why does this threaddrift remind me of the frequent battery advertizements, when somebody asks about DC or DCC?
the question was, how to clean brassrail and joiners.
there are enough garden layouts, that function well for the last fourty years, just using the original track with its original joiners. (*)
clamps are an additional cost. - and additional work. tightening four screws at each joint, instead of just pushing the track together.
from my point of view they make sense around turnouts (points/switches) for easier access.
they make sense for connecting five or ten foot long pieces of track, against loosening from the weather.
but for connecting one-foot pieces of track, that might expand/contract a milimeter or two, they look like overkill to me.
these big, shiny blocks every foot along the track? - seems bl***y ugly to me.
but your miles may vary to my kilometers...
(*) from where comes the name "fishplate" for joiners/connectors?