Model Railway Forum

I've fitted one length of 3rd rail to the main line in the station area. It's a pretty fiddly job threading the chairs onto the rail. However I found by filing the bottom flange of the rail to a bit of a point the chairs slipped on easily. The instructions suggest that the insulator should be white, but having studied the ones at Basingstoke Station, they are the same colour as the track - very dirty.

IMG_0590 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

I couldn’t possibly consider modelling a 3rd rail. Looks good though.

They probably started life white but they would soon get filthy - ideal for some form of ‘wash’ to get the right effect. Have you considered a strobe light effect at the end of the tail, possibly triggered by a reed switch, to simulate the familiar flash on wet and frosty mornings?

I think it’s one of those jobs you put off over and over again, but once you’ve done it you’re really pleased and it looks great.

Agreed it looks very effective ——————— and it’s the reason I model the North.

And it’s the reason I don’t model pure electric trains.

If using the Peco Con Rail Insulator Pots on Code 100 track, we have found at my club that the washer needs omitting. As if fitted it raises the Con rail too much and it then fouls some locos causing them to lift up slightly and stop!
Con rail is coated in deicing fluid on the real thing, this gives everything (Rail and pots etc) an oily black look.

The Peco 3rd rail chairs were originally designed for Code 75 track - so the spacers are intended for use with Code 100 track. Using the measurements included and comparing with a Hornby class 73 diesel/electric pick-ups the 3rd rail was fitted. However, when the Hornby 2-hAL was placed on the track, the 3rd rail sits between the pick-up and the bogie frame. So I have to assume each model will have a different position with regards pick-up and rail. It actually looks ok - and as I don’t spend all my time looking at the track through a magnifying glass - l’m Happy with it. Colour of rail will be dirty black/dark brown - I spent time today studying the track while waiting for Clan Line to come through. BB

I've just bought a new laptop - so hopefully now back in the land of the living! Have now to get everything downloaded from the dead laptop. Life will be back to normal in the next few days.

When I was fitting the 3rd rail in the station area, I removed all of the platform canopies and gave all the lamps a dab of clear yellow varnish, as recommended by Steve M. This tones down the brilliance, and looks a little more authentic for 50/60's lighting. I have also added a barrow crossing the full width of the fiddle yard. I still have a few feet(?) of 3rd rail to install, which hopefully will be done in the next couple of days. I still have to try out the static grass applicator - so a bit of "greenery" may also appear soon.

Love what you did with that flat back wall. I plagiarized your idea for "Henley."