I’m in the process of laying track through a tunnel which is approx. (dare I say it [:$]) 26 feet in length. I will have access to all parts of the tunnel but it will be confined and restricted.The track will be straight, level and laid with as much precision as possible.
So the question is: do re-railers work and help keep you on the rails or can they cause more grief? Am I better off using guardrails down the centre of the tracks?
YES they do work!
I have them in all my tunnels. Both ends and the Middle on the really long ones!
I also have them in 3 places in my large loop Staging Areas as well as right after the Turnouts in my Single Ended Staging.
I will never build any area that is not out in the open without them!
I have even put some on long sections of my Top Level tracks of my Multiple Level layout jut to be sure the trains stay running!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
You may never need rerailers, but if you do need them, you’ll be glad you have them installed.
Analogy: Don’t overlook the probability of Murphy’s Law – For Example – The chances of your dropped openface peanut butter bread landing face-up is directly proportional to how expensive the replacement cost is for your carpet – And typically lands face-up if you have linoleum floors.
Re-railers are just cheap insurance against frustration due to scale train wrecks in the one place that you can’t reach on your layout… As already suggested put re-railers on both entrances to your tunnel.
Wouldn’t that be inversely proportional for a face-up landing?[(-D]
While I still have some installed on my layout while learning the hobby, I now no longer add them. They are unneeded if your rolling stock, track laying skills and engines are up to snuff. They all so will mask real problems that need to be addressed and will show up later as the problem gets worse.
But they are cheap so what the heck!
Cuda Ken
Usually I would question why anybody needs a rerailer other then for putting cars on the track but,in this case 26’ of hidden track…Yeah,it might be a useful thing to use but, only as insurance since trouble spots in track should be fixed and derailment prone freight cars repaired…
Yes, for minor derailments they work just fine.
But, a tunnel 26 feet without access is a perfect example of “an accident waiting to happen”. I would do what it takes to at least have hand access every 4-5 feet or so.
Thanks guys! As true believer of Easter Bunnies, Gremlins and Murphy. Re-railers will be installed along with as many access portals as possible. Yes 26 feet is extreme however if you saw the MESS I have created you would all understand “why”. And No I’m not changing my design!!
I have rerailers in my tunnel. It’s only 8 feet long, so I feel for your 26 footer. They do work, some of the time. Try to avoid underground turnouts. Never tried guard rails.
I would go with rerailers over guard rails unless the rails are glued in. Spikes can sometimes work loose over time and stand “proud” causing derailments. If you can’t see the rerailers anyway, I wold definitely use them instead of guard rails.
Even though rerailers can mask problems with rolling stock, you’ll likely encounter that same problem(s) elsewhere on the layout and spot it anyway, unless something is unique trackwise in the tunnel like a smaller radius than everywhere else.
I only have a 3 car “interchange” tunnel and I’m putting one in there as it’s in the rearmost corner of the layout and hard to reach. I’m going to use the “Jiffy-railer” as they are very low profile visually.
Take a look at Jiffy-railer.com to see if they might work for you. They take one center nail but I’d tack down the leading/trailing ends with a dot of white glue in case of any future warpage or other tunnel paranoias 
Jim
The Jiffy-railer web site indicates the HO scale code 83 model has been discontinued. I didn’t see any code indication for the HO scale model still for sale. If it is for code 100 I wonder if it will work on code 83 track.
I have a tunnel that is close to 28 feet long and is on a 2% grade with 34" and 36" radius curves at each end. I have a rerailer inside each tunnel entrance, one before the curve and one just after the curve (entrance is on the curve) and one about midway up the straight section. I can access about 80% of the track but some is so difficult to get to and I can’t really see the track from above. I wouldn’t think of bulding it without the rerailers.
-Bob