Every good model railroader will tell you that there is one piece of advice that is mandatory for the enjoyment of your layout, and that is to do the best job you can when laying track. Laying flex track is not difficult and neither is hand-laying, but it does require some specialized tools. Let’s take a quick review of what’s in the Track Work tool box.
My tools for track laying are kept in a separate Track Work tool box. This is one set of tools that doesn’t stay at the workbench, so the more mobile they are, the better. I prefer clear, plastic shoe boxes so that I can quickly see what is contained inside. The lid removes completely so that you have easy access to the contents. Along with the tool box is a plastic tray for displaying the tools, much like a Dentist does before he charges you $1,000. The tools are all unique to this box and not shared with the other workbench tools. The only things that I use for track that are not included in the box are gauges, which I keep in a separate Gauges & Measuring Devices tool box.
I know you get tired of hearing it, but safety first! The most important tool in your Track Work box is a pair of safety glasses. Several years ago I was hand-spiking a section of track when the grip that I had on a spike gave way. At approximately eight hundred miles per hour the spike ricocheted off the rail and proceeded to lodge itself in my eye ball. The doctor, who was a model railroader, was pleased to remove it and treat my infection. As always, safety first.
Along with the soldering iron go soldering flux, a small paint brush, heat sinks, solder and sandpaper. I prefer paste flux because it will stick to vertical surfaces. Using a small brush, I just rub some on the area to be soldered. Metal heat sinks help to protect expensive plastic-tied turnouts from melting. You can also use wet tissue paper. There are two kinds of solder in the box; standard non-core, and silver. I only use the silver solder for joints that need to be extremely strong, such as holding switch points to a throw bar. The sandpaper is used to clean the tip of the soldering iron from time to time.
Normally I don’t promote name branded tools, but the Xuron track laying tools are excellent and I don’t use anything else. In the box I have a track cutter, needle nose pliers and a spiker. The cutter is perfect for making a nice, smooth, flat-edge cut in the rail and it only leaves a small spur to file off. Only use the cutter for track until it gets dull. I write in ink on the handles “track only” and when the writing wears off, I buy a new cutter and retire the old one to the workbench for cutting wire. You can break the jaws, so be careful what you cut! The rail piece that you trimmed off can also fly several feet, so be extra careful. The needle nose pliers are strong and perfectly shaped for grabbing and bending. The spiking pliers have a notch cut into the nose that is designed to hold spikes. I thought this was a time-consuming feature until I realized how many spikes I was dropping on the floor. You can get these tools from most hobby stores.
Xuron Cutter Jaws
A wire stripper is a handy item to have as you will be trimming quite a bit of wire as you install turnouts and route power to the track. I prefer the steel type with the gauge of the wire written next to the cutter. You can also use a hobby knife for that job. The knife also comes in handy for trimming plastic ties, cutting plastic spike head on flex track, and for other track laying chores.
You will need a good set of metal files in your box. A variety pack of shapes and sizes will be the best. Filing track is tough on files, and they will need to be cleaned with a file brush or replaced fairly often. A little touch of household lubricant will help the file cut smoother and will help keep it from clogging.
Pin Vise Drill
Other tools that you will need will be screwdrivers, a pin vise and a track cleaning block. I keep both a small Phillips and Flat Head screwdriver in the box, mainly for mounting switch machines. Occasionally I use the Flat Head screwdriver for prying up rail or spikes, so that tool needs to be of good quality. The pin vice is used to pre-drill spike holes or to drill linkage holes for turnout switch machines. I also use it for making centerline holes for mounting flex track.
Some optional tools that you may choose to keep are a rag for cleaning track, a small bottle of Alcohol for removing flux and cleaning rail heads, a spike-holder which is a magnet glued to the inside top of a bottle, a small tin for rail joiners, and an abrasive track cleaning block. All of these will come in handy if you lay a large amount of track and are very inexpensive.
NMRA Gauge for HO
Track and radii gauges should never be kept in the Track Work tool box. They are delicate and you don’t want them damaged or rusty. Keep these in their own tool box and just bring them out when you need them. Always check them for damage or rust, as that can throw off your track. Refrain from using plastic gauges and measuring tools if you can as they have a tendency to be inaccurate. They will melt if they get near hot rails.
Good track means good running trains. Put together your Track Work tool box today and head for the basement. You know that turnout that you’ve been meaning to repair for ten years that always derails the Mallet? Well, safety first!
Items in the Track Work Tool Box
- Safety Glasses
- Soldering iron
- Flux
- Small Paint Brush
- Heat Sinks
- Solder – Standard
- Solder – Silver
- Sand Paper
- Xuron Track Cutter – for track only
- Xuron Spiking Pliers
- Xuron Needle Nose Pliers
- Wire Strippers
- Hobby Knife
- Metal Files
- Phillips Screwdriver - Small
- Flat Head Screwdriver – Small
- Pin Vise and Drill Bit
- Spike Holder
- Rail Joiner Holder
- Bottle of Alcohol
- Abrasive Track Cleaner Block
- Shop Rag
Gauges Used
- NMRA Standards Gauge
- Track Gauge
- Curve Radii Gauge
- Parallel Gauge
What else do you have in your tool box? Post a comment or write me at scottgperry@comcast.net
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