This will be the home page for the Off The Rails range of (mostly) 7mm scale model railway products.
Click Here to go to our online shop where the full range of our products may be viewed and purchased.
In the meantime here is some "work in progress" which may be of interest.
The Prototype | Off The Rails Products
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All of the prototype information below was extracted from LNER Standard Railway Equipment - Permanent Way, 1926 available from the North Eastern Railway Association.
Switch | Straight Planing Length | Switch Rail Length | Switch Radius | Stock Rail Length | S1 Chairs | P Chairs | Cast Iron Distance Blocks | Switch Chairs | L1 Chairs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 5' 6" | 20' 0" | 482' 7.3 chains | 27' 6" | 4 | 10 | 4 (A1L, A1R, A2L, A2R) | 8 | 4 |
B | 7' 4" | 22' 6" | 613' 9.3 chains | 30' 0" | 4 | 12 | 4 (B1L, B1R, B2L, B2R) | 8 | 4 |
C | 9' 2" | 28' 6" | 960' 14.5 chains | 36' 0" | 4 | 14 | 4 (C1L, C1R, C2L, C2R) | 10 | 4 |
D | 11' 0" | 28' 6" | 1379' 20.9 chains | 36' 0" | 4 | 16 | 4 (D1L, D1R, D2L, D2R) | 12 | 4 |
E | 14' 8" | 28' 6" | 2445' 37.0 chains | 36' 0" | 4 | 18 | 4 (E1L, E1R, E2L, E2R) | 18 | 4 |
In the switch tables below the cells coloured yellow show where the soleplates are fitted; the cells coloured grey show where the switch anchors are located; the vertical black lines indicate the positions of the rail joins; the dimensions show the distances between the centres of adjacent chairs.
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P A1L |
P A2L |
1PLA | 2PLA | 3PLA | 4PLA | L1 | ||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | A1R P |
A2R P |
1PRA | 2PRA | 3PRA | 4PRA | L1 | ||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1'0" | 2'4" | 2'4½" | 2'3½" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'2" |
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L |
1PLB | 2PLB | 3PLB | 4PLB | L1 | |||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | B1R P |
B2R P |
1PRB | 2PRB | 3PRB | 4PRB | L1 | |||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'0" | 2'4" | 2'4½" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'2" |
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | P | P C1L |
P C2L |
1PLC | 2PLC | 3PLC | 4PLC | 5PLC | L1 | |||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | P | C1R P |
C2R P |
1PRC | 2PRC | 3PRC | 4PRC | 5PRC | L1 | |||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'0" | 2'4" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'2" |
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P D1L |
P D2L |
1PLD | 2PLD | 3PLD | 4PLD | 5PLD![]() |
6PLD | L1 | |||||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | P | P | D1R P |
D2R P |
1PRD | 2PRD | 3PRD | 4PRD | 5PRD![]() |
6PRD | L1 | |||||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'0" | 2'4" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'2" | 2'0" | 2'6" |
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P E1L |
P E2L |
1PLE | 2PLE | 3PLE![]() |
4PLE | 5PLE | 6PLE | 7PLE | 8PLE | 9PLE | L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S1 | S1 | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | E1R P |
E2R P |
1PRE | 2PRE | 3PRE![]() |
4PRE | 5PRE | 6PRE | 7PRE | 8PRE | 9PRE | L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'0" | 2'4" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'4½" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'2" | 2'0" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" | 2'6" |
Typical LNER check rail dimensions are shown in the illustration below.
Acute Crossing | Chairs – usually at 2'6" intervals | Knuckle Radius | Crossing Angle | Check Rail | Wing Rail | Point Rail | Splice Rail | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 in 1½ | 1½A | 1'0" | 36°52'11" | 10'6" | 12'2⅜" | 9'1" | 8'7½" | |||||||||||
1 in 1¾ | 1¾A | 1'3" | 31°53'26" | 11'6" | 13'2" | 9'1" | 8'7½" | |||||||||||
1 in 2 | 2A | 1'6" | 28° 4'20" | 10'6" | 14'3½" | 9'1" | 8'7½" | |||||||||||
1 in 2½ | 2½A | 2½B | 2'0" | 22°37'12" | 12'6" | 16'2½" | 9'1" | 8'7½" | ||||||||||
1 in 3 | 3X | 3A | 3B | 2'11" | 18°55'29" | 13'0" | 18'5½" | 9'1" | 8'5¼" | |||||||||
1 in 3½ | 3½X | 3½A | 3½B | 4'1" | 16°15'36" | 12'6" | 9'6" | 9'1" | 8'5¼" | |||||||||
1 in 4 | 4X | 4A | 4B | 5'4" | 14°15' 0" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 13'3" | 13'9" | |||||||||
1 in 4½ | 4½X | 4½A | 4½B | 4½C | 6'0" | 12°40'49" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 11'8" | 12'?" | ||||||||
1 in 5 | 5X | 5A | 5B | 5C | 6'8" | 11°25'16" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 12'2" | 12'10" | ||||||||
1 in 5½ | 5½X | 5½A | 5½B | 5½C | 7'4" | 10°23'20" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 13'3" | 11'8" | ||||||||
1 in 6 | 6X | 6A | 6B | 6C | 8'0" | 9°31'38" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 11'8" | 12'2" | ||||||||
1 in 6½ | 6½Y | 6½X | 6½A | 6½B | 6½C | 8'8" | 8°47'51" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 12'10" | 13'3" | |||||||
1 in 7 | 7Y | 7X | 7A | 7B | 7C | 7D | 9'4" | 8°10'16" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 13'3" | 13'9" | ||||||
1 in 7½ | 7½Y | 7½X | 7½A | 7½B | 7½C | 7½D | 10'0" | 7°37'41" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 16'7" | 17'0" | ||||||
1 in 8 | 8Y | 8X | 8A | 8B | 8C | 8D | 10'8" | 7° 9'10" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 15'1½" | 15'1½" | ||||||
1 in 9 | 9Y | 9X | 9A | 9B | 9C | 9D | 9E | 12'0" | 6°21'34" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 16'7" | 17'0" | |||||
1 in 10 | 10Y | 10X | 10A | 10B | 10C | 10D | 10E | 13'4" | 5°43'30" | 13'0" | 12'3" | 13'9" | 13'9" | |||||
1 in 11 | 11Z | 11Y | 11X | 11A | 11B | 11C | 11D | 11E | 14'8" | 5°12'18" | 15'6" | 14'9" | 14'9" | 15'1½" | ||||
1 in 12 | 12Z | 12Y | 12X | 12A | 12B | 12C | 12D | 12E | 12F | 16'0" | 4°46'19" | 15'6" | 14'9" | 16'7" | 17'0" | |||
1 in 14 | 14Z | 14Y | 14X | 14A | 14B | 14C | 14D | 14E | 14F | 14G | 18'8" | 4° 5'27" | 15'6" | 14'9" | 16'7" | 15'5" | ||
1 in 16 | 16Z1 | 16Z | 16Y | 16X | 16A | 16B | 16C | 16D | 16E | 16F | 16G | 16H | 21'4" | 3°34'47" | 18'0" | 17'3" | 16'7" | 15'1½" |
Acute Crossing | Chairs – usually at 2'6" intervals | Knuckle Radius | Crossing Angle | Check Rail | Wing Rail | Point Rail | Splice Rail |
Obtuse Crossing | Chairs | Knuckle Radius | Check Rail | Point Rail | Wing Rail | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 in 1½ | D1½AL | D1½AR | 1'0" | 9'4" | 12'2⅜" | 14'5" | |||||
1 in 1¾ | D1¾AL | D1¾AR | 1'3" | 9'10" | 13'2" | 15'0" | |||||
1 in 2 | D2AL | D2AR | 1'6" | 14'5" | 14'3½" | 14'5" | |||||
1 in 2½ | D2½AL | D2½AR | 2'0" | 14'5" | 16'2½" | 14'5" | |||||
1 in 3 | D3AL | D3AR | 2'11" | 14'5" | 18'5½" | 13'6" | |||||
1 in 3½ | D3½AL | D3½AR | 4'1" | 15'5" | 11'1⅝" | 14'5" | |||||
1 in 4 | D4BL | D4AL | D4AR | D4BR | 5'4" | 15'5" | 10'7½" | 14'5" | |||
1 in 4½ | D4½BL | D4½AL | D4½AR | D4½BR | 6'0" | 15'5" | 12'10½" | 14'5" | |||
1 in 5 | D5BL | D5AL | D5AR | D5BR | 6'8" | 15'5" | 15'1½" | 14'5" | |||
1 in 5½ | D5½BL | D5½AL | D5½N | D5½AR | D5½BR | 7'4" | 15'5" | 17'4½" | 14'5" | ||
1 in 6 | D6BL | D6AL | D6N | D6AR | D6BR | 8'0" | 15'5" | 18'7¾" | 14'5" | ||
1 in 6½ | D6½BL | D6½AL | D6½N | D6½AR | D6½BR | 8'8" | 16'5" | 11'1½" | 15'5" | ||
1 in 7 | D7BL | D7AL | D7N | D7AR | D7BR | 9'4" | 16'5" | 13'6" | 15'5" | ||
1 in 7½ | D7½CL | D7½BL | D7½AL | D7½N | D7½AR | D7½BR | D7½CR | 10'0" | 16'5" | 13'4¾" | 15'5" |
1 in 8 | D8CL | D8BL | D8AL | D8N | D8AR | D8BR | D8CR | — | 16'5" | 13'3¼" | 15'5" |
Obtuse Crossing | Chairs | Knuckle Radius | Check Rail | Point Rail | Wing Rail |
Switch Type | Check Rails | Slip Road Radius | |
---|---|---|---|
1 in 7 Single Slip | B | 11'8" | 484' 7.3 chains |
1 in 7 Double Slip | |||
1 in 7½ Single Slip | B | 11'8" | 571' 8.6 chains |
1 in 7½ Double Slip | |||
1 in 8 Single Slip | B | 15'5" | 700' 10.6 chains |
1 in 8 Double Slip |
In the tables below only one half of the slip is shown; the other half is mirrored left to right at the central SN timber with those Left and Right chairs being mirrored top to bottom. The cells coloured yellow show where the soleplates are fitted; the vertical black lines show the location of the rail joins; the dimensions show the distances between the ends of adjacent timbers (note that some are skewed hence the seperate dimensions for each end of the timber).
CCL | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1J | S1J | L1 | 7SBR | 7SAR | 7SN | ||||||||||||||
7Y | SP | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L | 1PLB | 7S2PL | 7L1SR | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1J | S1J | L1 | D7BL | D7AL | D7N | |||||||||||||||
CCR | P | P | P | P | B1R P |
B2R P | 1PRB | 7S2PR | 7L1SL | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'3" | 2'5¾" 2'3¼" |
2'1½" 2'4" |
2'4" | 2'4" | 2'3½" | 2'3" | 2'4" | 2'3" | 2'2" | 1'11¾" | 2'1" | 2'423⁄32" | 1'917⁄32" |
CCL | P | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L |
1PLB | 7S2PL | 7L1SR | M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | ||||||||||||||
M1 | 7SBR | 7SAR | 7SN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
7Y | 7DPA | 7DPB | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L | 1PLB | 7S2PL | 7L1SR | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
P | P | B1R P |
B2R P | 1PRB | 7S2PR | 7L1SL | M1 | 7SBL | 7SAL | 7SN | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CCR | P | P | P | P | B1R P |
B2R P | 1PRB | 7S2PR | 7L1SL | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'3" | 2'3¼" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'3½" | 2'3" | 2'4" | 2'3" | 2'2" | 1'11¾" | 2'1" | 2'423⁄32" | 1'917⁄32" |
S1J | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1J | S1J | M1 | 7½SBR | 7½SAR | 7½SN | ||||||||||||||
L1 | SP | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L | 7½S1PL | 7½S2PL | 7½L1SR | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | M1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | L1 | M1 | D7½BL | D7½AL | D7½N | ||||||||||||||
S1J | P | P | P | P | B1R P |
B2R P | 7½S1PR | 7½S2PR | 7½L1SL | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'0½" | 2'01⁄8" 1'95⁄8" |
2'2½" 2'5" |
2'5" | 2'5" | 2'5" | 2'5" | 2'511⁄16" | 2'4" | 2'2" | 1'11¾" | 2'1" | 2'315⁄32" | 1'1025⁄32" |
S1J | P | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L |
7½S1PL | 7½S2PL | 7½L1SR | M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | ||||||||||||||
M1 | 7½SBR | 7½SAR | 7½SN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | 7½DPA | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L | 7½S1PL | 7½S2PL | 7½L1SR | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | P | P | P | B1R P | B2R P |
7½S1PR | 7½S2PR | 7½L1SL | M1 | 7½SBL | 7½SAL | 7½SN | |||||||||||||||
M1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S1J | P | P | P | P | B1R P |
B2R P | 7½S1PR | 7½S2PR | 7½L1SL | M1 | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'0½" | 1'95⁄8" | 2'5" | 2'5" | 2'5" | 2'5" | 2'5" | 2'511⁄16" | 2'4" | 2'2" | 1'11¾" | 2'1" | 2'315⁄32" | 1'1025⁄32" |
CCL | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | 8SCR | 8SBR | 8SAR | 8SN | |||||||||||||||
L1 | P | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L | 1PLC | 8S2PL | 6PLE | M1 | |||||||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | M1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | S1 | L1 | 8SSCL | D8BL | D8AL | D8N | |||||||||||||||
CCR | P | P | P | P | B1R P |
B2R P | 1PRC | 8S2PR | 6PRE | L1 | |||||||||||||||||||
M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | S1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'1" | 2'7½" 2'5" |
2'1" 2'3½" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'3" | 2'4" | 2'2" | 2'29⁄16" | 2'29⁄16" | 2'2" | 2'27⁄32" | 2'01⁄32" |
CCL | P | P | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L |
1PLC | 8S2PL | 6PLE | M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | S1 | |||||||||||||||
L1 | 8SCR | 8SBR | 8SAR | 8SN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | 8DPA | 8DPB | P | P | P B1L |
P B2L | 1PLC | 8S2PL | 6PLE | M1 | |||||||||||||||||||
L1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L1 | P | P | B1R P | B2R P | 1PRC | 8S2PR | 6PRE | L1 | 8SCL | 8SBL | 8SAL | 8SN | |||||||||||||||||
M1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CCR | P | P | P | P | B1R P |
B2R P | 1PRC | 8S2PR | 6PRE | L1 | |||||||||||||||||||
M1 | M1 | M1 | L1 | S1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
1'1" | 2'5" | 2'3½" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'4" | 2'3" | 2'4" | 2'2" | 2'29⁄16" | 2'29⁄16" | 2'0" | 2'27⁄32" | 2'01⁄32" |
Still being written
You MUST clean the waxy manufacturing coating off before painting or glueing. If you've an ultra-sonic cleaner then give it at least two cleaning cycles, using fresh water each time. Otherwise hand-hot water with a very small amount of lanolin-free detergent (often found in a box next to the washing machine!) and a brush. Then rinse with plain water and brush again. Keep changing the rinse water (and cleaning the brush) until all traces of the wax have disappeared.
Inspect your check-rail chairs for possible dimensional errors before you go too far. I have had a couple of prints which have been up to 20% oversize in one direction. The culprits are the smaller prints with the layers running as shown in the image left (the layers won't be this easy to spot!). Measure the sprue around the reference number as indicated by the blue arrows in the image right, which should be the same dimension as the flangeway (1.75mm in this example). If you have any problems then please contact Shapeways Customer Service.
The running rail is correctly inclined at 1:20 but the check-rail, like the prototype, is verTical and this is indicated by a “T” underneath. You may wish to further highlight the check-rail jaws (especially the end ones) with a felt-tipped pen before removing from the sprue with a sharp knife.
Thread the chairs onto the previously prepared check-rail (see Check Rails for details) and then slide the running rail through the other jaws. Check the height of the rail against adjacent chairs and adjust if necessary by rubbing the base of the chairs on some fine abrasive paper.
Use check-rail-gauges to position the check-rail the correct distance from the crossing nose or opposite running rail and then glue the check-rail-chairs to the timbers. Use either a cyano-acrylate "superglue" or, for less instant bonding, something like Uhu; Bostick; epoxy resin or an impact adhesive in non-impact mode may be suitable.
Still being photographed