Peco
Encyclopedia
Peco is a UK-based manufacturer of model railway accessories, especially trackwork, based at Pecorama, Beer
in South Devon
.
Peco is the collective name for the Pritchard Patent Product Company Ltd, Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd, and Pecorama. Founded in 1946 in a small cottage, Peco now distributes worldwide.
, H0m, O16.5, SM32 and G scale
.
The primary product ranges are its track systems. Other product lines include Peco Trackside – building kits and scenic items in gauges O, OO and N – and a small range of rolling stock
and locomotives, both kits and ready-to-run, for gauges N and OO9.
and points
(turnouts), made to the standard British geometry
. It is similar to the track components supplied with train-sets, and is designed for the needs of less-experienced modellers, or those experienced modellers who do not want to spend a lot of time building trackwork. However, where part of a desired layout cannot be built using Set-track parts, Streamline components can be utilised as required.
Peco Streamline is for the more experienced modeller. The range includes a wider variety of points and crossings, at different radii. Most of these are available with 'live' (metal) or insulating (plastic) frogs. The "Electrofrog" points require more complex wiring, to avoid short-circuits, but are designed to give more reliable operation of locomotives. There are no other rigid track components. Plain track is supplied in 3 foot (914mm) lengths (2 foot for Z gauge), to be cut to length as required. It is flexible (laterally), allowing the modeller to use it for straight track or any radius curve, to suit the needs of the model. The Streamline range is supplied with different types of rail, identified by code numbers indicating the height of the rail in thousands-of-an-inch. For 00/H0 track, 'Code 100' rail is the original type, and is designed for older ready-to-run models. 'Code 83' is designed to be compatible with North American track systems. 'Code 75' is designed for 'fine-scale' models, with smaller wheel flanges, to give a more-scale appearance. N gauge
Streamline track comes in code 80 and code 55.
The OO/HO track is scaled for HO, this is commercially understandable as the product range is supplied to the smaller UK market (mainly OO) and larger European / US markets (mainly HO). The sleeper length, sleeper spacing and set-track '6 foot way' is not correct for modeling UK track in OO gauge and this can exaggerate the error in the gauge when running OO models.
To support the track systems, "Pecolectrics" is the company brand name
for their range of electronic control system
s, point motors and switches.
and Continental Modeller, as well as a large range of booklets explaining wiring, scenics, baseboard construction, outdoor railways, and similar topics.
, and includes a display of many model railways, a shop, and the Beer Heights Light Railway
. It is located in the village of Beer, Devon
.
Pecorama is also home to "Teddy Mac and the Railway Bears", a series of children's books written by Margaret Edmonds.
Beer, Devon
The village of Beer is in south-east Devon, England, on Lyme Bay.- Location :The village of Beer is situated on the 95-mile long Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site and its picturesque cliffs, including Beer Head, form part of the South West Coast Path.Beer lies about two...
in South Devon
South Devon
South Devon is the southern part of the county of Devon, England.South Devon may also refer to*South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty*South Devon *South Devon College*South Devon cattle, a breed of cattle...
.
Peco is the collective name for the Pritchard Patent Product Company Ltd, Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd, and Pecorama. Founded in 1946 in a small cottage, Peco now distributes worldwide.
Products
The company supplies products for Z gauge, N gauge, 00 gauge, H0 gauge, 0 gauge, Gauge 1, and narrow gauge products for N6.5/Nn3, OO9OO9
OO9 is a model railway scale and gauge combination of 4 mm scale and gauge tracks, which models a prototype track gauge of . It is a common choice in the United Kingdom for the modelling of narrow gauge railways whose prototype gauges lie approximately between and...
, H0m, O16.5, SM32 and G scale
G scale
G scale is a scale for model railways, and because of its size and durability, G scale is often used outdoors. Such installations are known as garden railways.-LGB:...
.
The primary product ranges are its track systems. Other product lines include Peco Trackside – building kits and scenic items in gauges O, OO and N – and a small range of rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
and locomotives, both kits and ready-to-run, for gauges N and OO9.
Track systems
There are two main types of Peco track system: Peco Set-track and Peco Streamline. Set-track consists of a range of rigid curves, straights, crossingsLevel junction
In U.S. railroad practice, a level junction is a railway junction that has a track configuration in which merging or crossing railroad lines provide track connections with each other that require trains to cross over in front of opposing traffic at grade In U.S. railroad practice, a level junction...
and points
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
(turnouts), made to the standard British geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
. It is similar to the track components supplied with train-sets, and is designed for the needs of less-experienced modellers, or those experienced modellers who do not want to spend a lot of time building trackwork. However, where part of a desired layout cannot be built using Set-track parts, Streamline components can be utilised as required.
Peco Streamline is for the more experienced modeller. The range includes a wider variety of points and crossings, at different radii. Most of these are available with 'live' (metal) or insulating (plastic) frogs. The "Electrofrog" points require more complex wiring, to avoid short-circuits, but are designed to give more reliable operation of locomotives. There are no other rigid track components. Plain track is supplied in 3 foot (914mm) lengths (2 foot for Z gauge), to be cut to length as required. It is flexible (laterally), allowing the modeller to use it for straight track or any radius curve, to suit the needs of the model. The Streamline range is supplied with different types of rail, identified by code numbers indicating the height of the rail in thousands-of-an-inch. For 00/H0 track, 'Code 100' rail is the original type, and is designed for older ready-to-run models. 'Code 83' is designed to be compatible with North American track systems. 'Code 75' is designed for 'fine-scale' models, with smaller wheel flanges, to give a more-scale appearance. N gauge
N scale
N scale is a popular model railway scale/track gauge. Depending upon the manufacturer , the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. In all cases, the gauge is . The term N gauge refers to the track dimensions, but in the UK in particular N gauge refers to a 1:148 scale with track gauge modelling...
Streamline track comes in code 80 and code 55.
The OO/HO track is scaled for HO, this is commercially understandable as the product range is supplied to the smaller UK market (mainly OO) and larger European / US markets (mainly HO). The sleeper length, sleeper spacing and set-track '6 foot way' is not correct for modeling UK track in OO gauge and this can exaggerate the error in the gauge when running OO models.
To support the track systems, "Pecolectrics" is the company brand name
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
for their range of electronic control system
Control system
A control system is a device, or set of devices to manage, command, direct or regulate the behavior of other devices or system.There are two common classes of control systems, with many variations and combinations: logic or sequential controls, and feedback or linear controls...
s, point motors and switches.
Wholly owned subsidiaries
Peco as a company owns several other well-known model companies:- Ratio
- K & M Trees
- Wills
- Modelscene (formerly 'Merit')
Publications
Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd publishes the well-established monthly magazines Railway ModellerRailway Modeller
Railway Modeller is a monthly British magazine about Model Railways published by Peco. It has been in publication since 1949 and is still Britain's most popular model railway title.-Features:The leading feature is the "Railway of the Month"...
and Continental Modeller, as well as a large range of booklets explaining wiring, scenics, baseboard construction, outdoor railways, and similar topics.
Pecorama
Pecorama is a tourist attractionTourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
, and includes a display of many model railways, a shop, and the Beer Heights Light Railway
Beer Heights Light Railway
The Beer Heights Light Railway operates of minimum gauge track at Beer, Devon, England. It is part of Pecorama, an exhibition owned by Peco....
. It is located in the village of Beer, Devon
Beer, Devon
The village of Beer is in south-east Devon, England, on Lyme Bay.- Location :The village of Beer is situated on the 95-mile long Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site and its picturesque cliffs, including Beer Head, form part of the South West Coast Path.Beer lies about two...
.
Pecorama is also home to "Teddy Mac and the Railway Bears", a series of children's books written by Margaret Edmonds.