FLEXIBLE
Track
– How
to make it the easy way -
For more information contact garrylefevre@hotmail.com
For some
time I have wanted to have flexible track on which to run my TTR. The problem as we all know is the large
coarse wheels which modern track does not allow for. Although back in the 1950’s Wrenn had 3 rail
flexible track for Trix Twin. This was
rather crude and with the centre rail being just another rail, looking large
and out of place. These days one
occasionally finds a few pieces at a swap meet but far too seldom and often in
poor condition to seriously plan building a railway layout based on it. My search to find something else started.
After some research I found the
solution was far simpler and easier than I realised.
PECO ( the
English company) makes a wide range of track including two types of 2 rail
flexible track for HO, code 100 and code
75. The code 100 has a rail profile
which is far too low for the coarse Trix wheels and code 75 is even lower. But they also make fine scale track for “O”
gauge, this rail is code 124 in nickel silver with the same height as the crude
Trix Express super track !!!
PECO sell
the code 124 rail – known as Bullhead- separately from the base in packs of
6. Each rail is one yard long or 914
mm. All one needs to do is to combine
the HO flexible track with the Bullhead rail.
On the left code 75 HO track from
PECO, on the right Trix Express super track
As one bends flexible track
the rail slides through the sleepers.
Hence all one needs to do is slide the low rail out and slide in the
higher code 124 rail
Now on the left PECO code 75 track
with the replaced code 124 bullhead rail
All we now need to do is solve the
problem of the centre rail.
The centre
rail on the Trix Express super track is half round being bent tinplate with a
diameter of 1.2mm. My solution is to use
a wire 1.2mm in diameter supported on small black track pins made by PECO
Since all
flexible track needs to be permanently fixed to the layout to prevent it
moving, the logical solution was to use the same track pins as the basis for
the support for the centre rail. The
pins are situated roughly every 7th sleeper, but this is not
critical in the centre of the sleeper.
The height is about 1.5mm above the sleeper base, again not too critical
but the combined height with the wire on top must be below the running rails to
prevent shorting on low loco bodies.
One extra long pin is used per section which passes through the base
board onto which the electrical connecting wire is soldered. In this way the current is passed to the
centre rail. This one pin must be
soldered to the wire acting as the centre rail.
The other pins can be soldered or super glued in place. I found the latter easier but not as
permanent and I recommend soldering the pins to the wire. Since
the heat from the soldering iron can melt the plastic sleepers it is
better to do this before putting the wire in place. It is essential to
thoroughly clean the wire first where it is to be solder.
Above is the finished new flexible
track on a gradual bend. Below is the
Trix Express super track Radius 2, the largest one they made.
The
appearance is remarkably nearly the same as Trix Express track. PECO nickel silver track can be joined to the
Trix Express track using the same fishplates as the rail profile is so
similar. The centre rail can be soldered
or the wire mentioned above under the base board linked to the other centre
rail.
Important
note
Since writing the above,
I am grateful to a friend for pointing out to me a problem with some Trix
trains made after about 1960 due to the scale wheels being used. These have a
wider outer flange to outer flange measurement than the coarse earlier Trix
wheels. The earlier wheels have a greater tolerance but the later models are
more precise and being wider, require the gap between the rails to be closer to
the original 16.5mm. The Peco code 124
(suggested above) has a rail thickness of 1.55mm compared to the Peco code 75
rail thickness of 0.8mm. As the centre line on the Peco HO sleeper bases for
both rails is the same the wider code 124 rail reduces the gap between the
rails from 16.5mm to 15.6mm. This affects fine scale models particularly,
leading to some stock derailing but does not seem to affect the earlier coarse
wheeled Trix items. I recommend you
first try one yard of track, partly on a curve and test the train stock you
plan to run before making too much of the flexi track described above.
Here are
some other tips if you want to do this and a list of what you need:-
·
In
choosing PECO HO track I first started with code 100, but found sometimes the
bullhead replacement rail is a bit loose. Hence I now use code 75. This is a
very tight fit. To slide in the code 124 rail I file the end to a point and put
a tiny amount of oil on the underneath. Yet still it can be tough and one can
take the easier route of using code 100 track
·
For
the centre rail I am using piano wire, (an alternative is welder’s wire –
easier and cheaper to use). Piano wire
is a sprung wire which one can get from many model shops. It has the advantage
that it will spring back into shape after a locos collecting shoe has pressed
it down. But the disadvantage is that it
is difficult to solder. Here I found the
best way was to create a jig made of a long strip of wood. Holes are drilled at intervals just slightly
larger than the pin’s body but less than the pin head. Thus the pin rests on
top of the wood. The wire is then
clamped to the wood and each pin soldered.
In this way the pins are all hanging down from the wire on the same side
and the wire can then be used directly to fix the track to the base board.
Remember to solder one longer pin, to use for the electrical connection. A hole is drilled through the middle of the
sleeper through which the pin is pressed.
The other pins are set at roughly every 7th sleeper but this
is not critical.
·
To affect
a smooth transfer of the locos centre collector shoe I bend the end of the wire
down at each joint – see photo below.
Here is a list of parts I use:-
Part |
PECO code |
UK price |
Wooden sleeper
nickel silver 914 mm long |
C25 SL-100 Code 100 |
£2-25 |
Or |
||
Wooden sleeper nickel
silver 914 mm long |
SL-100F Code 75 |
£2-30 |
Bullhead rail 6
pieces Enough to make 3 x
914mm track |
1L-7BH Nickel silver |
£7-85 |
Rail Joiners |
SL 10 |
25 for £1-45 |
Spikes or fixing
pins Chemically
blackened |
1L -13 |
Not listed Sold by weight |
Piano wire |
From model shops |
Varies |
NOW the EXTRA Surprise !!
PECO also make a
range of other products to enable you to make your own points in any design
that copies prototype railway practice.
I have seen these on exhibition layouts but not yet attempted it
myself --- perhaps my next project !
And finally here is a list of main PECO contacts who will tell you where the nearest shop to
you is stocking the items you need! !
In
the UK |
Peco Railway Models, Beer, Seaton, Devon EX12 3NA Telephone 01297 21542 Fax 01297 20229 |
In
Canada |
Academy products Inc 9 Bradwick Drive Concord Ontario L4K 2T4 Tel 0019056699120 |
In
Germany |
Weinart Modelbau Mittlewendung 7, 28844 Weyhe/Dreye Tel 004942039464 |
In
Holland |
Model Engineering BV Bangert23-1689 CJ Zwaag Tel 0031229261577 |
In
Switzerland |
Marcel Csuka 8117 Fallanden Industriestrasse 7 Tel 004118252929 |
In
USA |
Euro rail Model Importers Ltd 1000 South Main Street Newark New York Tel 0013153314090 |
For more information contact garrylefevre@hotmail.com