LGB Aluminium track

PhilP

G Scale, 7/8th's, Electronics
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I recently bought a job-lot of second-hand track, which contains a number of length of LGB Aluminium track..(At least 7 x 3ft, to start with).
Does anyone have any experience of this used outdoors?
Does it give any problems if mixed-in with brass track?

If you think I should not mix it in, do you think I could probably offload it at Welshpool this weekend?
 
Do you mean the LGB Nickel Silver track?

It is supposed to stay cleaner for longer than brass track.

The LGB version is just Nickel Silver plating on their standard brass track.

It wasn't very successful and didn't last in the catalogue for long.

The Nickel Silver plating was easy to wear off.
 
No, the plot thickens!!
It is code 332 in profile, three foot lengths, and has LGB sleepers on it..
Definitely too light for NS I reckon. - Which would be 'similar' in weight to brass.
 
Neil Robinson said:
I believe LGB offered aluminium as an alternative to brass in the early days, circa 1968-70.
Gosh!
It must be *RARE!* then!!
;) :D ;D ;D

Of course, it might be some other make of track, and just threaded onto LGB sleepers??
 
Aristocraft?
 
Take a look here,

http://www.lgb-much.de/20306.pdf.

or the following that claims to be a translation of the relevant part of the above from the German.

http://lgbyarner.blogspot.co.uk/2013_07_01_archive.html
 
I got caught out a few years back with a load of Peco that seemed a good price on eBay. When it arrived, it was aluminium!

I've had it outdoors since and only the other week I had to remove a section and found it very hard to get the fishplates to move (one I had to open up with a screwdriver). There was the usual expected white powder crud (ali oxide) trapped inside. I didn't use any copper slip or other grease on the joints as I don't run track-power. I have since wondered if I should start a campaign change-over to N.S. or separate all the joints and grease them.
 
It was LGB. It was aluminium. It did go to Welshpool that year, and created a small 'talking point' amongst 'them that know' about these things..
I believe it went to someone for storage sidings??
 
LGB themselves wrote that the alu track was not suitable for outdoor use, except short term at temp > 5C. The track is chrome plated and the joiners are stainless steel (V2a).
 
LGB themselves wrote that the alu track was not suitable for outdoor use, except short term at temp > 5C. The track is chrome plated and the joiners are stainless steel (V2a).

Ah, that would explain why it did not 'look' like aluminium, and the reason for my original posting.
Many thanks Peter.
 
The other point about Ali rail (from 7 1/4" G. land) is that it isn't great for adhesion in the wet. The oxide comes loose and makes a nice slippery paste.
 
The other point about Ali rail (from 7 1/4" G. land) is that it isn't great for adhesion in the wet. The oxide comes loose and makes a nice slippery paste.

Agreed.. Ali-oxide powder is a great polishing compound..
 
Strange, many people here in the US on battery power love aluminum track due to the superior adhesion when it oxidizes, it's nice sharp edges of the aluminum oxide are well known, but my experience is that this does not wash off in the rain. Ask the well known Dave Goodson in Kirkland, Washington, USA (it rains a lot there).

Have you guys personally seen this happen?

Greg
 
It is definately a fact wih larger scales. That may be because of the extra weight. The best grip is rusty steel rail, but that doesn't last as the rail polishes with the passage of many wheels.
 
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