This is part of an extensive thread on ‘Down Ampney’ and provides information on fishplates and jumper wires on outdoor lines.

Martin15665, Oct 8, 2018 wrote
As an aside, do any of you clever fellows know how often fishplates need changing on a garden line if jumper wires are soldered across the rail joints?
I'm planning on dead rails, but for occasional powered use, I'm wondering if soldering jumper wires would suffice? Best practice for DCC is to wire a BUS with droppers if course…..oh and hardwire the switches and crossings.

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ChrisSimpson, Oct 9, 2018 wrote
My experience is that on my outdoor track of probably around 150 to 200 feet, I have had about 2 dozen failures in a period of 18 years. I have jumpers soldered to the rails either side of the fishplate and I ensure the fishplates are teased out to make then a sliding (not tight) fit. This helps prevent stress corrosion I am advised. In the same period I have had to replace sections of the wooden track base; a much more onerous fix than replacing fishplates.

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Dyson14284, Oct 9, 2018 wrote
Use copper grease on your fishplates
What kind of wire do you use please Chris?

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ChrisSimpson, Oct 9, 2018 wrote
I use copper wire stripped from electrical cable; the kind used for wiring in your house. It's about 1 to 1.5 mm dia. I solder it to the outside of the rail just past the fishplate; soldering needs a very clean rail, flux and plenty of heat I use a 70 watt iron with a large chisel bit. Take care not to melt the plastic. I use a longish piece of wire, and leave enough room from the fishplate so I can slide a fishplate out to replace it if necessary. On my indoor (shed) track I have used much thinner wire stripped from telephone or alarm cable because it's less obtrusive. This photo is the only one I can find that shows one of the links. The wire link is hardly noticeable.

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