Changing track – how to alter already laid track

It happens on every layout at one point or another.

You have a fantastic track plan. You’ve laid the track, ballasted it and even got some scenery in place.  It looks great.

And then you decide to change it…

Perhaps you’re realised a stretch of track and a station is needed… Or maybe an extra siding would be useful? Whatever the reason just about every layout gets changed at some point and this usually involves altering the existing track.

But how do you remove and replace already laid track?

Well, you could go all medieval on your railway.

Forcing a flat head screwdriver under the sleepers and prise a section up until you have enough leeway to twist and bend the rails and they ping out of the joiners connecting to the rest of the track.

You could, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

That’s the quickest way to damaged track. It’s simply not an option if you want to reuse the track.

I was faced with exactly this conundrum the other day.

My layout consists of sections that I’m building and then fit together. I wanted to change the track at the end of one board from a straight to a curve so it would meet the track on another board being added at a right angle.

The easier way

As said, I could have done the brutal way and levered it up with a screwdriver and then twisted it to free it from the track joiner but there’s a much easier, gentler option.

Using a Dremel and cutting disc, cut through the rail joiners connecting the track section you want to remove. The Dremel is one of my most used tools on my railway and this is one of the many things that it can do, transforming an otherwise fiddly project into a quick, easy, operation.

Now assuming you have glued the track down — as many people do — spray warm water over the track to loosen the glue and ballast. Let this work in for about an hour.

With the rails free at one end and the glue/ballast softened lifting the track should be easy.

Obviously, if you’ve just used track pins and not glue; just lift these out with a pair of needle nose pliers.

Now just wiggle off the remains of the rail joiners from the rail ends and drop in the new track. If you struggle with fitting joiners, read this tip on making a tool easily fix rail joiners to existing track.

That’s it.

You could also use Xuron track cutters which I find great for cutting fresh unlaid track but for track that’s in place, the Dremel gets my vote.

Watch the technique in practice

There’s a handy video by Everard Junction that includes a visual demonstration of the technique on his OO gauge layout for those that prefer video guides.

Hope this helps. If there are any other track work problems you’re struggling with drop me a line and I’ll be happy to cover them here.

The Dremel 3000 is usually available on offer here.

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