Guard Rail Sleepers

ControlIt Guard Rail Printed Circuit Board Sleepers. The top set of sleepers (one V board, one straight board) is for unidirectional track running where trains travel on the line in one direction. The bottom set (two V boards) is for bidirectional tracks where trains travel on the line in both directions. Click on the image to enlarge.

ControlIt Guard Rail Sleepers are used to neatly and securely hold inner guard rails, check rails or rails for dual-gauge track in place.

Guard rails are generally found where there is confined clearance, such as bridges, tunnels and level crossings. Check rails are found on sharp curves adjacent to the inner rail, the outer rail, or both rails. Guard rails and check rails are used to keep the wheels of rolling stock in alignment to prevent derailment. Dual-gauge track is where an extra running rail is provided for rolling stock of either gauge to use the same length of track.

ControlIt Guard Rail Sleepers are custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) scaled from official New South Wales Railways (NSWR) drawings and the Data Sheets Trackwork Manual for the New South Wales Railways (Note: product dimensions may vary very slightly due to manufacturing tolerances).

The Guard Rail Sleeper boards are designed for many applications:

Bidirectional track running, where trains travel along the track in both directions: guard rails are formed to a V at both ends
Unidirectional track running, where trains travel along the track in one direction only (for example double-track main lines): guard rails are formed to a V at the leading end and are straight at the trailing end
Check rails on sharp radius curves as per the prototype (see photos below)
Flangeway clearances at road crossings, for track embedded in paving, bitumen, asphalt or concrete, or for tram and light rail lines
Dual-gauge track, where an extra running rail runs parallel to the other two rails and is used by trains of that gauge

Individual solder points for the rails represent sleeper plates as used on the prototype. The top finish applied to the boards restricts solder to the sleeper plate areas, thereby electrically isolating the inner rails from the running rails, and resulting in a neat and durable track join.

Guard Rail Sleepers are suitable for a range of HO scale track. For modelling trackwork to NSWR prototype standard, the spacing between the track rail head and the guard rail head is 2.34mm, which may require the removal of any plastic sleepers between the guard rail sleeper boards.

For guard rails on curved track, the sleepers can be cut and soldered to the rail separately to suit the radius. The sleepers have been numbered to assist in installing them in the correct order. A cutoff disk in a motor tool can be used to cut the webbing between sleepers.

For installation of long lengths of guard rails where gluing in place may be less practical, straight board sleepers can be added in intervals between the end boards.

Guard Rail Sleepers pricing:

TRK-GRS-B: Bidirectional track set: two V boards - AUD $12.00
TRK-GRS-U: Unidirectional track set: one V board and one straight board - AUD $10.00
TRK-GRS-S: Straight set: two straight boards for intermediate guard rail solder points between boards, check rails, dual-gauge track and flangeway clearances - AUD $6.00
Shipping: AUD $8.00 per pack to anywhere in Australia. Other countries: calculated at the time of invoicing. Postage will be combined wherever possible.

Payment:

Direct Deposit is the preferred payment method for orders in Australian Dollars (AUD), details are provided at the time of invoicing
PayPal is the preferred payment method for orders outside of Australia

Contact ControlIt for Orders and Enquiries

To use the Guard Rail Sleepers:

Remove the plastic sleepers from your track and insert the guard rail sleepers in their place under the rails
Solder the rails to the PCB solder points
Form the guard rails and solder in place, starting any rail bends on sleeper number 7 (Hint: filing a small V in the guard rail web at the bend point with a jeweller's file can help with making the bend)
The guard rail sleepers and guard rails can be held in place with glue (for example a 2-part epoxy for a strong join)
The sleepers can be painted after installation

Guard Rail Sleeper Boards Gallery

Unidirectional Sleepers for a double track with Peco code 100 flex track. Top: boards soldered into position. Bottom: plastic sleepers removed and guard rails shaped and spaced to NSWR prototype standard soldered in place

Two sets of Unidirectional Guard Rail Sleepers installed on bridges with the track painted and ballasted

Front view of two sets of Unidirectional Guard Rail Sleepers installed on bridges with the track painted and ballasted

Top view of two sets of Unidirectional Guard Rail Sleepers installed on bridges with the track painted and ballasted

End view of two sets of Unidirectional Guard Rail Sleepers installed on bridges with the track painted and ballasted

Unidirectional Guard Rail Sleepers with a customer's girder bridges ready for installation

The Unidirectional Guard Rail Sleepers installed on a customer's layout with ballast and scenery applied

Prototype Photos

Guard rails on the double track rail lines crossing South Creek at Werrington, June 1970

Unidirectional track guard rails on the short bridge spans at Tahmoor, with steam locomotive 3801 leading the Sydney-bound Southern Highlands Express on the 21st September 1963

Guard rails on the double track steel bridge spanning the Nepean River at Penrith, June 1970

Guard rails and timber transoms on a single track bridge at Mount George

Guard rails on a timber trestle bridge along the Oberon branch line in 1974. Photo courtesy of Philip Vergison

Guard rails on the bridge dating from 1913 spanning Jerrabomberra Creek

DEB rail motor set on the down Northern Tablelands Express crossing Cockle Creek on the 6th of August 1982

Guard rails on a bridge over Belongil Creek at Byron Bay, November 2023. Photo courtesy of Ryan Fuller

Check rail adjacent to the running rail on the curve at Carlwood, Oberon branch line, 1974. Photo courtesy of Philip Vergison

Check rail on a curve along the Oberon branch line, 1974. Photo courtesy of Philip Vergison

A check rail as seen from the cab of South Australian Railways' 830 class locomotive 848. Oberon branch line, 1974. Photo courtesy of Philip Vergison

Check rail on a 5 chain (100 metre/330 foot) radius curve near the 339 mile peg between Batlow and Gilmore on 20th July 1985, some 18 months after the line had closed. Photo courtesy of C.E. Kirkby