Garden Railway Forum

Over the last few years I've been stock-piling Mamod/MSS track off Ebay whenever the price seemed right (seldom!) and having got some out for trial fitting to extend my original oval in the garden, have rediscovered the problem with the shaping of the connectors on the later track - they don't fit each other or the earlier correctly-assembling track.
I have found an excellent article in the archive on taking a file to it to fix things up, but unfortunately all the photos have been 'aged off', so although I can tell from the verbal description it is clear the problem is being addressed, it's not exactly clear how. I'm wondering if anyone has a source for the photos, before I start making things up as I go along and inevitably waste a few track-panels.
If anyone has experience doing this, is it vain to hope to get any panel to fit any other panel, like the good track, or should I just be grateful if I can get a particular join to mate correctly?

Which forum member made the post in the archive? If they are still around, they might be able to help you.

If you are referring to my Topic here - http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about275.html If you had read my update at the bottom I cannot post new links to the photos as the Topic has been moderated.

I have written them as a chapter in my electronic book and will send you a copy via PM shortly.

It is possible to connect the old Mamod track, current MSS track and current Mamod track to each other. Whilst the current Mamod track is the best quality (it is also the most expensive) they have got the lugs in the wrong place on the points which will need a fair bit of filing to fit properly without breaking anything.

Chris Cairns

Many thanks to Chris for sending me a copy of the chapter in his book with the pictures. I feel motivated to dig out my track and see what's exactly what in there now. Just hoping the points won't be too challenging to fix.

I removed the set of points from my test loop as errant locomotives running in, etc. kept derailing through them, with my Mamod William II winning a fight with a Big Big tipper which is now undergoing some repairs to a severed chassis.

I still think the way forward with Mamod/MSS points is to fit a check rail but not had the time to investigate further.

Chris Cairns

I've been using my garden Mamod loop for Hornby clockwork, Bowman 300 and a BL Enterprise running - it seems to accommodate the flanges on these without trouble (but not a Bowman 265). If the switch-plate on the Mamod points can be made to work, it has the advantage over check-rails of not caring what the back-to-back on the various wheel-sets is.