Laying the Track

June 18, 2014

If you are ready to lay track you must have some idea of what your layout will look like, and it also is a good time to ask some questions. Do you plan to use sectional or flexible track, or hand lay ties and spike the rails? Do you plan to use cork or other roadbed? If you are reading this I would guess you are not going to hand lay your track at this time.

Before you begin laying track you will have to have the track center-lines on the layout, whether it be a 4’x8′ plywood board, open grid, or even foam. Both roadbed and track may be attach in several ways. Nails are handy and we all know how to use them. Some roadbed is self adhesive, like peel and stick tape. Adhesive bathtub sealing caulk is used a lot now, while white glue, diluted with two or three parts water to one part glue is very common. Everything except nails will have to be weighted down until the adhesive sets, from a couple hours to overnight. Use soup cans, bags of rice or beans, even plastic bags with sand. Use the proper size rail joiner for the code size of track you are using.

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Mark says:

June 22, 2014 at 11:12 am

What is most annoying is when I have everything working lovely then next morning nothing works.
Mark.

Peter B says:

June 25, 2014 at 11:55 pm

For track that has sleepers (Ties in the U.S.A.) I only use tiny screws. This way the track is easily lifted for repairs, modifications or adjustments. I have a drill to drill the ties and baseboard and a special screw driver for the Phillips head screws, it holds the screws until they are almost fully driven in, at which point I release the screw from the screwdrivers grip. Then I turn the screw the final few turns until it is securely seated.

I do not and never will use track pins, they are usually too difficult to remove.

If anyone would like information on my source, post a comment here. I will check back periodically but is there is a way to get e-mail notifications of further comments?