Nothing characterizes a toy train layout like its three-rail trackwork, and nothing is more important to a toy train operator's enjoyment. This essential guide addresses O gauge trackwork from nearly all of today's major manufacturers. The author provides an overview of the various lines of sectional and flexible track, then demonstrates with the step-by-step photography the basic techniques for cutting, bending, wiring, and layout installation. Also includes tips and tricks for working with special trackwork, such as switches, crossings, and accessory activation sections.

Author Bio

After 44 years in the teaching profession, 36 of them on the faculty of the School of Music at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Peter Riddle retired to begin a second career as a full-time author. A life-long model railroader (he inherited his sister’s Lionel set before he was five), Peter is the author of 12 previous books on the subject and has written on the topics of wiring, scenery, track planning, and the history of toy train manufacturing. He contributes regularly to Classic Toy Trains magazine and has also published five novels.

Table of Contents

Introduction 	6

O GAUGE TRACK BASICS
Chapter One: The many shapes of toy train track 	9
Chapter Two: A hundred-year-old design 	14

SECTIONAL TRACK FOR TRAIN SETS
Chapter Three:  Lionel FasTrack 	18
Chapter Four:  MTH RealTrax	24
Chapter Five: Temporary and permanent layouts 	30

SCALE LIKE TRACK
Chapter Six: Sectional hollow rail track 	41
Chapter Seven: Sectional solid rail track 	50
Chapter Eight:  Flexible track 	56

WORKING WITH TRACK COMPONENTS
Chapter Nine:  Switches 	65
Chapter Ten:  Other track components	77
Chapter Eleven:  Roadbed	86

Sources and references 	95