MTH Ground Track

I can see how you're confused.  I first went to the MTH website and entered "40-1068-2" in the search box.  What comes back is a page that shows this product but does not explain the features that it's intended to provide.  It only lists the generic features common to all RealTrax (rugged, realistic, reliable, etc.)

We know that it's not an activation track because that track has a separate product number (40-1069).

As far as using Google for some hints, it fails miserably because, although it returns a number of hits for 40-1068-2, all of them repeat the same useless text found on MTH's page.  A Trainz.com page mentions using it for activating accessories but does not say how to do this.

What does a "Ground Track" do?  How do you use it?

Perhaps it's a track that has it's two outside rails electrically isolated from each other so that it (and maybe a few more, all connected in a row) can be used between two activator tracks to extend the length of the activating rail (which is typically only one of the two outside rails) and therefore set the length of the activation block?  If  so, "Ground" is a poor choice of words.  Maybe "Extending" or "Activation Extending" would be better.

Your guess is presently as good as mine.

Anybody else want to venture a guess?

Mike

Mike,

I subsequently found a web site that seems to indicate the track is used to ensure continuity- particularly when there are switches that could cause the ground to be lost if there’s no power lock on in the section between switches.  That sort of makes sense to me.  I’m open, though, to other ideas.  I really thought I was buying it to activate accessories, but I have also had troubles in the past with losing connections in certain areas of my Christmas layout - and now I’m wondering if the ground is somehow lost?  

Take a picture of the bottom and post it. That should tell us everything we want to know.

Yes the copper pins on the connection ends could give us a clue if you also have any Realtrax turnout bottom shown .