Information about hand laying track

[Anonymous]

It has been a number of years since I built a model layout, and I am looking to start a new one. I think I will build an N scale layout, and I would like to research hand laying the track. Where can I find information and sources for doing this? Particularily plans for building the turnouts.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Martin

[steffd]

I find it courageous of you to attempt hand-laying track in N Scale but must admit that it does look the best. Although, many of the ready made track has come a long way and give hand laid track a run for it's money such as the track being produced by Mico Engineering in both “HO” and “N” Scale. In my view, your best source for information and templates for building hand laid turnouts is through the NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) www.nmra.org . However, I believe you need to be a member to be able to purchase their data books and templates but it might be worth it in your case. Also, Kalmbach Publishes a book titled “Trackwork & Lineside Details For Your Model Railroad” but I’m not sure if it covers hand laying track but may still be a good source of information. As for the material you will require, you can find all the necessary tools and items in the Walthers catalog www.walthers.com . I’m sure you can find lots of other Information if you do a Google search on the net. Good luck.

Stephan

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply. I looked at the NMRA website, and all I could find for templates were HO and O scales. I suppose handlaying N scale could get very tedious, but I was never happy with the look of my track on my last layout. I will have to do more research I suppose, and I will check out some of the new tracks available and see if they will look ok to my eye. Like I said, I have been out of the hobby for about 20 years now....

[Anonymous]

Some handlaying track sources:

Model Railroader, Sept 1998: "Handlaying Code 40 Turnouts in N Scale" (This is the one you really want - teaches you to solder tiny rail on PC ties)

Model Railroader, Dec 1989" "Building a turnout from Scratch" (in this article, the track is spiked - possibly not what you want for N scale, particularly smaller code rail)

Model Railroader, April and May 1991: Handlaying Track on the On3 Crown Mountain Division" (bigger scale, but does soldering again).

A couple more to check out (click on the magazine index above) are Jan/Feb 2004 - Roque Bluffs and Sept 1989 F & S Junction - handlaying track & turnouts.

For some online info, check out www.sdsons.org - the website of the San Diego Society of N-scale. Dig around on their site and I'm pretty sure you'll find some turnout standards, recommended practices, etc.

In my opinion, a lot of these "how to" articles are more useful than the NMRA standards.

Enjoy...

Oh, for some more handlaid N scale track inspiration, check out this guy's layout:

http://members.aol.com/wdenton101/index.htm?f=fs

[Anonymous]

Thank you Carrfan =)

[tstage]

Koorstag,

This topic has been discussed a number of times recently here on this forum. Here's one of the threads from last month: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=41594

Also, below is a very handy web site link that I learned about that may be of help:

http://www.handlaidtrack.com/index.php

The initial upfront cost for purchasing all the templates and supplies is a bit steep but should pay off fairly quickly. I'm quite intrigued by it all and would like to eventually try hand-laying track myself on my layout. I need to nail down the design first...[sigh]

Hope that helps.

Tom

[Anonymous]

Check out the N-scale FastTracks stuff over at fast-tracks.net, I just ordered some HO stuff from them and it's pretty nice, the jigs cost a little more up front but I would think that in N scale it would simplify the process (and make it cheaper in the long run), especially if you have big fingers.

[Anonymous]

Here's the San Diego Club's direct link to turnout construction:

http://www.sdsons.org/Club%20Documents/turnouts.html

combine that with the MR article I mentioned above, and you'll have some good info!

I particularly like how the San Diego people explain what kinds of flanges, etc. will run properly on the code 40 rail.

Stop it man, you'll make me start considering N scale again!!!

There's something so cool about tiny little handbuilt turnouts!!!

[Anonymous]

Hehe, I am still trying to design a layout (I had some cool layouts drawn up many years ago, but I can't find them now =( ) I keep being tempted to go HO because there are so many really cool engines available for HO, but N just fits better (easier to get wide sweeping curves in a reasonable space). I am really looking forward to building again. I am leaning toward a 5x10 layout with adapter to NTrak modules so I can expand it with modules as I am ready to grow

Martin

[Sperandeo]

Hi Martin,

I can't say I've ever handlaid an N SCALE turnout but I did build a few in N GAUGE when I was helping Bob Hayden with his HOn2-1/2 Carabasset & Dead River layout. (N gauge in HO scale = 2-1/2 feet, approximately.) Bob used code 60 rail and with that the task was easier than building HO standard gauge turnouts with larger rail. There was less filing to do and the small rail solders very quickly. I don't think you can even get code 60 rail anymore, but that's okay – use code 55.

We spiked the rail down on wooden ties, by the way, which works just fine. You can solder rail to PC ties if you want to, but don't think that you have to go that way just because you're building in N scale.

good luck,

Andy

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your input. there were many good links there =) I am going to go ahead and try handlaying my track once I have my layout figured out. You will all hear from me when I get that drawn up =) I think I am going to put both N and Nn3 on the layout. Hopefully that won't get too complicated.

Martin

[Anonymous]

Nn3?

We have a madman on our hands.

Someone please call security.