Filling in the gaps?

[Demiel1910]

Small gaps between rails are necessary to allow for heat expansion, but there are some gaps that are about 6-7 mm that seem to upset some of my rolling stock. All locos are battery powered so no need for electrical continuity. So, whats the best thing to fill in the gap? silverfoil?, a paste of some sort , or is there a readymade product that I don't know about. Many thanks

 

[Greg Elmassian]

I have found that having gaps is not necessary, I'd close the gaps unless you have tried to bolt your track down every section. In that case, no solution.

Take a mild day and butt all the track together. It will expand, and during cooler times it will make it's own gaps. The laws of physics are impossible to avoid.

Please let us know how your track is attached to it's underlayment.

Greg

 

[dunnyrail]

Small gaps between rails are necessary to allow for heat expansion, but there are some gaps that are about 6-7 mm that seem to upset some of my rolling stock. All locos are battery powered so no need for electrical continuity. So, whats the best thing to fill in the gap? silverfoil?, a paste of some sort , or is there a readymade product that I don't know about. Many thanks

Certainly 6-7mm appears over the top. Work out what is the best gap the cut some rail to fill the excess gap where necessary. It is entirely possible to cut 2-5mm lengths of rail for this purpose from some short lengths that may have been cut off for other purposes. Shove into the fishplate job done.

Oh you appear to have made the same post 3 times, it os possible to delete your own in these circumstances.

 

[Demiel1910]

Thankyou for pointing out the multiple entries (now corrected) My track is a 'dog-bone' line about 40 metres long and the track is merely resting on either concrete blocks or wooden beams. havent fully decided what to use for ballast. The majority of my track started out as straight rails which I bent myself to suit the layout (hence some of the bigger gaps!)

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Sounds like trimming one rail to allow both rails to meet at the same time might be a good idea.