Model Railway Forum

Boy are we having fun with this!

I’ve got my old (1980’s) 125 up and running and enjoying running it flat out around our oval track, the sound and smell brings back memories for me….
We want to make the line longer and are trying to think of the best way to double its length.

The idea at the moment is to buy more track with a different curve radius, follow the route of the first oval and use a couple of the express point changers for the crossover.

Questions are,

How close can I get the track to each other? We are only going to be running one train at a time on this line.
Is there a better solution for the crossover?
Any other thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Dave&Luke

OO Peco Setrack and Hornby track all space parallel lines at 67mm track centres. Peco Streamline space parallel tracks at 50mm, but the general idea with Streamline is the curves made with flexible sections of track are to a much larger radius and the curves can be spaced further apart wherever necessary if two trains are likely to collide on adjacent curves (Not a problem in your case though) Hornby Express points offer a larger turnout radius than the standard points which are 2nd radius Setrack. Alternatively you can use Streamline turnouts in medium or large radius. All are sold in Code 100 rail profile which matches Hornby or Peco Setrack rail and in Insulated frog. Note Streamline track and points is not supplied with metal rail joiners fitted.

Thanks for the swift response Brian.

Just has a thought on using points for the crossover, we’re going to have to keep changing the points when the train completes a circuit arn’t we?

A diamond crossover would be better but I’m concerned at the angle of the cross. Is the Peco version shallower than the Hornby one?
I don’t really want to have to slow the train down, so the shallower the angle the better.

Hi
Hornby Diamond crossing is sold in a left or right hand version. Peco diamond in Setrack is only sold in one version. But the Peco Streamline diamond is sold in a small and large version! Personally, I would opt for the large Streamline Insulated frog diamond and adjust tracks around it by using Streamline Code 100 flexible track.

That’s great advice Brian, thanks again.

In regards to curves and the distance between them as parallel lines, always add a small amount extra incase you buy another item of stock which may collide. One "Thinks" one has it right until one buys something new and it collides withsomething coming the other way, so is best to allow for this as a "Just incase" measure as it can be annoying to change afterwards. I hope this helps.

Where I live used to be broad gauge and all our platforms etc are spaced wide, so sectional track spacing is about right. Odd I know, but it only looks right for us if we do that.
Modelling most other areas of the country will need the gap narrowed down.

The best way though is to experiment. Pin track down lightly and push your coaches with the pargest overhangs on each line to see if they collide, and slowly move the track by taking pins out and moving them.

Thanks Mountain Goat.