OO gauge track

[Masbroughlad]

Sorry if it's a noddy question!

Is Peco track compatible with Hornby track?

 

[D6975]

There are different specs for peco OO track.
The setrack range and the standard code 100 range will work OK with Hornby track.

 

[EM2]

It depends what you mean by 'compatible'.
Hornby track is Code 100, i.e. the rail is 0.1" high and Peco Setrack, their 'basic' range, is also Code 100. Peco Streamline is available in two sizes, Code 100 and Code 75, so for that you need to make sure you get the right one.
However, the points in each range often have different divergent angles and radii, so if you have a plan drawn for Hornby track, and you substitute a Peco point, it might not work (and vice-versa).

 

[Ploughman]

However PECO may not be compatible with the earlier Hornby track systems of Super 4 and Standard 3.
And as for 3 Rail.

 

[TheEdge]

PECO setrack and Hornby setrack should be compatible with each other. They are the same size and scale (if you will) and I think their pointwork and corners share the same geometry.*

PECO Code 100 rail (Often sold as simply as Code 100 or PECO Streamline) will connect to Hornby settrack but within its range doesn't include premade corners, only flexitrack and a wider and more complex range of pointwork and crossings. Their geometry however rarely matches with setrack.

PECO Code 75 rail (Often sold as Code 75 or Finescale) is incompatible with either types of setrack or Code 100. The rails are a different size and it is much more a modellers thing. Train sets/packs never include code 75.

A word of warning if you are venturing away from setrack for the first time be aware of a few pitfalls. Code 100 points come in two flavours, insulfrog and electrofrog. Insulfrog still have the point frogs (where the rails cross) made of plastic like setrack which make wiring a lot easier and protects you from short circuits. Electofrog have the frogs made of metal which looks more realistic but they require some extra wiring to avoid a short circuit.

*Geometry here being the radius of the curve of the point or the curve of track

 

[Masbroughlad]

Do Bachmann (and Dapol, Heljan, ViTrains etc) do track?

How do they compare?

 

[TheEdge]

Bachmann do but only as part of their train sets, I've definitely never seen it sold separately. I assume its just standard settrack, it might even be bought in from someone else. Can't say I've seen anyone else make track in big quantities, at least in the UK for OO.

Unless you want to scratchbuild track or buy from very specialist suppliers you are really only ever going to see or buy Peco or Hornby track.

 

[EM2]

Bachmann do but only as part of their train sets, I've definitely never seen it sold separately. I assume its just standard settrack, it might even be bought in from someone else. Can't say I've seen anyone else make track in big quantities, at least in the UK for OO.

Unless you want to scratchbuild track or buy from very specialist suppliers you are really only ever going to see or buy Peco or Hornby track.

Bachmann track is actually licenced from Atlas in the US. You *might* see track from some other European manufacturers, Tillig is becoming more popular, and there's also Fleischmann and Roco.
But I'd say over 90% of UK-outline layouts that I've seen use Peco track, unless it's scratchbuilt.