PECO Flangeways

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I read on-line that PECO turnouts are known for out of standard flangeways. I have N scale code 80 flex rail with PECO streamline code 80 medium radius turn outs. Using an NRMA standards gage Mark IV b, I measured the gap between the frog and wing rail. The NMRA instructions say that the prong (upper left corner of the gage) should not fit into the gap between the frog and wing rail. Well, on the PECO turnout it fits with plenty to spare. Maybe I’m measuring it incorrectly? Has anyone else found this problem?

Thanks

ChefBob

2

Peco makes some pretty nice stuff but their switches often require a bit of tweeking. No the same as yours but I have a bunch of code 100 HO Peco switches and many of them were too wide between the running rail and the guard rail. This caused wheel flanges to pick the point of the frog. Easy fix, I glued a strip of .005 or .010 styrene against the inside edge of the guard rail to hold the wheel away from the frog. I also shaved the frog back a bit with a dental scraper if need be. Should work for N scale same as HO.

Be happy in your work,

Charlie

3

Thanks Charlie,

I plan to put that fix into action.

Not to dwell too long on the subject…but… Is it possible these wide flangeways could also let the pickup wheel on a locomotive “drift” accross both converging rails at the frog and cause a short?

ChefBob

4

yup … although unless the gap is extremely small, you’ll probably derail first.