Port Bonifacio trackwork

All mainline curves have easements, though some would be longer in a larger room. I chose 580mm (23”) minimum for big locos, passenger cars, modern freight.

The curves into the engine terminal are tighter: big locos will complain, but so long as they are not hauling anything they should go round 20” curves. The waterfront area has tight curves too: we’ll be using small switcher locos and low speeds, just like the prototype.

turnouts and track are code 83. Most visible track will be Pilz Tillig Elite imported from Europe. It is beautifully made and pre-weathered. The superb turnouts are flexible!. yes it is European prototype but let's see who notices.

I chose code 83 because it looks noticeably lighter than code 100 but still has a high-enough profile for most flanges, even older wheels on collectables. In staging, track is code 100 and turnouts are mostly Atlas code 100: cheap and robust.

Some of the turnouts have been trimmed to fit. People hesitate to use rail-nippers on an expensive turnout but it works well if done carefully, and gives nearly as much flexibility as hand-laying them.

See laying out track lines.

Mainline track is laid on cork roadbed on top of camping foam subroadbed. The upper deck staging tracks are liad on sheets of similar foam sold as tent floor mats.