Skip to main content

I was grabbing some O-60 to put down with a test lot of O-72 to verify right of way clearances under our baby grand as planning for this year’s Shoe level layout proceeds. I was glancing at a section and realized the hole that should be open for a Rail joiner already had something in it which appears to be a fractured one. I have not identified  the piece of track that donated this rail joiner; I am just hoping it’s not a $18 30” one. 

It looks crystallized. Has anyone run into this before? The track is ten years old at least meaning it would have been assembled and disassembled  at least 10-15 Times. Does not seem readily repairable. Suggestions and or thoughts??

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I just “removed the foreign body” broken off rail joiner from the piece of 0-60. Actually I think I removed about half of it and shoved the other half far enough rearward into the rail to make it ok to hook back onto an undamaged Normal section of track. I used a dental straight handpiece 703 bur in a Dremel. The best ones are made by Komet and Brasseler. Your dentist might give you one. 

The joiners have a tab coming through the roadbed for retention. So removing a broken off base of one is another kettle of fish. It looks to me that it may be possible to take the rail off by bending up the metal tabs on the rails from underneath. This will release the joiner. Just how well they will bend back is conjectural. I doubt that Lionel sells the rail joiners but maybe you could scrap some out of a cheaper piece of track.

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×