TRACK PLANNING & LAYING THE TRACK

One of the first dilema's facing the prospective modeller is the all important track plan, as previously mentioned; if you get it wrong your'e stuck with it. So, begin by scribbling some puposeful lines down on paper and just see if they give you the correct* traffic flows, shunting moves, required elements such as:

Station - Motive Power Depot or Traction Maintenance Depot - Goods Yard - Coal Drops - Freightliner Depot - Private Siding - Cattle Dock - Carriage Sidings - Transfer Sidings - Branch Line - Goods Loops - Avoiding Lines - etc.

 * Correct Traffic flows - Its your layout so anything goes but if you want authenticity perhaps follow a real life track plan, these can be adapted to suit a smaller space in many cases.

If you can fit all that in, I'll come an play trains at your house!

Basically fit what you can in to the space provided, I generally use PECO trackwork because its easily obtainable and if something does go wrong it can be replaced fairly quickly. So for this section I will be dealing with the 'PECO Code 75 Finescale' series of track. It helps if you know what type of points will be used, unless you are modelling a colliery or works site I would advise you use at least 'Medium Radius' points and above as more and more ready to run loco's are unable to negotiate the Small Radius version.

Having decided upon a basic plan it will pay you to get a set of point templates from PECO, these are full size paper cut outs of all the range (from which you can make others). Lay the templates and draw in 'full size' the planned layout on a sheet of plywood or hardboard, this is when you first see the problems and there will be some. You can usually move and juggle things to suit but make sure the radiuses are not too tight otherwise the problems of the small radius point will be on the plain trackwork.

If you are happy with the outcome then begin by drawing in roughly the position of the points, at this stage you must be aware that should you wish to operate them electrically then you must ensure the operating tie-bar is sufficiently clear of any under board supporting timbers, if not then try to gain a couple of centimetres by moving the point, if this is totally impossible then a surface mounted motor will have to be used, again these are available from PECO.

OK , the points are clear and the track plan looks right, next step is laying the foundations. It is not practical to lay the track straight onto the board as in real life the track is sitting on stone ballast, we therefore have to re-create this and in doing so we take the opportunity to 'quieten' the trains in operation, they can be quite noisey especially if ground stone ballast is used (which we will deal with later). There are several methods:

  • PECO (or other similar manufacturer system) Foam ballast.
  • Cork sheet
  • Rubberised sheet
  • Cardboard
  • Polystyrene
  1. Foam ballast I find is excellent if using 'set-track' but not so stable if using 'flexible' track.
  2. Cork Sheet is still the most widely used medium for track laying, it is readily available and cost's around £7 for a 24" x 30" sheet 1/8" thick.
  3. Rubberised sheet is becomming difficult to get hold of in small quantities and quite expensive, a Vehicle Trimming outlet may have a supply.
  4. Cardboard, I have used the type with corrugations between the faces which works pretty well and the beauty is you can probably get it for free!
  5. Polystyrene is pretty good and the easiest source of supply is a decorators merchants who stock it in rolls for insulating walls prior to wallpapering. It is 2mm thick.

My method is two fold:

Lay the track route in a layer of polystyrene and cover with a layer of 3mm cork sheet and allow to dry, allow for some extra width for even at this stage things may need tweaking a little.

From here on I will let the picture do the explaining:

This basic tool kit will get you through most of the tasks when tracklaying.

This is the basic track plan (courtesy of fellow MMRS member Mike Cole - Many thanks Mike).

Showing from top left:

  • Arrival loops and sidings
  • Steam Depot with 4 non-through roads
  • Coaling facilities are contained within triangle
  • Additional sidings for coal and stores wagons plus breakdown crane
  • Far right is triangle release if loco's require turning
  • Diesel Depot is shown to the bottom right leading off the main arrival road, 2 road depot plus fuelling point
  • Fiddle yard is bottom left

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