Smallest 00 track

[Jaga]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if someone could help me. I have been a fan of Hornby since I was a child and own several sets and locomotives.

Over the last two years I decided to reignite my passion and bought some of the trains and sets I always wanted as a child (the blue Mallard being the best). I also purchased the Santa's Express and thought it would be great to have it running around the Christmas tree. However, when I assembled it the track was too large and looked rather stupid.

I was wondering what is the smallest track size I can have and what track pieces would I need to buy for this. I just want a simple circle or oval and I want it as small as possible.

Also even though I have loved my train sets for decades I am still a complete novice and don’t really know how to make large tracks so I end up normally having just simple circles/ovals. Can anyone point me to some literature for a complete starter so I can start building some proper tracks.

Any help you can provide would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance - Jaga

[Chrissaf]

.

I was wondering what is the smallest track size I can have and what track pieces would I need to buy for this. I just want a simple circle or oval and I want it as small as possible.

.

The Hornby Track geometry PDF. This shows all the available ovals and circles you can build using Hornby track parts and dimensions.

.

https://www.hornby.com/media/pdf/Track-Geometry-PDF.pdf

.

Can anyone point me to some literature for a complete starter so I can start building some proper tracks.

.

At the top of this forums 'General Section' is a thread titled "Getting Started with Track Extension Packs" It contains a PDF downloadable document of the same name that I wrote to answer the very question you have asked. It was written specifically for anyone starting out in this hobby without any previous knowledge or experience.

.

Need a bit more in depth information...then try these.

.

https://www.modelrailwaysdirect.co.uk/publications/shows-you-how-series/

.

http://www.freetrackplans.com/

.

http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/

.

http://modelrailwayengineer.com/what-i-wish-id-known-before-starting-a-model-railway/

.

http://www.scalerail.co.uk/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=9

.

Google Search Results for "Beginners Guide to model Railways"

.

The information above represents just the 'tip of the iceberg', Googling for information as well as asking specific questions here is the best advice I can give. Research is paramount and do look further afield than just Hornby. Other brands for track and accessories are available too.

.

PS - All my links open in a new tab or window, so you won't lose this open page.

 

[Jaga]

Thank you for the very quick reply. I did see the getting started info after we spoke and have started reading it.

I am looking at the geometry plan and find it a little confusing. So the smallest one I can have will have a radius of 371mm (which would be fine). In order to get this can I just get 8 x R605 or do I need to break it down and get 4 x R605, 4 x R604 and 8 x R643?

Thanks again

[Chrissaf]

8 x R605s will give you the smallest circle Hornby track produces. Note the following though.

.

Power.....as there are no straight sections in a circle you cant use a R8206 power track, you will have to use a R602 power clip. This assumes that Santa's Express is Analogue DC. If it were to be upgraded to DCC then you would use a R8242 power clip. If you did use the R8206 power track, then you would balance the other side of the circle (now an oval) with a R600 straight track piece. Note R8241 is the power track version for DCC.

.

As the R605s are 1st radius curves, be careful what rolling stock you place on it. Short wheelbase locos and wagons will be OK. But the longer wheelbase rolling stock invariably has a minimum 2nd Radius (438mm) recommendation on the packaging.

.

As a newbie poster, please note that the 'White arrow in the Blue box' is NOT a 'Reply to this Post' button. It is a 'Quote this Reply' button. It is not necessary to duplicate a previous reply, particularly long ones like the ones I write. It would be very helpful if you replied to posts using the large empty 'Reply to this Post' text box at the BOTTOM of the page and clicked the Green 'Reply' button. This reply is an example of using this procedure.

[81F]

 @Jaga

 

Of course you dont have to have a circle of track, you could havean end to end layout. These can be ideal for small spaces. Typically these can be a "Statin" feature with hidden sidings at one end. Also the "station" does not have to be that . If you just want locos you cold have an engine shed. If space is limited you could have a goods depot or goods branch with no passenger facilities(station platforms do take up a lot of room in propostion to their operational interest.

 

One very interesting subject might be an industrial railway or colliery. Suitable locos from Hornby would be the Railroad Bagnal, Hornbys Sentinal, the projected Pecket, Austrity 0-6-0, the old ex Dapol Pug or Terrier (some were sold out of service as have 08 diesel shunters.

 

End -to-end can also be more interesting as you have to keep drive your train, no sitting backwatching it go arund and around!

 

Just out of interest how much pace have you got?