This page is designed to help with those annoying little questions

5" Gauge

• The distance between the inside edge of the rails
• Some people gauge widen on corners especialy if they are runng 0-6-0's on tight corners. Unfortunately this does not help short wheel base locos or bogies as it encourages them to crab and turn out of the corner.

The Scale

• For standard gauge 1- 10 (roughly) Our rolling stock is based around a narrow gauge appearance without sticking to any precise scale.

Sleepers - we use

• 225mm long - 32mm x 25mm timber roof batten - soaked in creosote for at least a fortnight.
• If you can afford it we would recommend PNP Railways plastic sleeper system. - has adjustments to allow for gauge widening.
• Spacing - see pictures below (21mm alloy rail)

6 sleepers per metre. Only using as a temporary track but performs well with little or no deflection in the rail.	9 sleepers per metre. We have decided to use this as a standard.	12 sleepers per metre. A little bit over the top.

Rail Suppliers

• PNP Railways - Paul Norman Plastics - Aluminium rail + Plastic sleepers, chairs etc. 16mm and 21mm aluminium alloy
• Miniature Railway Supply Company (MRSC)- steel and aluminium alloy, flat bottom profile 21mm high + 16mm aluminium alloy
• Cromar White - 16mm high Alloy, 27mm alloy and steel.
• Maxitrak - 16mm high profile aluminium alloy

Rail Materials

The cost of steel and aluminium are very close so usually it is other factors that influence the choice.

STEEL - Profiled rail - 21mm from MRSC

Advantages

• Very strong, needs less support (less sleepers if required)
• Can be welded for rigidity or for example constructing crossovers
• Lower expansion rate. Half that of Aluminium
• Good impact resistance - hard wearing - especially good for areas such as point blades and frogs.

Disadvantages

• Rusts - with constant running isn't really a problem
• Hard to bend. Good for staying in shape once bent but is hard bending by hand. Can be bought from Miniature Railway Supply Company pre curved but for flexibility I would recommend one of our rail benders
• Heavy - not very good for portable track as you will only be able to lift 3 panels at a time.

ALUMINIUM - 16mm and 21mm

Advantages

• Easy to bend - Good for laying, bad for un supported track
• Light weight - good for portable track - I can easily pick up 15m
• Doesn't rust
• Soft material - doesn't wear the wheels - very important if you have a £10k steam engine

Disadvantages

• Soft material - With sharp corners sign of ware show quite quickly, also derailments can damage track. Point blades and frog made from aluminum show signs of wear very quickly.
• High expansion rate. Hot sunny days can see track snaking as it expands. - Must allow for expansion at joints.

Steel Bar

• The use of steel bar or angle is usually on cost grounds - ie free supply or discount surplus stock. I have a set off wheels from a Trojan which had to be replaced after 6 months. The flange is heavily worn and there is a visible groove in the tread. Trojan no.21 also had to have its wheels re profiled from running on bar track.
• Rail is slightly tapered on the head to match the taper on the wheels. It also has a radius corner. Both these items help maintain the wheel profile.
• Many people have used bar track for years without any problems. Wear is just one of those issues that may not be a problem to you especially is you are a light user and corners are large radius.

Clearence

• On our railway the closest object to the track is 300mm from the edge of rail. Woudn't recommend this close though. Club tracks often suggest 1m clearance.
• Double track tight but would suggest absolute minimum of 450mm rail to rail. Again this is our clearance and may not be suitable for your needs.

Curves

• Our tightest curve is 10 foot. Both the Trojan and Hercules will pull round an 8' radius but use only as an absolute last resort.
• On tight curves the flanges tend to rub against the rail creating additional friction, in turn means more power required.
• Aluminium tends to wear on tight corners. Wetting track can help reduce wear.

Wheel Dimension

This is one of many suggested wheel profiles. RoR have opted for their very own design which is similar to below but with a few ammendments.

Thanks to Roger Loxley

All dimensions in inches

Ballast

• Monmouth Green from B&Q. Must use chipped stone not shingle
• Use a softer ballast as against granite chippings as a piece of granite wedged in a check rail could cause damage to the wheel flanges where as a softer stone is more likely to crumble.

One of the easiest ways to remove ballast for cleaning, track adjustments etc. is to use a vacuum cleaner and to literally suck it out. By not having to un bolt the track panel and remove it speeds up the time taken to make adjustments to track levels. From the vacuum we tip the ballast into a bucket and sieve it before using it again.

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Paul Middleton

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