Crossing a footpath at ground level

[Kubes]

Hi
I am helping a friend build his garden line. The track has to cross a path at one point and the plan is to bury the Peco SM32 track in cement like a level crossing. I've seen some photos on this site which utilise continuous checkrails. Can this be done with Peco? If so any tips? If not, has anyone any suggestions how to create a robust and reliable crossing?
Thanks
Kubes

[SimonWood]

Trevor Thompson has a very robust system using aluminium angle embedded in the concrete. I have seen it in action, and while it does not have checkrails, it allows both humans and trains to cross easily. It would have to be straight and I imagine getting the rails that join to it lined up correctly must be important - but I'm sure Trevor can provide more first hand detail!

[philipy]

Can it be done? Simple answer, Yes!

I have two Peco track level crossings buried in cement as you suggest, and one has been down for about 12 years and the other about 10 years. Over time they have taken loaded wheelbarrows, the mower, a freezer on a trolley and countless feet. They are looking a wee bit sad atm, but that is mainly due to our clay soil heaving and generally doing it's own thing moving the adjacent slabs, the track bases are still solid and aligned.
Construction was pretty straightforward. Standard Peco 32mm track screwed down to the concrete base then checkrail chairs glued on as necessary, then pack some card strips into the flangeways to keep the cement out then tamp down your concrete. I did press some ballast into the top surface, but most of that has disappeared over the years. When it is solid but still 'green' pull the packers out and carefully clear out anything that has got in anyway!

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[Kubes]

Thanks to both of you for the very helpful replies. Unfortunately the crossing is on a curve so that precludes using angle sections which I see would be a very robust solution. I had a look on the Peco site but I couldn't find check rail chairs (I know they arent really called chairs as its flat bottomed rail section) for SM32 - do you know the product code by any chance?
Cheers
Kubes

[philipy]

My first picture shows it on a curve. Its so long ago that i can't remember details unfortunately. I have a vague memory that they could have been Tenmille ones but if push comes to shove, you could slice ordinary chairs from a piece of plain track. You don't need many, the cement will hold it in place in practice. The other thing you could try is putting small nuts and bolts through the sleepers and soldering rail to the bolt heads, but you need to be quick to not melt the sleepers!

[SimonWood]

I had a look on the Peco site but I couldn't find check rail chairs (I know they arent really called chairs as its flat bottomed rail section) for SM32 - do you know the product code by any chance?

SL-802?

[Kubes]

Thanks for the replies.
The SL-802 chairs are single chairs and I dont think Peco do proper checkrail double chairs. So what we will probably do is use some spare lengths track, remove most of the sleepers and cut the remainder in half. Then locate the check rail by tucking the half sleeper lengths under the running rails between their sleepers (having removed the webbing at those points). That should help keep the check rails in place and keep the flangeways clear of cement (fingers crossed!)
I'll try and post a photo when its done if I can remember how to upload pics.
Kubes

[GAP]

on our 1:1 scale track we do not use check rails for our road and path crossings rail spaced with steel sleepers and a piece of box steel laid beside the rial wider and a bit deeper than the flange and concrete or bitumen poured over reinforcing mesh. They have all sorts of garden maitnenance equipment including excavators, backhoes (JCB's) bobcats and tip trucks with no sign of falling apart after years of use.
The road crossings are on public roads with a fairly volume of traffic.
Personally I would not use the peco sleepers but pieces of plastic wood or even treated timber with slots cut into them mainly for strength and give a stronger base for loads they are there there only to hold the guage after all.

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