Garden Railway Forum

Hi
I am helping a friend build his garden line. The track has to cross a path at one point and the plan is to bury the Peco SM32 track in cement like a level crossing. I've seen some photos on this site which utilise continuous checkrails. Can this be done with Peco? If so any tips? If not, has anyone any suggestions how to create a robust and reliable crossing?
Thanks
Kubes

Trevor Thompson has a very robust system using aluminium angle embedded in the concrete. I have seen it in action, and while it does not have checkrails, it allows both humans and trains to cross easily. It would have to be straight and I imagine getting the rails that join to it lined up correctly must be important - but I'm sure Trevor can provide more first hand detail!

Can it be done? Simple answer, Yes!

I have two Peco track level crossings buried in cement as you suggest, and one has been down for about 12 years and the other about 10 years. Over time they have taken loaded wheelbarrows, the mower, a freezer on a trolley and countless feet. They are looking a wee bit sad atm, but that is mainly due to our clay soil heaving and generally doing it's own thing moving the adjacent slabs, the track bases are still solid and aligned.
Construction was pretty straightforward. Standard Peco 32mm track screwed down to the concrete base then checkrail chairs glued on as necessary, then pack some card strips into the flangeways to keep the cement out then tamp down your concrete. I did press some ballast into the top surface, but most of that has disappeared over the years. When it is solid but still 'green' pull the packers out and carefully clear out anything that has got in anyway!

Thanks to both of you for the very helpful replies. Unfortunately the crossing is on a curve so that precludes using angle sections which I see would be a very robust solution. I had a look on the Peco site but I couldn't find check rail chairs (I know they arent really called chairs as its flat bottomed rail section) for SM32 - do you know the product code by any chance?
Cheers
Kubes

My first picture shows it on a curve. Its so long ago that i can't remember details unfortunately. I have a vague memory that they could have been Tenmille ones but if push comes to shove, you could slice ordinary chairs from a piece of plain track. You don't need many, the cement will hold it in place in practice. The other thing you could try is putting small nuts and bolts through the sleepers and soldering rail to the bolt heads, but you need to be quick to not melt the sleepers!

Kubes wrote: ↑Thu Apr 30, 2026 9:33 pm I had a look on the Peco site but I couldn't find check rail chairs (I know they arent really called chairs as its flat bottomed rail section) for SM32 - do you know the product code by any chance?

SL-802?