How to Cut Model Railroad Track



Model RailroadFlex Track

 Most folks in the Ho and N scale world use flex track on their layouts. When laying track you often need to cut your 36” flex track to a shorter length. Some Concepts explained here also work for "Gargraves" type flex track for o gauge as well. Depending on the gauge and weather or not your track is already installed on your layout your technique has to vary. Solid rail, tubular rail, wood ties, plastic ties it doesn’t matter the name of the game is patients. The biggest problem you may run into is ending up with a damaged rail or ties after you cut it. This hobby is expensive enough…no need to waste lengths of track. Make sure to use proper safety techniques including wearing eye protection when using all tools. Ooh and make sure you have a good set of small metal files because you’re going to need them.

Let’s examine the wooden Jig/metal cutting hacksaw approach to cutting track. I learned this from an old timer in the hobby. This is not the fastest way to cut track, however it’s the safest and most suggested for beginners.

First you have to make yourself a jig. This jig will hold the track firmly and safely in place minimizing any damage to the rails and your fingers. Take a length of wood that the track can sit on and be fully supported. Attach that to your table or workbench, which will be your cutting surface. For O gauge or smaller track you can then grab a piece of 2x4, a foot or so in length. Cut, lengthwise, with a wide saw blade or use a router grooves in the wood so that you can invert your jig and place it on top of the track and have the rails fit into those groves. Make them deep enough so the jig when inverted will sit flat on your ties. You want the grooves tight and centered in the wood. 



#400 super saw

 

Mark the length of track where you need to cut it. Press firmly down with your jig onto the track making sure the grooves lay on the rails properly. Slide the jig up to the mark. Use a thin metal cutting saw such as a hack saw or small hobby saw and slowly draw the saw over your rails using the jig as a guide. If you take your time you will do the least amount of damage to the rails. If you try to cut with too much force or too fast you can damage the rail. When you’re done you may need to take a small file to the edge of the rail to remove any leftover burs.

If you need to cut one rail a different length then the other due to a curve or special instillation then slide the jig up the rail to the longest mark and cut just that rail. Then slide it down to the shorter marks and cut them.

If the track you want to cut is already installed on your layout the jig described above will only work if it is a perfectly straight section. If it is and you have all the clearance needed for the jig and your saw go for it. Otherwise you will need a different strategy.

There are a few more advanced track cutting techniques that are far less time consuming which I will discuss in another upcoming article. Stay Tuned!

See part 2 of this article HERE.