Nice spring review of your track changes. Yeah, I have squirrels leaving acorns on the track at times, always need to track inspection before a run session. Thanks for sharing. Ron//
Thanks! Yeah those little critters are unbelievable! Before I built the current layout I spent months and months clearing away every oak tree I could find just for that reason! It helped, but now they either eat pine cones instead or transport the acorns from my neighbors woods!
Since it’s probably not the taste of the rails that attracts the squirrels, I wonder if it’s an effort to maintain their teeth (sharpness, wear). Do you notice a difference in the squirrels’ preference for one metal-type over another? Maybe the rails’ hardness or softness is a factor for them.
It's definitely the aluminum they like, even took a few chomps on my 4 ft level! I had Aristo aluminum rail out there starting in 2015 with no issues, but the trouble began with my AML brand Aluminum Track. They sold them with brass joiners since the aluminum joiners are too soft. Unfortunately it creates a metal reaction at the joints, and this is where the squirel damage began. They started chewing up the rails just at the joints, but then once they had a taste for it, they would chew anywhere on the rails. The brass and stainless rails are fine and also the plastic ties have been unaffected as well thankfully.
Battery or track power? I have quite a bit rolling stock and locomotives but never ponied up for track. Now it's beyond ridiculous in price so I've been mulling over home made rails of some sort. It's a tough thing to make reliable, sturdy and cheap with some sort of realism
@mattberg916 I have all battery powered. If you go over 100ft it really makes the most sense, especially outdoors. I tried a few times to find homemade track ideas, but it's still somewhat expensive. You can often find used track reasonably priced if you are persistent (check facebook trading groups). If used track is damaged at all, plastic ties from RLD hobbies are the lowest price available. They also have new LGB brand rail in rather reasonable prices that are compatible with the RLD ties.
squirrels eh , chuckling here ,I get toads in my tunnel, and the hedgehogs tip over the buildings to get at the snails!🤣
Nice spring review of your track changes. Yeah, I have squirrels leaving acorns on the track at times, always need to track inspection before a run session. Thanks for sharing. Ron//
Thanks! Yeah those little critters are unbelievable! Before I built the current layout I spent months and months clearing away every oak tree I could find just for that reason! It helped, but now they either eat pine cones instead or transport the acorns from my neighbors woods!
Nice ..Thanks for the update ..
Thanks!
Since it’s probably not the taste of the rails that attracts the squirrels, I wonder if it’s an effort to maintain their teeth (sharpness, wear). Do you notice a difference in the squirrels’ preference for one metal-type over another? Maybe the rails’ hardness or softness is a factor for them.
It's definitely the aluminum they like, even took a few chomps on my 4 ft level! I had Aristo aluminum rail out there starting in 2015 with no issues, but the trouble began with my AML brand Aluminum Track. They sold them with brass joiners since the aluminum joiners are too soft. Unfortunately it creates a metal reaction at the joints, and this is where the squirel damage began. They started chewing up the rails just at the joints, but then once they had a taste for it, they would chew anywhere on the rails. The brass and stainless rails are fine and also the plastic ties have been unaffected as well thankfully.
Great layout what kind of wood are you using and how many coats of paint to weather proof it.
Thanks so much! It's self-selcted PT pine from Lowes and Behr Premium fence stain (1 coat).
Battery or track power? I have quite a bit rolling stock and locomotives but never ponied up for track. Now it's beyond ridiculous in price so I've been mulling over home made rails of some sort. It's a tough thing to make reliable, sturdy and cheap with some sort of realism
@mattberg916 I have all battery powered. If you go over 100ft it really makes the most sense, especially outdoors. I tried a few times to find homemade track ideas, but it's still somewhat expensive. You can often find used track reasonably priced if you are persistent (check facebook trading groups). If used track is damaged at all, plastic ties from RLD hobbies are the lowest price available. They also have new LGB brand rail in rather reasonable prices that are compatible with the RLD ties.