There are pictures of 3 versions here. Plus at the Warwick show the portable track was made of 1" square tube in two layers one above the other making a strong beam. I assume they found one tube was not enough but perhaps one run of 2×1 would be and a little lighter.

Raised adds problems of balance, tipping, supports, small passenger loading, points for parking a spare loco. Ground level is harder for old folk

Hi Doubletop,

Probably not the most portable track I've seen!

Regards,

Bob

The Peterborough Society of Model Engineers portable track is raised, but does not use tip rails, since the footboards of the passenger and driving cars only just clear the floor.

The track sections are made of rectangular section steel, welded together to form sections about 8 feet long, with a support at one end. (Only one section has feet at both ends ) They are heavy, but can be lifted by one person. Each section is packed to a consistent, transverse and longitudinal, level, before the bolts securing each section to the preceding one are tightened. Total track length is 120 feet.

Howard

Under the old HSE produced code of practice developed out of a document called TN3 from the federations it was recommended that anti tip rails were used. This COP is no longer supported or endorsed by HSE and in it's absence the federations are in process of releasing a new guidance document. However the draft that I saw from memory made no specific judgement such as "you shall" in favour of listing all the relevant legislation and leaving you to make up your own mind. Not seen a final version yet but to me it was nowhere as useful or pragmatic as the old HSE COP.

As far as I am aware there is no specific law applicable to anti tip rails but there is the legal precedent of "duty of care". For example if there is an injury accident on your track that doesn't have tip rails can you demonstrate you have properly fulfilled your duty of care? It may be as stated by a pervious poster that your passenger car foot boards are so close to the ground the car cannot tip over in which case in all probability you could say you don't need them. You also need to be careful your track is not considered by the local authority to be a fair ground ride, if it is it must have regular independent inspections to verify its safety and properly documented maintenance and operational checks of your own!

Final consideration is if it all goes wrong have you done enough to satisfy your insurer that they will back you and pay out on any claim. As it stands it's really down to you to demonstrate by risk assesment that you have managed any risk of derailment or tipping properly and your passengers are protected and if subsequently it is proved you haven't – watch out cos claims are us will be knocking on your door. Also worth remembering if it is decided HSE has jurisdiction (ie work was involved and it doesn't have to be paid) you could be prosecuted.

So whether you have to have them or not, it's probably a good idea to cover your bottom.

Paul.

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