DCC CONCEPTS LEGACY TRACK

Since 1993, BRM has seen its fair share of new RTR models for review – several hundred, perhaps low thousands accounting for variations. And yet, for all the RTR locomotive and rolling stock releases we’ve reviewed, the readyto-use track on which they’re run is largely dominated by two manufacturers – Hornby and Peco.

Most recently during the pandemic, a shortage of model track occurred as supply lines were impacted, while a surge in new layout builds swept across the nation. It was a lesson to all in the risk of putting so many eggs in so few baskets.

Granted, British-outline OO gauge track with a narrower sleeper spacing is never going to be perfect – we chose 4mm:1ft scale over 3.5mm:1ft, after all. While the history of this dates to a time when fitting off-theshelf motors into our smaller loading gauge model prototypes was problematic, this hasn’t been the case for a number of years. Yet, the running of running 4mm:1ft scale models on 16.5mm gauge track remains, and our sleeper spacing is a compromise.

My reasoning for the brief history in OO gauge track is because DCC Concepts has launched its own 16.5mm gauge track to finescale standards. We’ve been kindly sent enough to build a small layout, for review.

In the eyes of the untrained nonenthusiast, track is track – it has sleepers and rail. While this statement is true, the levels of detail on model track have improved over the years, slowly. I’d argue that DCC Concepts’ Legacy bullhead track is the finest of its type we’ve seen to date.

Legacy track offers the modeller lengths of flexible track in 970mm lengths. Tooling for new items is an expensive business, so as of yet, we haven’t seen points emerge. Joining the new flexible track are insulated and conductive rail joiners, both featuring bolt detail. These are certainly the best

I’ve seen in the scale, and fit to the ends of rail smoothly, provided it has been cut accurately with Xuron shears, from top to bottom, never side to side!

Important details to note on this track is that it has a high nickel content, for a ‘closer to polished steel’ appearance. Rails sit inside detailed three-bolt chairs with a central camber, to better match the conical profile of wheels, as per reality. Sleepers are longer than those of Peco or Hornby proprietary track, to better match prototypical appearance. And, sleeper spacing is wider than that of Peco and Hornby points, and this too better matches reality.

DCC Concepts’ new track is compatible with the Hornby and Peco ranges, which will be key to its success, though I can’t be alone in wishing for the range to develop further, surely? Here's hoping.

There are so many different chair, sleeper, rail and bolt fixing combinations that asking one manufacturer to cater for every variation ready-made from the box is perhaps a little much. However, if it’s accuracy you desire to accompany these lengths of track, constructing your own points from kits might be required, such is the finesse of detail present, here. For that, DCC Concepts stocks all compatible components you’ll need. All told, a very welcome addition to the range of tracks available, and we’re looking forward to putting it to the test in a layout build soon.

Flexible, detailed and with shallow sleepers that consume less ballast, these new lengths of track are closer to British-outline track than ever before.

DCC Concepts has manufactured easy-to-install conductive phosphor-bronze and insulated rail joiners, which join its track-making component range.