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How to Install Guard or Check Rails
Andy models HO and asks readers:
“Guard or check rails are parallel rails on the inside of the wheel carrying rails; they help prevent derailments, especially on bridges and in tunnels. I seldom see them used on model railroads. Has anyone found an easy way to install them? In particular, I’m looking for a way to add them to Marklin C track.”
6 Responses to How to Install Guard or Check Rails
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I also use Märklin C-tracks and am going to use some K-tracks; so I am interested too.
SorenES
Andy & SorenES,
I installed them on my bridges. It is relatively straight forward. I used some old brass rail but you can use whatever you have available. Remove it from the ties and cut it a bit longer than the bridge or structure you wish to install it on. Bend the ends so they are pointing towards the centre of the track. File the ends so the bent portion is about 1/2 the rail height at the beginning and it slopes up to its full height by the time it straightens out. You will want to weather it at this point. It should not be shiny like the rail your trains are running on and it is easier to do before you attach it down to the ties.
Get something of consistent thickness equal to what you want as a space between the rail and the guard rail. These should be short pieces as you don’t want any glue to bond them to either rail or ties. Apply AC glue to the ties after putting your spacers in place (No GLUE NEAR THE SPACERS). Place the guard rail and hold tight to the spacers until the glue sets. Repeat for the other side.
Good luck.
Not sure about filing the ends. They should certainly be angled inwards but possibly then turned downwards. I have also seen (in UK) check rails outside the running rails, forming a wide & fairly short truncated “Vee” just before the beginning of the inner check rails; in this case, the check rails proper were inside both running rails but further from them than the usual single check rail, and they were turned inwards at the “upstream” end so that they practically met in the middle. The object was to guide the already derailed wheels of a train away from the bridge parapet so that the wagon and those following it would not take a dive into the valley below; I believe this was at Plawsworth, Co. Durham, but have not been able to find photographic confirmation.
I don’t know about Marklin C-track, But both Peco and Mirco Engineering offer bridge tracks that have the guard rails already installed.
Check out videos from Fast Tracks at their website. Even if you don’t use Fast Tracks the videos have good details on guard rails.
Hi Andy
I run Peco track and what i do Is solder a very short piece of circuit board to the outside (Running track and solder the single guard rail to the same piece of circuit board this holds the guard rail very well at the right distance from the running track on a long bridge i put one of these every 3 inches The ends of the guard rail are tapered down and also face towards the center of the track with Marklin this wont be possible but you would get away with them if the ends were tapered and did not face the center of the track I would also check the width of the pick up shoes on the loco to see if there was sufficient clearance so not to cause a short circuit with the guard rails. I hope this helps.