This has the benefit of being ‘tailored’ to a location on the layout, using components such as sleepers, chairs, and rail etc, from suppliers such as Peco, Slaters, C&L/Exactoscale and Marcway. This method takes time, but the dimensions of the points, crossings etc can be customised to follow a prototype to fit into a certain location, Handmade trackwork requires a fair degree of accuracy from the modeller during the manufacture and assembly of the components, most of which can be purchased from the various suppliers or can be made as required.

Figure 2 handbuilt Finescale trackwork using C & L components, showing the ability to produce ‘tailor made ‘ formations and smooth transition curves etc.

There are many articles in past Gazettes on building track and pointwork whether from kits or scratch, however accuracy at all stages is critical, with accurate track gauges and tools being required, With practice, confidence and experience, building pointwork is a very satisfying aspect of model railways. There are several different techniques that can be employed to construct trackwork:-

This method uses rail soldered to copper clad sleepers. The sleepers are made from ‘raw’ printed circuit board and are essentially a layer of copper on a Paxolin (glass fibre or Tufnol)) or Bakelite-type material. Flat bottom rail can be used to represent spiked track construction. The copper cladding must be cut through between the rails on each sleeper to prevent short circuiting when using ‘2 rail’ electrical power supply.

Although now generally superseded by other methods this method used to be the norm but the technique is useful in non-scenic areas where prototype appearance is not essential. Construction is relatively quick but there is no accurate representation of rail ‘chairs’.

Plywood sleepers are used and drilled to accept rivets. The rail is then soldered to the rivets and cosmetic chairs are applied to create a prototypical appearance. Again this method appears to be less popular at the current time.

The track is made up using plastic or plywood sleepers, plastic component chairs and rail. The chairs are glued with solvent to the sleepers. Cast brass chairs are available, but would normally only be used in special circumstances, such as baseboard joints, due to the expense. The method can be time consuming but does result in a very prototypical appearance.

Nickel-silver rail is the most popular choice because it solders well and is non-rusting. Steel rail is available and offers better traction characteristics, but unless used in a very dry situation would be subject to corrosion. You are strongly advised to use just one type of rail profile, whether bullhead type 0.125”, or flat bottomed type 0.143”, both are used by Peco for ready to lay, bullhead type 0.125” is the standard rail available from component suppliers.

We advise not to mix flat bottom and bullhead as the rail profiles are quite different in height and rail profile, however if you wish to do this, the top surface of the rail must have a smooth transition from one profile to the other, this normally requires tapered ‘packing’ under the track to accommodate the differing heights from sleeper base to rail top surface. When mixing rail types occurs on the prototype, special rail joiners are also used.

Traditional metal fishplates or joiners that slide over the lower flange of the rail can be used, but they are not of prototypical appearance and should not be relied upon for current transmission. Best practice is to solder a connection wire to each piece of rail – preferably to the underside of the rail for appearance sake. Rail joints should not be soldered together as expansion in the rail will cause problems. Cosmetic plastic and brass fishplates are available commercially.

As mentioned previously there are private individuals and companies who build and install track to customer order, and who can advise on standards, and details. The Traders page on the Guild website is a good place to start. ( https://www.gaugeoguild.com/traders/Traders_links.aspx )