Just recently gotten back into ho trains - grandkids are my motivation.  For a 5'X 8' oval, I'm trying to understand which would be a better choice - steel alloy or nickel silver.  I understand the cleaning aspects of one over the other.  But for a small 5' X 8' oval track, would steel alloy conduct electricity as good as nickel silver.  In other words, is the increased performance of nickel silver worth the investment?  Thanks!

I have an MRC Synchro Sound Box which I am generally satisfied with.  I am interested in adding a battery-powered portable speaker that I use with my iPod.  Is it possible to wire the MRC Sound Box into my iPod speaker?  Thanks!

I have an oval track (approx 8 feet by 4.5 feet, 22" radius, steel EZ track) using an MRC 280 Tech4 transformer running a Bachmann Steam Engine Class with Tender (J 4-8-4) pulling four cars.  I have decent speed except going around the far turn when the engine slows down noticably.  I've checked track connections, keep it clean but still have the speed loss.  Anything I can do to remedy my problem?