Beginner's Guide to Model Railroading

Flex Track

Flex-track is available in 36”-long sections and can be used as straight track or curved track. The sections can easily be shaped to form left and right curves. The big advantage to using flex-track is that it can be shaped to wind its way between and around buildings or other structures on your train table, although there are limits to the amount of shaping (bending left or right) before the track becomes distorted. You can shape gently turning curves, which you cannot do with standard track. Sections of flex-track can be connected to E-Z track, if required. Another advantage to using flex-track wherever possible is that there are less rail joiners connecting smaller sections of track together, and less chance of two track sections being pulled apart by the motion of the trains.

The disadvantage of flex-track is that it cannot be made on roadbeds, like E-Z track, and must be laid directly down on the wood platform of your train table.

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Switcher Tracks

Rails and Nails

To secure the flex-track to your train platform, press track nails (purchased online or from hobby stores) through the molded holes in the ties (all track sections usually have small holes in the plastic ties). If there are no holes, or if you need to add more, ask a parent or an adult to use a #60 drill bit and drill through the tie (never operate power tools alone as you can be injured by them). Once the track is properly aligned, gently tap the track nail into place with a small hammer and a nail set (a tool that helps you tap the nail into place without damaging the rails). Don't overdrive nails. The small nail head should just rest on the top of the tie. If the nail head goes below the surface of the tie, you're going too far.