Mixing Peco 009 and N Gauge Track

[Owen Abbott]

Hey fellow 009'ers,
I have a load of N gauge track (code 80) which I want to use in my cassette fiddle yard.
But I want to use 009 Peco mainline on the layout.

Are they the same height in terms of overall height from baseboard to railtop? i.e. i can safely install N in the cassette and 'incoming' track and it will match-up perfectly in the join to the layout without having to lower/raise anything?

Doesn't seem to be a clear answer that I could find other than 'they are both code 80'.

[MickT]

Shouldn't be a problem Owen. I've used Peco N track with Peco 009 without any ill-effects. The only time I've had any problems is if using different makes of N set track which might be code 80 in terms of rail height but not necessarily in commonality of profiles, so attendant problems in connecting one make to another.

There's plenty of very well known and respected layouts around that have standard N rails both in the fiddle yards and sometimes in the viewing areas submerged beneath the ballast!

Mick

[Hugh Norwood]

I have a mix of 009 and N track on my layout - they are compatible

[Hobby]

They both use code 80 rail as far as I am aware so should be compatable, the only difference could be the sleeper depth but the code 80 N scale track has a pretty deep sleeper so is probably the same as the 009/H0e stuff.

[B.Meldon]

The Peco N gauge and 009 track both use the same rails. In addition, the webbing height is also the same.
However, I have found that no other track manufacture uses the same rail size and profile, only Peco. Others also have a different webbing thickness.
The result is if you do use another make you may well have to fit a transition section to avoid a step in the railhead.

I would not recommend using steel rail as it needs cleaning far more often than the nickel silver rail.

[Hobby]

As Brian said the Tillig and Roco H0e track has a thicker sleeper webbing (about 0.5mm or so) so will need packing on the Peco track, the rail though can be connected using Peco fishplates (for Tillig/Roco to Peco). Not a major issue, though especially if you happen to have bought that Roco starter set with the HF110c loco and timber wagons and have an oval of track! Being able to use Roco as well allows you two radii of NG set track, as Peco's is 9" and Roco 10.5"!