The Layout > Introduction | The Track | The Scenery

B8 'Gimli', the Bree shunter.

The track is mostly Peko 'Code 100' flexible nickel silver rail although the layout includes a number of sections of old Triang-Hornby 'Series 3' and 'Super 4' steel track. Nickel silver rail is today's standard: it is rust-proof and it's flexibility allows complex curves to be created.

Some sections of track have been 'weathered' by painting the sides of the rail a rusty brown colour, creating a more prototypical look.

No.32 'Valandil' on the turntable at Michel Delving.

The steel rail is of varying age (there are some pieces over 40 years old) and is used in a number of sidings and out-of-view areas. One section of the 'main line' in a tunnel uses 'Super 4' steel rail which is, surprisingly, as effective as nickel silver rail for conducting and transferring power to the engine wheels, having successfully resisted rusting. However, the nickel silver is prefered because the track gauge matches the wheel gauge of most of the rolling stock, especially the newer items. For this reason, all points are nickel silver types.

R5 'Rivendell' in the freight yard at Bree Station.

There are a few problems with old locomotives and rolling stock running over the new track, but a gradual process of wheel replacement/adjustment and careful driving minimizes this. Problems are usually caused by the older wheels having large flanges or a gauge that is too narrow, thereby causing wheels to 'climb' over the finer scale points.

New wheels fitted to stock are made of metal and usually replace old plastic wheels which, among their other faults, are very efficient at collecting dirt, allowing a film to build up which causes running problems. For locomotives, an adjustment of the distance between wheels along an axle can greatly improve running quality.

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