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I'm building an engine shed/car barn for my layout. It's going to be 16 feet long and just over 2 feet wide. Using some LGB 1200 switches which I have on hand, I can get four tracks in there, as shown in the track plan attached. I know it would be better to run the mainline in at an angle, to avoid S curves, and the R1 curves will be too tight for some of my locos, but most of my rolling stock can take those curves and I can store long trains in two or three parts. I'm trying to save money by using what I have instead of buying new switches. I'll probably stand at the entrance to the shed and do the switching by hand--I'm not imagining this as an operational yard
Is there a good way to make tracks? I don't want to use expensive brass track on what will be in effect electrically dead sidings for frieght cars. I thought about using strips of wood, but I seem to recall Richard Smith saying that he had made wooden tracks and that the friction was so much greater that he could not push more than a couple cars without derailing. I've thought about aluminum track, or maybe just aluminum bar stock set into slots. Any ideas?
Is there a good way to make tracks? I don't want to use expensive brass track on what will be in effect electrically dead sidings for frieght cars. I thought about using strips of wood, but I seem to recall Richard Smith saying that he had made wooden tracks and that the friction was so much greater that he could not push more than a couple cars without derailing. I've thought about aluminum track, or maybe just aluminum bar stock set into slots. Any ideas?