Selection of Peco track

[Phil Needham]

I'm using SCARM software to do some planning and I find it very easy to use, so that's a positive. However, after reading widely on the web I decided to plan my first ever railway layout using Peco N gauge Code 55. Things went well until I found the length of the shortest curve available too long for the layout I was developing and I kept being pushed into using Flexitrack which I don't feel I want to start using yet.

I then switched the SCARM planning mode to N gauge Code 80 and immediately realised that this profile has a greater selection of lengths, both curves and straights and a greater variety of turnouts. So I recreated the same layout using Code 80 and this went better. I then, with my new found confidence, started pricing up a list of parts for my almost complete design only to be dismayed again by finding that there is also Peco 009/HOe track in 'Mainline' and 'Streamline' and maybe 'crazy track'. Or is crazy track the same as one of the others already mentioned? Again, this profile seems to have a very limited track selection.

It seems to me that most people reject 'crazy track' and use the Code 80 which has the most available track options but which needs alternate sleepers taking out for the sake of realism? Perhaps more experienced modellers use the Code 55 because they are confident cutting, bending and fixing Flexitrack?

To help me make a decision about which track to use, would anybody like to create a chart which compares the different pros and cons for the different types of Peco track suitable for a 009 layout please?

[Graeme Dunbar]

I'm not sure I follow. Could it be a naming issue in SCARM? Peco code 55 N gauge track is all flexible track. There is no fixed geometry other than the points as far as I know. For 9 mm gauge set track there is only N Setrack and 009 Setrack as far as I know.

For Peco 009 track there are three varieties: Setrack,  so called "Crazy" track and Mainline. Peco appear to call Crazy track "Irregular" and the set track doesn't appear to have a descriptive moniker on the web page. They are all code 80 (the height of the rail = 0.08 inches, 80 thou', if I remember correctly).

https://peco-uk.com/collections/track/oo-9-9mm

As far as I can tell the set track is "rustic" but less "crazy" in that there are some very worn-looking sleepers and sleepers at very odd angles in the full lengths of flexible "crazy" track whereas the set track appears to use the pattern of the less "crazy" sleeper sequences.

Code 55 N gauge track is cunningly actually code 80, but looks code 55 because it has a false rail foot part the way down the web and the rest is buried in the sleepers.  This means it will join to normal Peco code 80 rail.

Some people reject Peco crazy track as some people reject all code 80 track as being too heavy for most NG railways, but the silent majority appear to accept and use it. One reason for choosing 009 Mainline over "Crazy" and over Setrack is larger radius points and Electrofrog points. The larger radius for longer wheelbase locomotives and Electrofrog for small wheelbase locomotives that might stall on the longish non-powered frogs in Insulated frog points.

I think I've got my facts straight. If not someone will put me right!

Edit - I never really got on with SCARM. It seems a bit clunky in my hands. I use AnyRail which has a free version (limited number of track pieces per file) and I find it much easier to pick up after a period of not using it. If you are struggling with placing and smoothing flexible track, AnyRail is very simple in this respect.

[Peter Boulter]

I don't have the knowledge of the various types of Peco track to be able to produce any sort of comparison charts. But for what its worth I'll share they type of track I use.

I've always used the Peco 009 wooden sleeper flexitrack (SL-400) for all trackwork, the sleepers are the correct spacing for 009 so there's no need to cut any out, the sleepers have slightly ragged ends which look much more 'narrow gauge' than square ended sleepers (although square ended is probably better if you're modelling a more 'main line' narrow gauge railway).

The main reason I use flexitrack is that when designing and laying track I'm not restricted by pre-set track lengths and curves, so if the space requires a 10" or 10.5" radius curve or piece of track 27mm long it's not a problem.

It has to be said that flexitrack is not as quick and easy to lay as set-track, and fitting N gauge fishplates on can sometimes be a test of manual dexterity, but I think the results from using it are better, and it's not as diffcult to use as it might seem. There are several parts of my layout where the track geometry couldn't have been achieved with set-track.

To cut flexitrack you need either a nice sharp razor saw or dremel disk cutter, Personally I use a pair of track cutters because I find them quicker and easier to use (some would say I'm also lazy, which might of course be true!).

[Hobby]

As Graeme says Peco Code 55 is track launched by Peco to make their N gauge track look more realistic. See this link:

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/Prof_Klyzlr/code55-code80.jpg

Most (all?) of the well known European manufacturers of 00/H0 narrow gauge track use either code 80 (Peco) or code 83 (the rest!) and it is accepted as being the norm. If you want finescale track use either Peco's code 60 or code 40 rail from other sources and scratchbuild. For the majority the code 80/83 is just fine and the rail height can be disguised using paint and weathering.

Peco's code 55 is just a N gauge product and of no use to use narrow gaugers at all. In your computer programme use Peco Code 80. If it doesn't have the 009 products use the nearest N gauge ones, the settrack is exactly the same, anyhow, and there are similar radius points for the rest.

[Phil Needham]

Thanks for the rapid replies and the advice therein. My problem is that I seem to understand the variations until I get onto a shop site where the vendors descriptions are often confusing.

There are 4 umbrella descriptions for the Peco track suitable for 009 layouts. These are Streamline, Mainline, Crazy Track and Setrack? Then there are 3 different specific track names, N 55, N 80 and 009/HOe? I've attached the available track sections which are shown in SCARM and the difference in variety is clear. Would anyone like to attach the 4 umbrella names to the 3 track names so that I know what I am buying when I eventually get my cash out? To be honest, the only thing that is putting me off using N55 is the limited fixed sections & turnouts available and my reluctance to use flexitrack.

[Graeme Dunbar]

I'm not sure what SCARM is telling you that suggests all the track you list is "suitable for 009". Yes, they all have a gauge of 9 mm between the rails and physically will connect with each other, but you show N scale track as well as 009. N scale track is for standard gauge railways modelled in approximately 2 mm to the foot  so sleepers are too small and too close together for 009 which is narrow gauge modelled in 4 mm to the foot.

From the looks of the image you post only the first column is 009. I'm not sure where the Peco-N-55 heading comes from at the top of the column, perhaps it is a collapsed drop-down menu? The left-most column shows all the 009 track as far as I can tell, "Crazy", Mainline and Setrack, but it calls the "Crazy" track "FlexWood". The points appear to be (from the top) 2 Setrack, 2 "Crazy", 2 Mainline with the last point being the "Crazy" Y point.

Confusion is sometimes caused by all 9 mm gauge track being referred to as "N Gauge". I don't know if I still have SCARM still installed to check, but perhaps that is what has happened. In AnyRail the Peco 009 track library is found in the Peco OO group.

Yes, people do use N scale track for 009 but usually either in unseen fiddle yard areas or with the sleepers disguised by covering them completely with ballast and weeds, or sometimes removing alternate sleepers and perhaps beefing up the ones that remain.

If you go to the Peco web site https://peco-uk.com/collections/track/oo-9-9mm it shows all the 009 track together.

Edit: now I remember why I don't use SCARM and I can understand why you have been avoiding using flexible track. It is so clunky and counter-intuitive. Give the free version of AnyRail a go. Even if you go back to SCARM because it allows you 100 rather than 50 track pieces in the free versions then at least you will have an idea of what can be achieved with flexible track. I'm sure SCARM will do everything AnyRail will but AnyRail is a lot easier to get started with. If you decide to buy there is only about a tenner to choose between them.

Anyway - I see where the odd combination of N-55 and 009 comes from - it is the way SCARM has all the libraries in one list with the one in focus being expanded as a drop-down.

[Hobby]

According to the SCARM website it only lists three PECO 9mm gauge track libraries:

Peco HOe/009 C80 (code 80 rail)
Peco N Streamline & Settrack C80
Peco Finescale C55

If it allows you just use the top one only, you can use the second one as, as Graeme says, you can use Code 80 track and disguise it. Ignore any Code 55 items!

"Streamline" is purely a brand name for flexible track and larger radius points for "experienced modellers", as opposed to "set-track", don't worry about it!

"Mainline" and "Crazytrack" both relate to H0/00 scale narrow gauge track with 9mm gauge. Crazytrack is the original stuff and is recognisable by the "irregular" sleepers, some being at angles and some with "rough" ends to them, suposibly done to represent "typical" NG track (whatever that is!!), it covers all the 009 Set-track range, 9", 12" and the Y 009 points. "Mainline" was introduced by Peco when they found they were losing sales in Mainland Europe to the likes of Tillig and Roco whose HOe track was much better looking and "regular". It is designed to represent Modern 750/760mm narrow gauge track and so far the range consists of flexitrack and 18" points. For modern HOe layouts they are very good.

[Peter Boulter]

For what it's worth, I found that trying to get the flexitrack to go where I wanted it in AnyRail far more difficult than laying the actual flexitrack on the layout.

[Hobby]

Bear in mind that Peco do downloads so you could download all the points, and then mess around with them on the back of a sheet of wallpaper! I prefer that method or paper/pencil to a computer programme but it's just personal preference!

[Peter Boulter]

A good suggestion. I used Peco's downloadable templates to check that my track plan would fit as well on the baseboard as it did on the paper plan.

[clayliner]

... fitting N gauge fishplates on can sometimes be a test of manual dexterity...

You can say that again! But a tip which you may find helpful when you do get as far as laying track is to put a fishplate by hand onto a short length of rail, and then offer it up to where it is going to go. They are almost impossible to handle with various devices and usually (in my experience anyway) fall prey to the Carpet Monster. If the metal fishplates are tricky, the almost invisible clear plastic insulating ones are even worse...

David.

[Phil Needham]

Thanks for all the effort that's been put in to helping me out here. By picking up bits and pieces from all the posts I have a clearer picture of how the various Peco offerings differ and am going to go ahead with the 009/HOe track and I think by using a combination of the 009/HOe Setrack and the 009/HOe Code 80. I suppose the truth is that until I get some track and start working with it, it's all going to be supposition on my part. I've also installed Anyrail and had a quick play and I do like the feel of it, which is more modern than SCARM.

I'm guessing my next problem will be trying to find a vendor who has any track in stock as I assume Peco is manufactured in China and, even if it's manufactured in the UK, I doubt there'll be any production going on at the moment!

[Graeme Dunbar]

That sounds like a good plan. Whether or not they find their way into the final design I don't think you will go wrong if in your order you include a circle (two packs) of Peco 009 Setrack curves. A circular test track will always come in handy - and it could morph into a slightly large Pizza layout for a bit of fun.  :)

[garrywhiting]

T

I'm guessing my next problem will be trying to find a vendor who has any track in stock as I assume Peco is manufactured in China and, even if it's manufactured in the UK, I doubt there'll be any production going on at the moment!

All Peco products are manufactured solely in the UK,  but all production is currently suspended.

Garry

[Hobby]

But the likes of Hattons, rails, etc., etc., have plenty of stock!

... fitting N gauge fishplates on can sometimes be a test of manual dexterity...

You can say that again!

N fishplates are a doddle.. Try Peco or Marklin's Z fishplates if you think N ones are fiddly!