TRIX TWIN FIBRE TRACK

I acquired a lot of this track in an auction bundle. Rail tracks are not solit but folded over. Centre rail is a solid strip not of rail profile. Unlike metal based track all three rails are insulated from each other.

This track looked interesting as a general purpose track because it can be used as two rail or three rail.

A double oval was constructed to see how well this worked. Briefly it worked, but not as well as I had hoped it might. There were a number of reasons:

1: The track was not new, although some elements looked like they had seen little or no use. Being constructed from tin plated the rail track is easily distorted. The fibre base used is not particularly rigid so it sufferes from fair ware and tear.

2: Trix Twin trains had larger profile wheels than other makes. While this is not a problem for narrower profile wheels on straights and curves, points are another matter. Derailments crossing points were rather common.

3: The centre power rail while solid is just a steel strip easily bent and distorted. Even minor distortions could affect the centre contact.

I laid the track onto flat MDF using small nails to keep it in place. With the lack of rigidity in the fibre base the overall result was a rather uneven running rail system. Even the Trix locos with their larger flanges did not always stay on the track.

Original Trix Twin track is unrealistic solid plastic. Even so it not subject to the distortions of the fibre track so seems to be the preferred solution for those with original Trix Twin layouts. No doubt fibre can be used, but selection of the best, and possible repair work is essential.

This was an interesting exercise to see if this old style of track has any use on a modern layout. Really anindustrial style layout would, full size or narrow gauge would be interesting. Even so it would make sense to limit the use of the Trix Twin points.

I put my ovals to good use as a testing ground for an assortment of two rail and three chassis of varying ages and quality. Modern Hornby 4 wheel chassis ran OK, although were problematic on points. Six wheeled chassis ran fine so long as the curve gauging did not vary too much.

Three rail chassis, many converted from two rail rail ran well too. However deviations in the centre power rail were an added problem to those of two railed chassis.

As a result of this trial I will not be creating an extended layout with this track. Its great advantage of copy with two and three rail locos is more than negated by the poor running qualitys. For demonstrating older genuine Trix Trains it seems the older solid plastic track is to be preferred.

I have now disposed of all my TT fibre track. It did not prove a satifactory alternative to Hornby Dublo Three rail. It was an interesting episode and is best suited to a fixed Trix layout.