NEW nickel-plated LGB tracks !

[Customizer]

Hi Playmofriends,

ok here some news for the Train section !
LGB makes new tracks, nickel plated !!





Have a look here:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/GProducts2.asp?Scale=G&Item=NSTRKLGB


gentle greets

Andi

[bogol]

I have already ordered nickel tracks (LGB early order special sale ) weeks ago but the guy from the train shop called and said that LGB has recevied so many orders that it will take a good while before they will be able to deliver.

[Richard]

Hello, Bogol and Customizer ...

Do you both think that the nickel plated track will stay cleaner than the brass track?

And, is it nickel plate over brass or steel?

Richard

[Captain Henry]

Interesting... I wonder how it compares to the brass track in terms of price. More expensive, I'd wager.

[EDWINMODELS]

As well as collecting playmobil I also collect LGB Trains. At present my outdoor layout has Aristocraft stainless steel track but I intend to swap it over to the new LGB Nickle silver. It will be more expensive than the brass but it hardly ever needs cleaning and should be a lot more conductive it also looks more realistic.

Regards EDWINMODELS

[bogol]

I almost forgot about this thread... my new nickel tracks arrived quite some time ago. They look very nice and shiny. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find out about how they are made up, Richard, and I don't want to cut them up to find out about the interior! They are a bit harder to put together and disassemble than brass track but that also means they will stick together better while in use. And yes, they are more expensive than brass, e.g. a straight nickel track 600mm will cost about € 8.60 while the regular 600mm is about € 7.30.

[Richard]

Hello, Bogol ...

Thanks for the info on your new nickel tracks !!!

If you have a magnet, please see if the tracks are attracted to it.

If the tracks are attracted to the magnet, then they are probably nickel plated steel.

If the tracks are NOT attracted to the magnet, then they are probably either nickel plated brass or maybe even a solid nickel alloy.

Do the nickel tracks feel heavier than the brass tracks

I am hoping that LGB used a nickel alloy, rather than a nickel plate, as nickel plate may wear off over time.

Thanks again and all the best,
Richard

[bogol]

Hi Richard - the new track is nickel-plated brass. At one of the edges the nickel wore off a bit and I could see the brass underneath. It's also not attracted to a magnet.

[Richard]

Thanks for the update, Bogol ...

"Nickel plated brass" ... Hmmm ...

It would seem that the big advantage over "plain brass" tracks would be that you might not have to clean them as often and you might also get better conductivity. And, of course, they look more like the real thing.

Have you noticed any difference in the performance of your trains, Bogol ...

Since I am really OK with the appearance of the "plain brass" track, I am more curious about any improved performance (or reduced cleaning) that you may have noticed, Bogol ...

Thanks again and I await your next report ...

All the best,
Richard

[bogol]

Hi Richard!

The performance of the nickel tracks is very good but so far I don't see any noticeable improvement as compared to brass track. Now I use my brass track almost exclusively indoors and I have very little corrosion. Whether the nickel version is easier to clean I don't know yet. I have them now for only about two months compared to my oldest brass tracks which are some 23 years old.

Looks are indeed a matter of taste. The nickel tracks look very pretty but they don't actually look "real" because they are so nice and shiny. I guess the most important test will be how they will perform outdoors. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of experience in this area.