Model Railway Forum

I have revisited my original track layout plans several times over the last few months as I was thinking forward to scenery , and if I use the new plan I will have a couple of crossovers which would be on the main line track, the mainline would be straight before, during and after the crossing, the diagonal part would be bookended by peco medium radius points.

I am using the (relatively) new Peco Bullhead (code 75), and wondered if you more experienced folks tell me if these are going to be trouble free in both derailment and electrical terms (they are unifrog so can be powered or left dead), or best avoided ?

I used Peco and Hornby and found them to be entirely reliable. At my age, and reduced level of patience, I don't use sectional track anymore, as unless the baseboard is built with exquisite skill, all it takes is a few millimeters of expansion/contraction to raise a host of issues. I prefer crossings, as they add operational interest to a layout, and the present layout has eight crossings. Attached is a short video of short and long locomotives traversing said crossings.

https://youtu.be/ejIB6hxDvzs

A word of explanation: I am spoofing my bemusement at the British terms "up" and "down" trains, as well as the lovely tradition of the Loch Ness Monster.

Bear in mind that the Peco Bullhead track is to finescale standards, and any older locos and stock that do not have good wheel profiles will experience problems with these points and crossings. For example, early Hornby China-built locos had a back-to-back wheel measurement of 14.2mm, whereas later ones are 14.5mm. These early locos will have problems with shorting on these Unifrog points. I tried one of my Hornby Bulleid locos - R2221 Tangmere - and it will short intermittently on these turnouts. For my layout I have stayed with the Peco code 75 for now.

Of if in doubt use Streamline Code 100. My ex exhibition layout uses that and with the track and rail painted plus the normal 2-3ft distant viewing distance some viewers thought it was Code 75.

All the track is already bought (apart from x-overs) and most of my rolling stock/loco's are from 2004 on, I also have a DCC concepts B2B gauge (14.5mm), so hopefully it will be OK !
Perhaps what I should have said is, are the crossings any less reliable than points ? TBH my main concern is derailments, the frogs will likley remain unpowered, but I do have some frog juicers should I need them.
Oh, and I will be running DCC.

A wheel back-to-back gauge would be useful?
Also, as long as the crossing is flat, there should not be a problem.

Just take your time laying the track and make sure all joints are nice and square, no slight kinks to make it fit.

Thanks chaps

Hi TT - Late to the party as usual I do not use cross-overs, but do have two Peco Code 75 Double-slips (very similar) and they have been fine and are now over ten years old. The odd "older" loco may give a slight wobble when crossing, but no derailments etc.

One thing to watch on Peco dead "isulfrogs" IME is that the frog part can over time lift akin to a bookshelf bowing.