Track Geometry

From L-Gauge
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L-Gauge refers to a fundamental "standard" gauge of 5 stud intervals (40 mm) between the centres of the rails. This results in 4 visible studs between the rails. This gauge has been in use since the origins of LEGO® train set products introduced in the late 1960s. Over the years, LEGO® has evolved the track elements starting with track built from discrete 2x8 plates with 16-stud rail elements placed onto the plates. This evolved into the 12V train system which made the track more robust by introducing clips to secure the rail to the sleeper/tie plates. In the early 1990s, LEGO® introduced the 9V train system. With this came the monolithic track assembly whereby the rails and sleepers/ties were molded as a single element. This results in a very robust track assembly and also allowed for a more realistic rail profile to be rendered in the mold. The 9V track system also included metal capped running rails. The capping was made from a preformed U-channel nickel-silver metal section which clipped into the plastic track assembly. Sadly, LEGO® discontinued production of the 9V metal train track in 2006. It was replaced with an all-plastic track system called "RC track". To LEGO®'s credit, the geometry, gauge, profile, etc. of the RC track system was nearly identical to the 9V track it replaced. This allowed existing rolling stock to be used on both systems and even allows RC and 9V track to be connected together since they share the same track connector system. In addition to the "standard" gauge track system, a "narrow" gauge system exists which nominally has 3 studs (24 mm) between rail centres. There are very few track elements in this system and most "narrow" gauge modellers build their track discretely from other LEGO® elements.

Track Geometry

Standard Gauge (5-studs/40 mm nominal centreline gauge)

TrackKeyDimensions.png

Track Elements

LEGO® Brand Track

RC Track (Plastic) Standard Gauge (5 studs/40 mm)

Part ID Image Description Geometry Production Bricklink / Colours
53401 53401.gif Straight track 16 studs long (128 mm) 2006 - present Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
53400 53400.jpg Curved track 40 stud radius (320 mm) 2006 - present Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
53407 53407.gif Left hand switch 32 studs long, 32.5º crossing vee
22.5º diverging route
2006 - present Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
53404 53404.gif Right hand switch 32 studs long, 32.5º crossing vee
22.5º diverging route
2006 - present Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
60128 60128.gif Double crossover (2x halves) 24 studs long x 24 studs wide 2007 - 2008 Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
88492 88492c00.jpg Flexible track 4 studs long (32 mm) 2009 - present Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog

RC Track (Plastic) Narrow Gauge (3 studs/24 mm)

Part ID Image Description Geometry Production Bricklink / Colours
85976 85976.jpg Curve track 2009 - 2012 Price Guide: Black
Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
85977 85977.jpg Inclined ramp, straight 16 studs long, 6 studs height 2009 - 2012 Price Guide: Black
Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog

9V (Metal) Standard Gauge (5 studs/40 mm)

Part ID Image Description Geometry Production Bricklink / Colours
2865 2865.gif Straight track 16 studs long (128 mm) 1991 - 2007 Price Guide: Dark Gray
Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
2867 2867.gif Curved track 40 stud radius (320 mm) 1991 - 2007 Price Guide: Dark Gray
Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
2861 2861.gif Left hand switch 32 studs long, 32.5º crossing vee
22.5º diverging route
1991 - 2007 Price Guide: Dark Gray
Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
2859 2859.gif Right hand switch 32 studs long, 32.5º crossing vee
22.5º diverging route
1991 - 2007 Price Guide: Dark Gray
Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog
32087 32087.gif 90º Crossing 16 x 16 studs (128 mm) 1992 - 1999 Price Guide: Dark Gray
Price Guide: Dark Bluish Gray
Catalog

ME Models Brand Track

Plastic Track Standard Gauge (5 studs/40 mm)

Part ID Image Description Geometry Production Colours
ME901-HF MEHalfStr.png Straight track, half length 8 studs long (64 mm) 2015 - present Dark Bluish Gray
Black
Reddish Brown
Dark Brown
ME901-ST MEFullStr.png Straight track, standard length 16 studs long (128 mm) 2015 - present Dark Bluish Gray
Black
Reddish Brown
Dark Brown
ME901-DB MEDoubleStr.png Straight track, double length 32 studs long (256 mm) 2015 - present Dark Bluish Gray
Black
Reddish Brown
Dark Brown
ME901-56 MEModelsR56Curve.png Curve track 56 stud radius (448 mm) 2015 - present Dark Bluish Gray
Black
Reddish Brown
Dark Brown
ME901-72 MEModelsR72Curve.png Curve track 72 stud radius (576 mm) 2015 - present Dark Bluish Gray
Black
Reddish Brown
Dark Brown
ME901-88 MEModelsR88Curve.png Curve track 88 stud radius (704 mm) 2015 - present Dark Bluish Gray
Black
Reddish Brown
Dark Brown
ME901-104 MEModelsR104Curve.png Curve track 104 stud radius (832 mm) 2015 - present Dark Bluish Gray
Black
Reddish Brown
Dark Brown

Track System Overview

The diagram below shows an overview of the LEGO® train track system. A nominal 16 stud grid interval is superimposed on the diagram to show that many track relationships are nominally aligned to 16 stud intervals. A convention of maintaining 16-stud spacing between adjacent parallel track centres is very widely adopted and is strongly recommended. The 16 stud interval is also very common among many LEGO® baseplate sizes and therefore track elements can often be mounted to baseplates with connector ends flush to the baseplate edges.

LEGO® brand and ME Models track elements are shown together in this diagram. In order to differentiate the two product sources, LEGO® brand track is illustrated in red.

TrackSystemSummary.png