Laying Track On Layout

October 19, 2008

Stuart has a question relating to laying track he is hoping you can help him with.

“Cork or not to cork – that is the question.

Laying track should be simple, but I have as many suggestions and guaranteed methods as people I ask. I am leaning towards Homasote on top of MDF on a wooden frame. My first attempts used pre-bevelled cork without the Homasote (Homasote is compressed paper used by professional displays) and the noise level was horrible.

If I use Homasote how do I fix track?
Will the standard pins hold?
If I use cork as well, will I reduce noise even further?
What about pins with cork and homasote?

I asked a model railway pro about sidings vs. mainline and he said, use flat cork on sidings and create a transition to the thicker cork for the mainline.

I have seen other layouts paint ballast color on a band 0.5″ wider that the track and pin track without cork but glue and add ballast afterwards – not as realist, but WAY easier? The same pro told me they solder wires to every length of flex track and run thick copper wire feeds to each section (insulators and switches for control of course).

SO how do you all lay track? I would be gratefull since you can see I am confused (so is my chum who is also modeling and he is leaning towards flat thin cork cut to profile).”

If you have used cork and homasote you might like to suggest ways to help Stuart with his HO/OO layout. Click on the green comments link below to comment on Stuart’s question.