Track

Major construction work: precise Gauge check:

Rt Hon George Osbourne MP, Photo: Daily Mail

Track varies considerably, and is therefore distinctively "of a particular Time and a Place". Commercial 1:32 Scale track is also "of a Time and a Place". Therefore, out of all the Times and Places one might wish to model, only some have 1:32 track available, and only a tiny proportion of that is ready-made to Finescale standards. So:

Anyone insisting that a layout have Absolutely Right track had better start with the track, buy enough for their likely needs before the manufacturer retires, and only then go looking for trains to match.

Other options are to compromise on track, or to get busy making it specially. (Easier with dog-spikes than chairs, perhaps.) Bear in mind the proverbial Four Ages of Man:

    • set-track
    • flex-track
    • hand-laid track
    • flex-track

Similarly:

Anyone keen on a particular version of Finescale had better be sure they can make or buy corresponding Switch & Crossing work before spending money on wheelsets.

In terms of availability, I imagine that Standard Track for the USA and Continental Europe is reasonably well catered for - specific references welcome, please.

For British bullhead track, there's only one 1:32 Scale option: Cliff Barker's Fine range.

Cliff's range is constantly evolving, so it's best to get full details direct from him. As I understand it, he sells:

  • Code 180 rail in various metals,
  • combined chair+sleeper units in 45mm gauge and gauge-widened for curves,
  • individual chairs, for Plain Track and Switch and Crossing work,
  • some prefabricated crossing units,
  • long sleepers for making up crossings,
  • some pre-assembled turnouts, including a certain amount of choice in flangeways,
  • switch rodding components,

and more.

Out of the box, Cliff's flex-track looks like this:

Photo, Cliff Barker

Cliff's chairs on wooden sleepers can look like this:

Photo, Cliff Barker

Cliff's exquisite plastic mouldings are delicate so, although weatherproof, they do need particular care out of doors to cope with powerful seasonal movements. Seriously - don't just nail it down and expect all to be well !