Hi: I was wondering if you could post web resources about making your own contact tracks (for track occupancy and track incursion) for both M-track and C-track? I will be happy to post a webpage with links once the inflow has calmed down.

Please note: I will be happy to do the same for K-track, I just do not have any.

Thanks.--MM

Henrik: Thanks for the picture. Can you post a verbal explanation of the different things in the picture? What are they made of, how long are they, how do you attach them, how do you hook it up to the layout, and perhaps what is the utility? Sorry to ask so many questions, but it's a hazard of being a professor.--MM

It is normal aluminium foil from the grocery store.
Then some double-sided tape (like for holding carpets in place).
I cut it in 8mm wide strips, as long as I need.
(for goood old analog ocupation detection, you´ll need at least 36cm. For digital S88 feedbacks used in computer-control much shorter distances can be used, like 10cm)

One end of the strip is rolled into a wire. (the aluminium wont break because of the tape) and screwed into a plug.
I use a small strip of normal tape to isolate the foil where it breaks away from the track, and a drop of white glue or hot glue to keep the plug in place.

Regarding use and hook-up, well it depends on what you want with it. You just asked for a way to do it, and that is what I answered...
The utilisation is just like any other contact-track from Märklin;
1) You connect it to a S88 entry.
2) You connect it to a bulp, and the other side of the bulp to the trafo yellow (or red if digital).
3) you connect it to a blue wire from a solenoid device, like signal or switch-motor.
-You shouldnt really take my connection-instructions too much serious if you are running new (CS, MS, mfx) digital. But they ARE valid for analog and old (6021) digital operation...

Hello,

put away the middle contacts of the m-track. Saw the m-track through the length in two parts. Mount the middle contact again. On both end of your contact rail you have to chance the joiners to isolated joiners from Fleischmann or Roco. I hope it is understandable.

This is the solution to change every kind of m-track to a contact track.

Basil: Thanks, Sean Fanelli's description is quite clear, and the pictures make it more so. Sean is essentially remaking a factory Märklin contact track by breaking a rail and immobilizing that rail (with hot glue). You need two of the tracks to isolate a section of track. Kimmo has an interesting solution that uses a single track with essentially the same idea: http://koti.welho.com/km...n37/Contact%20Track.jpg. There is only a picture there, but after looking at Sean's page, you quickly get the idea.--MM

Another link for homemade M-track contacts is: http://www3.sympatico.ca/heinle/Contact_Track.html