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TRACKWORK |
The P87 turnouts for the new layout are built using the same basic techniques outlined on the Trackwork Pages on my web site........
and click on the 'MY MODELS' button
The procedure, which runs to several pages on the site, is the well tried one of flat bottom rail soldered to ties made from copperclad circuit board. These are made on templates drawn up from examples in the United States Steel Company's trackwork catalogue published in the 1950s. The frog angle chosen was #6 .......tight enough to allow extra trackwork to be 'squeezed' onto the track plan without looking toy-like. I would not recommend going to a lower number unless, perhaps, a 'Y' turnout was being built (picture 4).
USS #6 double slip to P:87
P87 trackgauges are vital, of course. Fortunately these are obtainable from Alan Gibson of Norwich (regular advert in the Railway Modeller) who also does a back to back gauge and a range of steel tyred P87 wheels. His catalogue is essentail reading for P87 modellers. Use was also made of standard HO track gauges where plain track was being soldered or held. I made my own flangeway gauge because I like to have this as a seperate item, but a couple of AG's track gauges could also be used as effectively.
A P87 track/wheel gauge is also available from Ed McCamey in the U.S.A.
This picture shows a close up of the frog on the double slip
Another difference to standard HO was the use of Code 65 flat-bottom rail which was chosen to give the effect of light section rail in the old freight yard system. The copper-clad is ground away with a rotary stone in order to give the appearance of the steel plate beneath the rail. Turnouts are planned to be operated by Scale Shops units (ordered via Walthers from Ken Dickson at North American Models of Whitley Bay), which have been satisfactorily tested on a rig over a period of months.
One of these units was used on a display at the recent Newcastle Model Railway Exhibition and greatly impressed many visiting modellers who are generally not too familiar with products from the other side of the Atlantic.