Today I replaced some tubular track on a siding where I was losing power near the bumper.
Here are a couple of photos of the siding with 2 three foot long sections of straight track:
Notice the station in the picture above. It is a cheap battery operated talking station called the Western Station. Bought it at a train show 20 years ago for about $5. Little kids love it. When a train goes by it, the locomotive hits a tab that sticks out from the platform and then the station talks: Westbound train, all aboard, etc.
Trains now run much better on the siding. No loss of power. I made the siding more level and the three foot sections of track help a lot.
