Basically this is what its all about. All the time spent designing the layout and constructing the baseboards is simply to produce a foundation for the track or permanent way as it is frequently known. With the preliminaries completed correctly, the track installation should be a relatively simple task.
Permanent way has three basic components:

• Track.
Track is the straight or curved sections of permanent way that connect turnouts and crossings.
• Turnouts, points or switches.
Turnouts or switches allow the permanent way to divide into two or more routes. They include double and single slips.
• Crossings.
Crossings allow track to cross without changing direction. They are sometimes reffered to as 'diamond crossings'.

A full description of the types of track available to the model railway enthusiast is shown below. Track type is determined by the type of stock together with the age of the stock, and the type of layout required. Four basic track types are available as follows:

• Set Track. Set track uses pre-formed track sections for straights and curves available in gauges Z to G. All track sections are produced to a specific geometry based upon the manufacturer selected. The most popular types include Peco, Hornby, Fleischmann and Marklin. Set track is ideal for layouts where space is restricted and standard ready to run stock is to be used. It is however not suitable for use with kit built locomotives and some ready to run stock does not perform on the inside radius. Stock of most ages is suitable except for the very early stock where wheel flanges may be very deep. The standard rail profile for most UK set track is code 100 for 00 gauge, and code 83 for N gauge.
• Flexible Track - Universal. Usually manufactured from code 100 rail in 00 gauge, and code 83 rail in N gauge, flexible track shares the benefits of set track in that it is suitable for most ready to run models. It is however more realistic than setrack as the normal minimum radius for bending flexible track is twenty four inches in 00 gauge, and twelve inches in N gauge. This allows more realistic appearing track as due to the reduced radius, the track can be set at the standard six foot spacing between tracks, unlike set track which has to be set wider to allow trains to pass in the sharp corners. The track spacing is set when turnouts are combined to form a crossover. The most popular ranges of flexible track include Peco. Generally more turnout types are available allowing for more realistic track formations. Flexible track can however be used in conjunction with the same code set track.



• Flexible Track - Finescale. Finescale track is the result of enthusiasts demanding a more realistic rail profile as wheel standards have improved. Finescale track is generally suitable for kit built models and most modern ready to run stock, but is troublesome with older stock. The rail profile is reduced by Peco to code 55 in N gauge, and code 75 in 00 gauge. Peco manufacture a similar range of turnouts in code 75 and code 100.
• Hand Constructed Finescale Track.
  

  When 'off the shelf' track by manufacturers such as Peco, Hornby, Fleischmann and Marklin is deemed to be unacceptable or unprototypical by the modeller, the option is to manufacture track by hand, or purchase pre-constructed hand made track. Hand constructed track is usually made to specific gauges where scale is critical eg 2mm scale, EM gauge, S4 or Scale 7. The majority of stock running on this track is kit built or re-wheeled ready to run. Exact track formations can be reproduced to scale using scale turnout drawings. Originally track was produced using wooden sleepers with copper or brass rivets placed at the rail location to allow the rail to be soldered to the rivet. This in more recent times has been often replaced by 'copper clad' paxolin board eg SMP and Marcway; or the extensive range of all plastic sleepers and chairs as produced by C&L Finescale. Some manufacturers of components offer a construction service.

Professional Layout Services offer the supply and installation of most set track and flexible track systems including underlay. Underlay is the material used beneath the track to give the raised ballast profile. This is usually either sheet or sliced cork which requires ballasting as a separate process (see our section on scenics), or foam underlay which is designed to represent the ballast infill. Underlay if used correctly also evens out the level of the track and reduces the noise created when trains move on the layout.

The most difficult decision for most enthusiasts when using track manufactured by companies such as Peco, is the option between 'insulfrog' and 'electrofrog' turnouts. When this option is available the simple solution is that electrofrog turnouts should be used as they improve the running quality of the layout. Many railway modellers are miss-informed over the benefits of electrofog turnouts. When constructing a layout for a client, Professional Layout Services will always use where available electrofrog turnouts and slips.

Professional Layout Services offer a full track installation service. We will install track onto client constructed baseboards or baseboards constructed by ourselves. We specialise in the installation of hand constructed finescale track. Please contact PLS for more details of track laying