Choosing among HO/OO track options

SGMRSC offers three HO/OO track ranges:

  1. Code 75 flat bottom
  2. Code 75 bullhead
  3. Code 100 flat bottom

 

There are therefore two main choices to be made:

  • Code 75 versus code 100
  • Flat bottom versus bullhead

 

Code 75 versus code 100

 

Code 75

0.075" ≈ 1.9 mm

Code 100

0.10" ≈ 2.5 mm

Rolling stock compatibility

Flanges of pre-mid-1900s rolling stock may foul rail fasteners (chairs).

All rolling stock should be compatible.

Realism

Scales accurately to tallest  UK rail (2.1 mm) but taller than shortest (1.3 mm) UK rail.

Sleeper spacing reflects UK prototype

Scales taller than tallest UK rail (2.1 mm).

Sleeper spacing is closer than UK prototype

Robustness

Slightly less but generally sufficiently robust

Slightly more robust.

 

Flat bottom versus bullhead rail

  Flat bottom (code 75 or 100) rail Bullhead (code 75) rail
Prototype Installed in UK since mid-20th century. Installed in UK mid-19th to mid-20th century.  Still found in older or less-used track and on heritage railways.

 

Use cases:

Goal Recommendation
Realistic modern track Code 75 flat bottom
Realistic older (pre-mid-20th century) track Code 75 bullhead
Most robust track Code 100 flat bottom
Compatibility with pre-mid-1990s rolling stock Code 100 flat bottom

 

Independent advice:


Track Peco Code 100, Code 75, Bullhead, EM and P4 explained at Chadwick Model Railway | 66.

The Most Realistic Track Yet? Peco Bullhead OO Gauge Unifrog Track