Friend and Collingwood layout builder, Simon Paley, takes a look at the 3rd and 4th Rail electrification systems. In this Part 2 Collingwood shows you how post he provides a Modelling Guide. The first part of this series Background & Design can be read here.
Conductor Rail Installation
Once you have, using the information in the Part 1 Collingwood shows you how post here, decided where your third rail is going to be fitted, you can start fitting it. When installing third rail on Collingwood, I the following installation method:
1. Remove the Peco IL-120 Conductor rail insulators from the sprue, I don’t bother with the washers provided as they are too fiddly for my liking. I also don’t bother painting the insulators as there are generally white porcelain anyway (although there are newer grey plastic ones as well).
2. Having measured (by eye mostly) the rail lengths I need, I cut the rails where necessary using a slitting disc, but a pair of XU2175 Xuron Track Cutters will work just as well. I bend in a ramp and then join the rails together using PECO Z Gauge Code 60 Rail Joiners.
3. Using a 0.8mm drill bit in a pin vice, I drill the holes for the insulators as per the dimensions in the Part 1 Collingwood shows you how post here
4. I then thread the insulators onto the rail by holding the insulators on a work surface and poking the rail end on through the insulator.
5. I then space the insulators out roughly before trail fitting them into the pre-drilled holes.
6. I remove the conductor rail, being carefully not to move the insulators too much then apply glue to the holes before pushing the insulators back into holes. I use AD-55 Deluxe Materials Glue and Glaze as it gives a quick strong bond and dries clear.
7. Once the glue has tried, I hand paint the rails using a rust coloured paint. Whilst the rust colour may not be fully prototypical, I want the third rail to stand out slightly.
As my layout is to be taken to exhibitions, I have to ensure that the conductor rail is not damaged when splitting the baseboards. For this I put a PECO Brass Track Pin at the baseboard edges and solder the conductor rail to it.
Further Reading
Although not 3rd or 4th Rail related check out Simon’s book Colour Light Signalling for Model Railways. ISBN: 9781785006258 Published in October 2019.
Modelling Tips & Techniques
To view an index of modelling techniques, most of which can be found in my Workbench Witterings, Talking Stock, and A View From the Line posts please see my Modelling Tips and Techniques topics page here.
I need to move your emails from my secretary.tmrg@hotmail.com to my personal account: simonarford@hotmail.co.uk
Perhaps Graham you can help?
Hi Simon,
I an unable to amend a subscribers details for data protections reasons, however I can delete your existing subscription and you can simply subscribe again with your preferred email.