hi Llenroc
The Peco set track and code 100 universal is to British std Geometry the radius of the curve being the important thing from the modelers point of view.
Modelers in the UK as a general rule have very much smaller layouts than those in the USA
The USA code 83?? range of Peco track works the way the USA uses and designates track being taylored to the USA market and the way the modelers of USA trains do things
Both ranges will be different as the geometry is different partly because of the radiuses being different for example 1st radius USA 15" UK 14&5/8" and also different standards.
The trains in the UK are OO scale or 4mm scale they only use the same gauge for comercial expediency the only HO scale trains in the UK will be of overseas out line ie non UK outline.
Many layouts in Australia be they UK, European, USA or Australian out line use the Peco code 100 universal trackage without problems.
regards John
Assuming HO, there are different lines of PECO track. The newer PECO Code 83 has traditional frogs and straight diverging legs. Those turnouts are appropriately numbered: #5, #6, #8, et al.
The earlier PECO Code 75 and Code 100 lines are different geometry entirely, in that they have a curved diverging leg. All have about a #4½ frog, with different radii in the diverging legs: “Short”, about 24” R; “Medium”, about 36” R; “Large”, about 60” R.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
How does the Peco designation for turnouts work? Sometimes they will call them short, medium and long but what does that correspond to re: #4, 5, 6 and 8?
Are they different types or just different nomenclature?