Horsemen’s Track and Equipment, Inc. serves the industry in a unique capacity.

We advise our clients in the following areas on their track installation:

Track Design Software

• Initial Planning and Site Selection
• Contractor Selection
• Construction Supervision

Track Design $ 11.95 Collected from the pages of Railroad Model Craftsman, this book contains numerous track plans and design tips for model railroads large and small. The design and creation of a new model railroad layout requires lots of planning and dreaming.

When installing a track, we work with the owner to make sure the land meets the suitability standards for the lay of the land as well as the soil composition. These factors are imperative for fill, drainage and locating rocks below ground’s surface. Most of the tracks are a minimum of five to six furlongs and span about 32 rectangular acres.

Weather will typically dictate when constructions begins in a given location. The type of base used will depend on particular characteristics such as climate and land condition. The two major alternatives for dirt tracks are clay or limestone rock of various dimensions. The cushion is then a sandy loam composition.

The preference in northern areas is to apply a dense grade, stone-based racetrack, since freezing and thawing can make clay expand and contract during winter months. Southern areas typically utilize a clay base. Some facilities are installing artificial or blended surfaces, which often require other types of foundations.

Track Design Handbook For Light Rail Transit

To ensure adequate compaction, we perform a compaction test as each foot of fill is applied. This quality control ensures even compaction over the fill area.

Most dirt tracks have a minimum of 6″ sub-base, a 6″ base and a 6″ cushion. The type of sand used in the upper layers is also an important details as this not only affects the drainage, but also the cushion for the horses.

Track Design And Construction

The turf and artificial surfaces used today require different base materials. Horsemen’s Track and Equipment, Inc. offers consulting on these track installations as well.

Track Designer

Once a track is completed, we assist in developing a full maintenance guide for the personnel responsible for track maintenance. Initiating these practices along with using the right equipment ensures track longevity and will go a long way toward minimizing horse injuries.

Track Design Handbook For Light Rail Transit

1. Paige Design Group (PDG): Specializes exclusively in the planning, designing and consulting of indoor and outdoor T&F facilities. We assist Architects, Landscape Architects, Engineers, Contractors and Owner to provide Colleges, High Schools, Municipalities and Companies with the safest, most functional and cost effective T&F facility possible.
2. Track Plans: Now the fun begins. But first, a quick note about the designs: These layouts were drawn using two types of software—MTH’s Railware software for Realtrax, and Atlas O’s Right Track software. Unfortunately for FasTrack users, Lionel has not yet released track design software for it.