Atlas 6010 terminal track

I’ve used it in the past but I am not a fan of the terminal track. Just use their rail joiners with soldered wires. You can make them yourself or buy them. They are easy to make IMHO,

Could you tell me what you didn't like about the Atlas terminal track?

As I see it, rail joiners offer more flexibility as they can be used just about anywhere in a track plan with any track section and are essentially infinitely more economical when following better practices of having feeders every few sections.

I have used different types or Atlas terminal tracks available for HO gauge, but in the end switched to soldering wires onto the rail joiners for two reasons. 1) I preferred being able to hide the power connections better when soldered to rail joiners 2) rail joiners are less expensive.  However, I never experienced any electrical problems with either the terminal tracks or the rail joiners.  I would expect the O Gauge Atlas 6010 terminal track to be reliable as well.

For a 4' x 8' single loop layout, you might get by with only one pair of track connections using a single terminal track, but for that size layout 2-4 would reduce voltage drop around the length of the track.  Voltage drops causing the train to slow down in some spots is more apparent when running conventionally, compared to some modern locomotives with consistent speed control electronics (Odyssey for example).

Thanks for the information! I appreciate it. Is there anyone that is using the terminal track currently and, if so, could you provide me some feedback?

I have a Z4000 powering a TIU to 4 individual terminal tracks.  Never had a problem.  I like them because they accept spade connectors  They can easily be hidden with some ballast.   i like Atlas track; their turnouts, not so much

What I did not like about the terminal track was the screws that tightened down the wires was not secure enough for my taste. A couple of times the wires fell off. Maybe I had a bad piece of track and as many have said here better to use the joiners for your track and wire connection

@trainbob posted:

What I did not like about the terminal track was the screws that tightened down the wires was not secure enough for my taste. A couple of times the wires fell off. Maybe I had a bad piece of track and as many have said here better to use the joiners for your track and wire connection

It may be worth mentioning that if one does decide to use track with screw terminals, as mentioned by @WALMART TOM properly crimped spade connectors can work well.  If using bare wire ends to connect directly to the screw terminals, either stranded wire with tinned (solder applied) ends or solid wire make for solid electrical connections to correctly torqued screw terminals.

In my case I did use spade connectors. The problem was the screws didn’t tighten enough to hold the spade lugs properly. However it may have been the threads in the track and not a problem with most of these tracks. Solved the problem by soldering wires to the track joiners

If the screws in your terminal track don't seem to tighten, or stay tightened, once easy and inexpensive item to try is a simple lock washer between the screw head and the wire or spade terminal.  They only cost a few cents,  I would suggest using the star shaped lock washer, as it provides much better electrical connection than the split washer type of lock washer.  Any of the big box lumber stores should have these, as well as ACE hardware.

I would also suggest using at least two of these terminal tracks spaced about equidistant on your track plan.  This helps when running post war type of locomotive stock.