For my portable 1’ x 6.5’ shelf layout, I am considering joining the tracks using a DIY barrel bolt technique found here:
https://modelrailwayengineer.com/joining-track-across-boards/#comments
I plan to just use brass tubes and rods simply for locking the tracks together and not for electrical conductivity. Since modern HO rail is nickel-silver, would there be any problems soldering these components together? Also, just out of curiosity does anybody have any other recommendations for connecting track together?
Interesting concept - I like it. That would work quite well to keep the rails aligned. I can see some great possibilities in that for modular layouts, especially in maybe eliminating joiner tracks.
There is absolutely no problem in soldering brass to nickel silver, either. They will solder together extremely well. For best results, make sure both metals are clean.
Plain old track joiners would work, too. You slide the track joiners fully onto the rails of one module. Then after the modules are put together, you slide the joiners over to connect the rails together. However, after being almost too tight when new, they tend to loosen up fairly quickly, even more so with constant set-up and tear-down of the layout sections. Anyone involved in N-Trak and other modular railroading scales can attest to this.
And lastly, don't depend on merely the rails to to keep module sections together and aligned. The modules need their own alignment and clamping techniques to do this. For example, in addition to the standard practice of C-clamping modules together, I've introduced both of my local N-Trak and HO-scale modular train clubs to the use of dowel pin module alignment for faster and easier set-up of their modules at train shows. It works so darned good, that they don't know how they ever got along without it before!
