I have a bunch of code 250 rail, both aluminum and brass. I had hand-laid a bunch of it several years ago, but it didnt weather too well up here. I bought some AMS tie strips, but the thought of fighting with each tie strip as I slide the rail in was giving me nightmares. Rodney suggested a jig. Here’s the end result.
Accepts 4 AMS tie strips at their default spacing. Takes me just about 5 minutes to make a 6-foot section of track.