TRACK LAYING/PERMANENT WAY
Basically this is what its all about. All the time spent designing the layout
and constructing the baseboards is simply to produce a foundation for the track
or permanent way as it is frequently known. With the preliminaries completed
correctly - choice of scale/gauge, layout design and baseboard construction; the track installation should be a relatively simple task.
Permanent way has three basic components:
 | Track.
Track is the straight or curved sections of permanent way that connect
turnouts and crossings. |
| Turnouts, points or switches.
Turnouts or switches allow the permanent way to divide into two or more
routes. They include standard straight turnouts, curved turnouts, three way turnouts, double and single slips.
Standard and curved turnouts are handed - for example on a standard turnout
if the curve branches to the right it is 'right handed' as the image below
shows for both straight and curved. |
| Crossings.
Crossings allow track to cross without changing direction. They are sometimes referred
to as 'diamond crossings'. |
For information on track scales and
gauges click here for more information.
The most difficult decision for most enthusiasts when using track
manufactured by companies such as Peco, is the option between 'insulfrog' and
'electrofrog' turnouts. When this option is available the simple solution is
that electrofrog turnouts should be used as they improve the running quality of
the layout. Many railway modellers are miss-informed over the benefits of
electrofog turnouts. When constructing a layout for a client, Professional
Layout Services will always use where available electrofrog turnouts and slips.
We will usually alter them to live-frog to ensure optimum performance from the
track.
For information on insulfrog,
electrofrog and livefrog turnouts click here for more information.
TRACK TYPES
 |
A full description of the types of track
available to the model railway enthusiast is shown below. Track type is
determined by the type of stock together with the age of the stock, and
the type of layout required. Four basic track types are available as
follows: |
|
| Set
Track. Set track uses pre-formed track sections for straights
and curves available in gauges Z to G. All track sections are produced to a
specific geometry based upon the manufacturer selected. The most popular
types include Peco, Hornby, Fleischmann and Marklin with LGB in G scale. Set
track is ideal for layouts where space is restricted and standard ready to
run stock is to be used. It is however not suitable for use with kit built
locomotives and some ready to run stock does not perform on the inside
radius. Stock of most ages is suitable except for the very early stock where
wheel flanges may be very deep. The standard rail profile for most UK set
track is code 100 for 00 gauge, and code 83 for N gauge. |
| Flexible Track - Universal.
Usually manufactured from code 100 rail
in 00 gauge, and code 83 rail in N gauge, flexible track shares the benefits
of set track in that it is suitable for most ready to run models. It is
however more realistic than setrack as the normal minimum radius for bending
flexible track is twenty four inches in 00 gauge, and twelve inches in N
gauge. This allows more realistic appearing track as due to the reduced
radius, the track can be set at the standard six foot spacing between
tracks, unlike set track which has to be set wider to allow trains to pass
in the sharp corners. The track spacing is set when turnouts are combined to
form a crossover. The most popular ranges of flexible track include Peco.
Generally more turnout types are available allowing for more realistic track
formations. Flexible track can however be used in conjunction with the same
code set track. |
| Flexible Track - Finescale.
Finescale track is the result of
enthusiasts demanding a more realistic rail profile as wheel standards have
improved. Finescale track is generally suitable for kit built models and
most modern ready to run stock, but is troublesome with older stock. The
rail profile is reduced by Peco to code 55 in N gauge, and code 75 in 00
gauge. Peco manufacture a similar range of turnouts in code 75 and code 100.
Peco have manufactured code 83 for the American market. |
| Hand Constructed Finescale Track.
 |
When 'off the shelf' track by manufacturers such as Peco, Hornby,
Fleischmann and Marklin is deemed to be unacceptable or
un-prototypical by the modeller, the option is to manufacture track
by hand, or purchase pre-constructed hand made track. Hand
constructed track is usually made to specific gauges where scale is
critical e.g. 2mm scale (2mm to
the foot scale option to N gauge), EM gauge and S4/P4 (4mm to the
foot scale options to OO gauge) the majority of stock running on
this track is kit built or re-wheeled ready to run, and S7 (7mm to
the foot scale option for O gauge). The majority of
stock running on this track is kit built or re-wheeled ready to run.
Exact track formations can be reproduced to scale using scale
turnout drawings. Originally track was produced using wooden
sleepers with copper or brass rivets placed at the rail location to
allow the rail to be soldered to the rivet. This in more recent
times has been often replaced by 'copper clad' paxolin board e.g. SMP
and Marcway; or the extensive range of all plastic sleepers and
chairs as produced by C&L
Finescale. In recent years the P4
Track Company has emerged with some of the best track available
for S4. Some manufacturers of
components offer a construction service. |
|
The photograph above shows hand constructed S4 track
constructed using wooden sleepers and rivets to locate the rail being installed
by Professional Layout Services. A cosmetic chair is added to give a totally
realistic appearance to this track.
Professional Layout Services offer the supply and installation of most set
track and flexible track systems including underlay. Underlay is the material
used beneath the track to give the raised ballast profile. This is usually
either sheet or sliced cork which requires ballasting as a separate process (see
our section on scenics), or foam underlay which is designed to represent the
ballast infill. Underlay if used correctly also evens out the level of the track
and reduces the noise created when trains move on the layout.
Professional Layout Services offer a full track
installation service. We will install track onto client constructed baseboards
or baseboards constructed by ourselves. We specialise in the installation of
hand constructed finescale track.
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