Aluminum Rails

Its true, aluminum is a poor conductor of electricity. Why dont you use brass rails?

Don't want to be cleaning brass before every run.  Or has brass changed.  I remember when I had HO I always had to clean the track alot.

Rick

Aluminum is, when compared to brass or stainless steel, a relatively poor conductor, but I have used aluminum rail on smaller Large Scale pikes without any real problems.  It definitely is less expensive than either brass or (especially) stainless steel.  Definitely something I would consider for battery-powered Large Scale, regardless of layout size, but I also wouldn't necessarily rule it out for a small or mid-size layout.

No question about it, brass rail is fairly high maintenance in terms of requiring rather regular cleaning (again, unless you're running battery power).

Actually Alan Aluminum is a very good conductor of electricity bettered only by Copper, Silver and Gold. Brass is about half as good as aluminum more or less depending on the amount of Zinc in it. Stainless Steel is about 1/4 as good as Aluminum. The problem I would have with Aluminum is if it's alloyed the conductivity will go down a little but the strength will go up. I would think that Aluminum would only work well for battery operated trains as it would oxidize quickly.

Ron

I'm referring to the practical application of the metals as related to model train track, and will stand by what I wrote.

I still have some brass rail on an HO layout and I wouldn't call it high maintenance for indoor use. It will oxidize over an extended period of time; I found it needed some shining up after about 10 years. I run rail wipers on most of my trains (in all gauges)and that helps keep track clean. My conventional O-gauge steel track is probably more at risk of oxidizing than my HO brass track.

Aluminum rail is commonly used on 7.5" live steam railroads and it works fine there unless you have really heavy traffic over an extended time.

Aluminum is actually a pretty good conductor and it's commonly used for high-voltage power transmission. But aluminum surfaces oxidize quickly and that makes it less desireable for model railroad track with track power.

Battery-power G-gauge on aluminum rail might be a good plan for outdoor use.

I'm a little confused by what you mean practical application. Aluminum is used for conductors from the transformer to houses and businesses all over the country with little voltage drop. What is the difference in electricity traveling through the rails and electricity traveling through wire. I agree it's probably a bad choice as it would tend to oxidize and would be hard to attach dissimilar wires to it due to galvanic action but it's conductivity is very good.

Ron

WOW, thanks for the input.  I really don't want anything that is going to oxidize and be needing a lot of maintenance.  I don't see this being a large layout.  Possibly only an extension of the loop I already have.  But, I don't want to have to clean it every time I want to run a train.  I already have stainless steel and a couple of SS switches so I guess I'll just add to that.

What I'd really like to use is Gargraves track but they don't make a 120" switch.  The largest switch they have in G scale is 72".  I've even talked to the Gargrave guys at York and they don't seem to interested in expanding their line.

Thanks again,  Rick

I'd stick with stainless, as it sounds like you won't need a lot of track.

G scale track IS frightfully expensive though...wish I'd bought more LGB track back in the day.

Jeff C