n scale boiler

Any of us could have the best temperature and humidity controls in the room with our layout, but there would still be some contraction & expansion over time.

How do you allow for the expansion and contraction of track on your layout over time?  Do you cut gaps in the rail? Do you put expansion joints in your benchwork?

Anything else you do to compensate for track expansion & contraction?

Reply 0
engineer

Gaps

Some gaps in the rail work great for me - no problems here!

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Reply 0
ctxmf74

Movement

Wooden bench work is subject to moisture induced movement and metal rail by temperature swings. The greater the moisture and temp changes the more movement becomes likely. The size of the layout determines the effect the movement might have ( big distances have more potential disruption) One must analyze their own room conditions and layout size then figure out how to combat the problem. For a typical room sized layout a few gaps and unsoldered rail joiners usually take care of any problems.Best way to proceed is make a guess then see how it works in practice, gaps can always be added if needed( preferably on straight sections of the track)....DaveB

Reply 0
musgrovejb

Room size

All my layouts have been in finished rooms inside the home with HVAC.  Soldier all my rails and never encountered any issues. 

However, if your layout is not in an environment where you have constant control on temperature and humidity would certainly include gaps to account for expansion/contraction. 

Joe

 

Modeling Missouri Pacific Railroad's Central Division, Fort Smith, Arkansas

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLENIMVXBDQCrKbhMvsed6kBC8p40GwtxQ

 

Reply 0
joef

See this thread ...

See this thread ... http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/33144 Also, try the search box on this website in the upper right. Try typing "expansion contraction" ... you will get a LOT of threads to read.

Joe Fugate​
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

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Read my blog

Reply 0
Matthew W Hardey Matt Hardey

Expansion Joints in Track

Years ago, a writer in Model Railroader suggested that where track expansion and contraction is a problem, the gap should be cut diagonally across the rail, so that the ends of the rail will slide toward or away from each other without kinking, and provide a more continuous rail for the wheel tread to ride on.  I never had to experiment with this, but it sounds like a reasonable idea.

Matt Hardey

​New Orleans Great Northern Railroad

Covington, LA

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