can't even see them.

When you solder, you might consider forcing the wire in the gap in the underside of the rails, then solder away.  This will give you the added insurance against the possibility of a cold solder joint.

If done on foots top and web, use the outside edge of the outer rail, not on the flange side of rail; wheel flanges will hit it there. A slodering gun or big tip on iron will help do it faster. Sliver solder? Use small gauge electrical blends. I think of bearing solders with "silver solder". Some electrical may have a small silver percentage, but silver solder is in the brazing family

Don't use "silver solder" for an electrical connection!  Even though it claims good electrical properties, it will give you nothing but trouble.  Use an electrical solder (tin/lead or lead-free) with a rosin core or a separate rosin flux paste.  

Gargraves makes terminal tracks with screw terminals. Its the same height as 027 and they offer adapter pins.

Pete

Once again,

Thanks for all of this info.

Mannyrock

The Lionel 1019 can be used as a terminal track. One binding post equals CTC clip 2(outside rails), the other binding post equals CTC clip 1(center rail).

Manny, for o27 or O gauge, crimp a spade terminal to the end of the wire,  spread the bottom of the rail slightly,  and jam the ends of the spade terminal between the rail pieces.   This is all you really need.   Took me a long time to decide soldering to the rail is very solid,  but generally overkill. This will provide a connection plenty strong enough for non command operation.

@johnstrains posted:

I solder all power connections on my Lionel tin track. Highly recommended.

I totally agree.

@ADCX Rob posted:

The Lionel 1019 can be used as a terminal track. One binding post equals CTC clip 2(outside rails), the other binding post equals CTC clip 1(center rail).

That's a great idea! Altho I only have about a half million of those.

Flip the track upside down, open the gap a little, stick the wires inside the gap, fill with a little solder, no more connection problems permanently. 

@ADCX Rob posted:

The Lionel 1019 can be used as a terminal track. One binding post equals CTC clip 2(outside rails), the other binding post equals CTC clip 1(center rail).

@balidas posted:

That's a great idea! Altho I only have about a half million of those.

And actually, anywhere you have one of these on your control panel, you have another "lockon" connection to the track as there are center rail and outside rail connections inside each controller:

Thanks for the extra info.

Those Gargraves units look great, . . .but at $68 each plus shipping, . . . not for me.  Geez, I could get a nice Lionel loco for that.

I guess will go try prying the rails open, slipping the wires in and soldering the gap.

I like the spade terminal idea, but I'm not great at crimping terminals, and some of them come loose.

Mannyrock

The Gargraves 111 terminal track lists for $17.50. Likely can be had at a discount from many of their dealers.

https://www.justrains.com/webs...amp;products_id=1812

Pete

You may wish to consider using a K-Line lighted lock on.  The circuit in the light provides surge protection in voltage variance from your transformer.