Track and Turnouts

Why is it track and turnouts so often play a minor role when it comes to modeling? Both of these elements vary considerably from railroad to railroad on the prototype, but many modelers seem to be content with using whatever track they can get at the best price.

The best price sometimes also leads to one or two frustrations, due to the old adage: " You get what you pay for".

Track frustrations are the most persistent; frequent derailments, stalling on turnouts and track that makes your trains rock 'n roll!

Perhaps considering building your own track (in whatever scale) is a viable alternative. It most certainly is if you want special track work that "flows".

Ever noticed how the track geometry of the prototype matches the location perfectly? You can do the precise same if you build your own!

Turnouts according to prototype patterns

If one wants turnouts that look like RhB's there is no choice but to build one's own!

Agreed, there are many types of turnouts on the market in many different variations, from really toy like to prototypical. There are also many different railsizes, in what is referred to as Code xxx, which is given as so many thousands of one inch in height i.e. Code 250 is 0.250" high or 1/4".

The typical "snap track" that is ready to be assembled from different components both in fixed dimensions and as "flextrack" is even larger, mostly Code 332. While it is very sturdy it is also much too large to represent a model. And despite the advertising slogans of LGB, we don't have Elephants in our neighbourhood and no need to test if the track will stand up to being trampled.

Hand in hand with the oversized rail goes a track geometry which leaves plenty to be desired. All of the large manufacturers like LGB, Aristo-Craft, USA Trains, Bachmann etc. gear their track product to the toy market. That means tight radii, unprotoypical tie patterns and an overall appearance which has very little, if anything, to do with a model.

Smaller companies which supply the modelers' market produce prototypical items but most of those are according to North American track patterns. This applies to turnouts as well as track.

Several Narrow Gauge tracks are available but the tie patterns are too irregular to pass for something the RhB would use.

By chance I come across track manufactured in Canada - always a big plus considering the exchange rate - which was fairly close to the RhB tie pattern. Close enough to be used in the garden! Building a diorama would be a different matter.

The rail is Code 215, really close to the VST C of the RhB which I wanted to use as a prototype. The material is brass, perhaps not the first choice, but taking cost into consideration a happy compromise.

The Red Cedar ties are another Canadian product which I had custom made to the 12mm by 8mm dimensions I wanted. The manufacturer has now added the tie stock to his standard line.

I use Micro Engineering's spikes to hold the rail in place.

For materials required check the Materials List.